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Wool Mill
Fall 2004 found me in the Ottawa region with some time to kill before a couple of friends of mine were married. So, I met up with Detroit, a local explorer, and he took me to this old Wool Mill outside of Kanata. Pretty badly vandalized, but a neat spot.
Wool Mill Photos

Kaufman
A landmark building in Kitchener, Ontario, Kaufman Rubber Boot was probably built in the late 1800's, but had additions put on the building over the next 50 years or so. With the threat of demolition or renovations over its head, MECCA got permission to explore the building one fine morning. We had free reign and took advantage of the situation for a couple of hours. I even skipped out on work to be there! Hurray!
Kaufman photos

Pannill Vaneer
Arson claimed this building in the summer of 2005, but the previous year MECCA paid it a visit, with Chronic as our tourguide. A huge and interesting building with all sorts of cool machines, gadgets, artifacts, Sunshine Girls, and medieval-looking vats. We were chased out of there by a possible silent alarm. You can never be too careful.
Pannill photos

The Big Dark
A massive abandoned industrial facility, The Big Dark has cool rusting machines, overhead crane tracks, creaking metal steps and catwalks, and hundreds of thousands of square feet of pitch black goodness. MECCA's exploration took a few hours, and I'm still trying to collect up everyone's photos. I took video, and hope to have that available online soon.
The Big Dark by 20mm
The Big Dark by Dark Shadow
The Big Dark - External Photos

Jones Feed Mill
After a tip from Manitou, MECCA headed out to this feed mill one chilly evening. Thanks to Shatterforce and I, we were able to get in without breaking anything. Sometimes you've just got to be clever.
Jones Feed Mill photos

Train Station
Last stop, Coopersville! MECCA scouted out this location on our way to a previous exploration, and we had to come back to take a closer look. The massive train depot was just too much to leave alone. It was so nice, we explored it twice. These are photos from our second journey.
Train Station photos

Newbold Factory
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Newbold Factory photos

Lofty Goals
After the Golden Triangle UE meet, a large group of local explorers decided to go and check out a local factory that was in the process of being renovated into lofts. We left the bar, reconvened near the factory, and quickly made our way inside. A sprawling, multi-levelled industrial building, probably built some time in the mid- to late-1800's. It is soon to be filled with overly-priced lofts and a wonderful Italian grocery store.
Lofty Goals photos

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Alma College
A late 1800's gothic revival women's college south of London, Ontario, this beautiful building has been left to the ravages of time and vandalism. However, a while back MECCA was able to get full, legal access to the entire grounds and we were even able to shoot a short, fun video.
Alma College Photos
Alma College - Video Shoot
Alma College - Dark Shadow's Photos

Chesley Public School
Summer 2004, I managed to get my hands on legal access to this closed-down school in Chesley, Ontario. Slated for demolition, I had an in and decided not to wait on it. By myself, I spent several hours exploring the school and all its little nooks and crannies. The building has now been destroyed.
CPS photos

St.Joseph's Hospital, Guelph
Now a pile of dust, St. Joe's was one of the more fascinating explorations MECCA pulled off. Two visits and we don't feel as though we had seen everything the place had to offer. Giant boiler rooms, gleaming operating theaters, ruined morgues, decimated gift shop, creepy basement cafeterias, and even tunnels.
St. Joe's photos
St. Joe's exteriors

Oxford Regional Center
My first "official" exploration with the future members of MECCA. ORC (r.i.p.) was located just north of Woodstock, Ontario and was an interesting venture. Five large buildings were all that was left of the psychiatric hospital which is now completely gone.
ORC photos

London Psychiatric Hospital
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow.
London Psych photos

The San
On a beautiful spring day in March, a dozen or so of us got together for a look at an unused sanitarium in cottage country. After three hours, we still hadn't spent enough time there to really see the beauty of the place. A perfect location to explore; peeling paint, steam tunnels, buzzing electronics, dark corridors, dripping water, and a gorgeous view from the roof. I definitely plan on returning some day. Oh - and I'm trying out a new gallery style with this one...
The San photos

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Ayr Farmhouse
Chronic, a local explorer to K/W, put our group onto this place. A lovely little farmhouse near Ayr that was in great shape, but easily accessible. I'm not much for exploring houses, but this one was so nice I went back a second time during daylight hours because of it's promise of cool photos.
Farmhouse - MECCA's visit
Farmhouse - Daytime visit

House on Wheels
A quick stop-off for Vertigo and I on our way home from Chesley (see above). I spotted a chalet sitting on a trailer-bed just off the road, and we stopped so I could take a closer look. A pretty little place practically decimated by fire.
House on Wheels photos

Red House
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Red House photos

Wonderland
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Wonderland photos

Dublin House
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Dublin House photos

Dingman House
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Dingman House photos

Burgandy House
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Burgandy House photos

Claremont House #1
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Claremont House #1 photos

Claremont House #2
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Claremont House #2 photos

Concession 168
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Concession 168 photos

Killaly Place
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Killaly Place photos

Burwell Street
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Burwell Street photos

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Breslau Hotel
Another tip from Chronic. Summer 2005 took myself, Chronic and ExKalibur by for a three hour tour of the ex-tavern / strip club / buffet / dining room... and a game of pool.
Breslau Hotel photos

Chesley Public School
Summer 2004, I managed to get my hands on legal access to this closed-down school in Chesley, Ontario. Slated for demolition, I had an in and decided not to wait on it. By myself, I spent several hours exploring the school and all its little nooks and crannies. The building has now been destroyed.
CPS photos

House on Wheels
A quick stop-off for Vertigo and I on our way home from Chesley (see above). I spotted a chalet sitting on a trailer-bed just off the road, and we stopped so I could take a closer look. A pretty little place practically decimated by fire.
House on Wheels photos

Blue Ghost Tunnel
Located near the historical third Welland Canal, the Blue Ghost Tunnel (built by Great Western Rail in the 1880's) has had a long history of being haunted. We're not ghost hunters, but Vertigo and I decided to check it out anyhow. We didn't see anything. Note I didn't say anything about what we heard.
Blue Ghost Tunnel photos

MochiMeet I & Union Station
Named for an explorer from (I think) Utah, MochiMeet took place in Toronto in 2003. It was the first chance for me to meet people like Avatar-X and Ninjalicious (may he rest in peace). After a meal at the Movenpick Marché, we descended upon Union Station.
MochiMeet & Union Station photos

Office Products Exposition, 1994
A worldwide urban exploration convention held in Toronto in 2004, OPEX found somewhere around 60 explorers from, quite literally, around the world. Australia, Europe, the US and Canada were all well represented. There were discussions, games, and of course lots of exploring.
OPEX94 photos

The Turf Club
At one point an off-track gambling house, and prior to that a motel called "The Flying Dutchman Motor Inn", myself and Frost toured this building only months before it was brought down. Larger than it looked, we took a couple of hours meandering around and taking in the sites - including a floor-to-ceiling length mirror that scared the hell out of us.
Turf Club photos

Bond Lake
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Bond Lake photos

Highbury Camp
Photos courtesy of Dark Shadow
Highbury Camp photos