This post should have come out months ago(June 25~ish)… Life happens, floods occur, and job title changes are inevitable. So, after much delay, here we gooooo….. Wait, Check that.. More delays, a broken hand, learning to type and edit lefty, and a few more delays, but damn we are almost ready to go. Hand healing (hopefully well), job title changed back, whomp whomp… Now back to one of the few things I love in life!
This place has deserved a proper write-up since we first stumbled upon it, and it has been weighing heavy on my mind for some time.
On our first trip to one of the Midwest’s greatest “Fry” destinations, we had the usual spots in mind. Numerous churches and theaters dotted our map. They were all, mostly, within walking distance, so we decided to “ditch” the car down a quiet-ish side street, and head out to a few sites. We were completely oblivious to what lay less than 100 feet from our parking spot.
During this hobby turned lifestyle you start to see things a bit differently. Now the long grass, smashed display boards, or plywood wrapped windows mean an entirely different thing. “What adventure lays within Me?” Is all that we hear bellowing from structures with any of these elements.
We had roamed through a few Historic places and captured piles of quickly deteriorating design elements through our lenses. While heading back to the car, I noticed tons of plywood and overgrowth on a small two story square brick building. I said “Let’s Check This Out, We Are Here”.. Rita fought me a bit, but after minor pouting on my part, we headed that way! 😉 Once we got close enough to the structure, all I was focused on was finding our entry point, and doing it mostly unseen. I hadn’t noticed what we were approaching, and I heard Rita mumble “Oh Fucking Hell”. Barely able to read it, I glanced up at the sign just as I rounded the corner and it went out of view.
******* FUNERAL HOME *******
Is the only thing I read, and that is all that mattered. Now to find access! “This aught to be tough-*-*-Holy shit the back door is wide open.” Was effectively all one continuous thought. So we walked right in! We had ventured out of town this weekend to meet our new explorer friends, and they were also taking us to a different funeral home. Two in under 24 hours. I was a “kid in a candy store” to say the least!
We entered the body preparation room or mortuary and we were instantly greeted with body coolers and embalming tables. A tad more roaming, and we found embalming pumps, tools, make-up, wigs, haircare products, mortuary putty, and even numerous restorative waxes for any and all the detailed and in-depth restorative arts that needed to be performed here. I don’t know why, but this was a sobering moment for me. “No one gets out alive” is all I could think. When we go, we all need a lil work to “Show Up” that last time for our friends and loved ones!
**Fun Fact** – I had a friend, Jake, in high school that was going to college to study the restorative arts. I remember his college course books being slightly terrifying, a bit disgusting, and completely fascinating all at the same time. The “Magic” that is preformed to/on the deceased after death and before their viewing is just this side of miraculous. Anything and everything is to be done, from hair and skin coloring with make-up to full facial and head reconstruction(Known as “Major Restoration”) for the most severe work. There is nothing that won’t be done to send you off with dignity!
After documenting the body preparation area, we decided to roam further into the building. We passed what appeared to be two offices or maybe old bedrooms, and a kitchen down this main hallway. These rooms were all cluttered with shin deep trash and items just left to rot. In one room there was an old reel to reel recorder on a shelf. That recorder was giving me huge “Bio Shock- Audio Diaries” vibes! I was too afraid to give it a listen. I’ve been ambushed too many times like this before. (Maybe after our next save point). There were also countless bags full of old discarded lottery tickets littering the hallway leading to the main viewing parlor. Before entering the main viewing parlor, we stumbled past 3 or 4 smaller side parlors. Each of those too, was left in disarray and surprisingly filled with clutter.
The main parlor was just as messy as the smaller ones, only somehow nicer. This clutter was mainly kept to the outer perimeter of the room. There was an old school bench press and weights set up in here too, as if someone was recently “pumping iron amongst their ancestors!”. On our first visit here, Rita and I didn’t find the lights to this main parlor, so there was an extra sense of unease from all of the long shadows “thrown” from our flashlights!
Once we cleared the main parlor and office, we passed through the entryway(all extremely cluttered), and headed for the upstairs apartment. “This cozy and inviting second story, two bedroom apartment is situated walking distance away from… .. ..” Sorry the ad almost writes itself! Seriously though, this place was hands down nicer than my first few apartments. It was still relatively “move in ready”, with most major furnishings and a semi-dated bathroom remodel, I still think is pretty sweet. Even if they are a bit dated; that countertop, blue tile, and mirror are things I could live with!
Once done upstairs, we descended the stairwell and headed towards the basement. Those stairs had been covered with a 60s/70s plastic runner, down the middle. Over time this liner had deteriorated to the point of barely hanging-on. Each step of this descent was a near disaster as the liner shifted and crumbled under our feet. Once we safely reached the basement we found all manor of funeral home items. Headstones, name placards, urns, wire gurneys, morticians carts, and even filing cabinets filled with 85(+) years of death certificates and records. Rounding the last blind corner in the basement we stumbled upon an unsettling sight. A stack of children’s caskets stood on a shelf propped against the wall. Here was another quick instance where I pondered the fleeting nature of youth and life in general… .. ..
