Houck’s Stripping, Inc. was formerlly a creamery, a factory, a warehouse, and currently, an abandoned building near what was formerly a rail line for the Delaware & Hudson Railway, now the Catskill Scenic Trail. There are some places where people simply should not visit; this is one of those places, that no matter what, simply cannot be explored on the inside due to a complete and total structural collapse. I had planned to explore this building for some time, and over the years it has changed hands several times, thus making it next to impossible to obtain permission.
I took these pictures as a labor of love to document one of the few remaining industrial buildings in the area that were in use during the time that the railroad was still in use. The disappearance of adequate transportation nearby, mainly that of rail, has led to the decline of nearby industry.
Industrial centers are amazing places to take photos, especially if the industry itself no longer exists. If you have the opportunity to photograph such a location in a safe and responsible manner, I cannot recommend more strongly that you go ahead and do so.
The sad reality is that often times my grunge photography becomes a sort of historical record of what once was. In other words, it is common for abandoned buildings I photograph to get torn down within a few years following the shoot.
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My company specializes in writing, photography, and website design. My father gave me my first camera when I was a small child, and it quickly became my most prized possession. I was also fascinated with exploring places others rarely ever ventured, such as abandoned places, buildings, and railroad cars.
As time went on, I formed a business centered around my passion; living larger-than-life adventures, and sharing the photographic journey on my website.