The Yellow House

Now, I'm no stranger to abandoned buildings and local folklore, having explored a large portion of north NJ for many years.  What else is youth to do with spare time a tank of gas?  Recently, I've started bring the Nikon on expeditions.  Noticing the sky looked bleak, the decision was made to the drive out to Walpack to try to caprute the atmosphere of the nearly of empty small town.  The weather, however, had other plans.  Upon arrival, the sun peaked through the grey skies, providing some interesting lighting once in the woods.


A little refresher on the history of Walpack Center: it was "abandoned" as part of the Tocks Island Dam Project.  Walpack Center is the main street with church, schoolhouse, and post office, in addition to a few houses left to nature in the surrounding wildlife preserve.  As of the 2010 Census, there are only 16 residents occupying the township, down from 41 in 2000(US Census Bureau).  In speaking with fellow explorers, I've heard stories of getting ticketed from park rangers, but have never encountered any official presence in the years of repeat visits.


Of the few houses located off the main street, The Yellow House has been drawing my attention for years.  Usually, visiting is at night(which I may add is super dangerous and incredibly stupid), one doesn't truly grasp the expanse of the house or how much nature has reclaimed from it.  Upon a daytime visit, an explorer can appreciate the integration of moss into carpet, the gradual conversion of indoor to outdoor, and marvel at the extent of vandalism that has occurred in the years of sitting vacant.  The house is in noticeably poorer condition than is was at the time of the first visit, about three years ago.  The floors are spongy and growing soft with rot in places, making walking in some spots into quite a sport.  Walls have been torn down by rowdy youths, and spray painted tags cover what is left of the interior.  Having been left to the elements, The Yellow House slowly dissolves into the wilds of north NJ.

I almost fell through the floor for one of these shots.  The house is unstable and unsound.

The Wheatsworth Mill

The Wheatsworth Mill has not been operational for quite some time now.  The Mill started as a steel works, being re-purposed as a cracker factory later on.  The interior of the factory was gutted by a fire in the 1990's, while the foundations in the woods continue to decay naturally.  The property is privately owned, with it's future uncertain.  This town was once a center of industry.  Now it is a stoplight.