Found an old photo of the mill from before it was fenced off

I was going through a box of old pictures from maybe 2008 and found one I took of the Riverside Mill. Back then, you could just walk right up to it. I spent years going to places like that, just taking a few quick snaps and leaving. The moment it hit me was last fall at the old Ashton Hospital. I saw fresh spray paint over a historic door frame, and a guy was trying to pry a cast iron radiator off the wall. I realized my whole 'take only pictures, leave only footprints' thing was naive. By posting the exact locations online, even without meaning to, I was part of the problem. It draws in people who don't care about the history, just the thrill or the scrap metal. Now I'm way more careful about what details I share. Has anyone else pulled back on sharing spots after seeing them get trashed?

2 comments

2 Comments

schmidt.grant1d ago

I get what you're saying about the spray paint and the radiator, but isn't that just what happens to old places? People have been taking souvenirs and leaving marks forever. The internet might spread the word faster, but the real problem is the person with the crowbar, not the person with the camera.

nathan_foster601d ago

Remember my friend's shop got gutted after some kid posted its location online, @schmidt.grant.