I'm told by fellow urban explorer Josh that Three Sisters used to be a ladies' department store. I was intrigued, but when I looked up the phrases "Three Sisters," "department store," and "Baton Rouge," on Google, all that came up was obituaries. Apparently a popular job for Southern ladies who died recently was working in department stores. Also, a lot of them had three sisters.
When you're alone, and life is making you lonely
You can always go
Downtown
This compound is an abandoned and semi-abandoned downtown treasure. (I think it's in the downtown? Or near it? It's hard to tell where downtown starts or ends when nobody's around.)
Today's subject: The onetime sight of the Lincoln Theatre, Pharmacy, Barber Shop, and Wash-In (I think that's what the last phrase says? Is a "wash-in" a Laundromat?)
I just got back from a road trip from Philadelphia down through the South, and spotted a lot of abandonment along the way. The real pay dirt was in Jackson, Mississippi, a capital city with a downtown as eerily abandoned as Baton Rouge's. Anyone ever see the early '70s movie The Omega Man, starring Charlton Heston? I recommend it during this fine Halloween season, and driving through empty Jackson was like Heston driving through empty L.A. in that movie.
But first, how about a nice burned-out motel? [Click to enlarge]
(I know: again with the AAA-naming business! Have a little confidence, Baton Rouge businesses!)
AAA Cleaners is another place with that Night of the Comet feel...as if people just vaporized, leaving their everyday items.
But this time...they left enough clues that even from outside, I know when this place closed down.
Continue reading "Triple A Cleaners, plus empty houses...or not?" »
I had usage of a car today, so I was able to expand my territory, but sadly I was forced back to the Old Blue Eye camera. No matter, because I shall make it up to you with a cavalcade of sites...and my first confrontation.
This is the Purpera Building, as proudly announced on the crown of the building. You'd think there'd be some mention of it somewhere on the world wide Interwebs, right?
Continue reading "Purpera Building, Romano's Pack & Save, Mason lodge, and more" »
Last Friday was an epic photo-gathering expedition for me. I was out nearly three hours in the midday sun, covering five abandoned sites, also stopping for excellent Lebanese food at Arzi's and narrowly avoiding heat stroke. Problem is, this is a photo blog and my g-damn digital camera won't stop washing everything in blue. So I've decided to post the remaining three sites I shot that day all in one post, before switching over to use my bf's fancier camera. After this post, say goodbye to the blues!
Here we have LoBianco's Gro. & Beer at Government Street and Steele, in the classic Old South style that I have actually never seen outside of movies and TV.
Could this sun-faded promotional Stroh's poster be sadder right now? Not really.
Continue reading "LoBianco's Gro. & Beer, Unknown car joint, Winn Dixie" »
Although the exterior of the garage still proclaims Ser ice is Our Business, this Shell station on Government Street near Acadian will ser ice no more. It appears to have been out of business since 2006. It's seedy now, but it's not difficult to imagine the place new; and it has a cool, simple, modern design, even if it was the same one used by countless other gas stations. (Click photos to enlarge)
Actually, it is providing one ser ice: The garages are being used to store a muscle car, a Land Cruiser, and a pickup.
I moved to Baton Rouge less than two weeks ago and noticed a number of intriguing abandoned buildings. There are Deco, midcentury, and timeless (aka, I don't know what style to label them) creepy buildings in varying states of decay, all begging for documentation. My first subject is the '60s/'70s wonder Militello's Shoe Repair, located on Government Street near the intersection of Acadian, resplendant in wood paneling. (Click photos to enlarge)
Don't miss the lone shoe...I would totally wear those if there were two. I also want the chairs.