On our way out we tried to snap anything we hadn’t before. Now that “film” is free, snap, snap, snap away!
The galleries that follow will be from 3 different points of view and from a few different trips back to this site! We have tried to cull the amount of pics a bit, but even the similar shots are still always slightly different! Sorry if and when you see a pile of doubles.
Follow, Like, and Play Along with Discovering Teagan on FB – She is easily one of our favorite humans! The laughter, poor decisions, and comradery we all share is nothing short of epic! Here’s to countless more “fry” adventures.
Initial few feet in the door felt unrealI had a high school friend who was going to study restorative artsThis is an embalming pump/machine, and it does all the nasty hard work.. I was saddened I didn’t try this wig on.. Till next time, friends….Body coolers – not so cool on a 90 degree daykitchen now so cluttered with everything, you couldn’t move the door anymore open or closed.playing a ton of video games… I half thought we would find our next clue or piece of backstory on that reel to reelsuch an eerie environment normally. Yet, with just us 2(hopefully) quietly roaming here, it made it somehow worse. Every sound we thought we didn’t make was amplifiedPiles of old albums, kites, and funeral flags lay everywhere. The vinyl came in both 7″ and 12″ styles!Stacks of funeral programs, pamphlets, and brochures. Selling everything from caskets and plots of land, to your salvation and lasting memory.“side” visitation rooms. The smaller rooms that can be divided for multiple viewings. Now just more cluttered storageThis was the majority of the neglect.. piles of old paperwork strewn about… A staggering amount of this is “scratch-off” & “powerball”/”megamillions” style lottery ticketsnot a ton a tags or b.s., just clutter and paperwork in most places..This bathroom though! I’d take this stylin bathroom remodel in my home. I picture a lady mortician or Funeral director enjoying a smoke in that chair. Relaxing a bit, while she finishes her make-up, before that day’s long work.10/10 as far as cozy bathrooms go! In an abandoned apartment, above and abandoned funeral home, was this clean time capsule of a bathroom.piles and piles of various gurneys for moving the deceasedname plates that weren’t picked up and used?? maybe they were misspelled or had incorrect info – dates, etcpaperwork from the late 30s early 40syes that is a small casketsadly, tucked away in the basement there was a small wall full of children’s casketsMore metal gurneys and caskets on wheels – burial vaults maybe??Two children’s caskets/vaults lay at odd angles, tossed next to an unused bo-flex and piles of clutter and detritusMaybe it closed because of a gambling issue?? or the vagrant that stays here is “hoping to hit it big” – Literally hundreds/thousands?? maybe>>>? of printed lotto tickets. Numerous bags full of them. 3 bags just in this pic.-or a scam maybe??I completely missed the tools on our initial pass through this room.. That IS Not blood on the wall as other explorers have alluded toThink of all that these containers have “seen”. This cabinet has been here, witness to so much, for so many decades…. ..I love the accidental shot <3I would find out weeks later just how REAL that that pony-tail is.
Now we will look though Rita’s view of our first day!
I love this full shot of the cabinet, “the wig”, and the 2 embalming pumps – extra shadows for creepy factor“Pumps-r-us”… All in the name of body preservation – to extend the time that you can viewed and not be as offensive as quickly to your loved onesnext time we whip it out…… ….. …just trash nowthis could be a movie set if it were less clutteredThe wall color in here was calmingfamily remembrance photos. Maybe they were just left behind by the families?The founder’s photo. plus cremation vaults under his piccluttered office and sound cabinetI love finding theses boards.. even semi-intact with some of the letters, they are always funquaint 1950-60s metal cabinets! calm down.. that isn’t a welcome winter… I’m surevhoping these are the Asian meditative balls, and not the other kind.dark, and creepyless gurney, more battle ready version? any ideas? email us!always a sad thoughtsad🙁ty for your servicehelloYup – a toe taga head/neck supportone last shot of “the wig” and 1 pumpStill don’t know what this is…This isn’t blood… I assure you.. It is way tooooo red in personWalking out on our 1st day, this was the layout of the room… someone rearranged it before we came back….
Now onto our next trip back with friends! These pics will come through Teagan’s viewfinder. You will notice a few changes to this familiar stop, also “the wig”
Told you I regretted not trying the wig on, and I NEEDED to change that! “The Thinker” I am not, but we have fun!my excitement at this being real was way too highI was like a drug detection dog… Happy to show off my find…body humidors today, not coolersThis new layout fits nicely, but I am a bit partial to our initial layoutthe cobwebs….“Mrs. Thursday Newport”Hey we found the light switchanyone wanna get a few reps?nice choice in tunesFamily photos always hit different in a bandoin a funeral home, they seem a bit more sombersuch fun wall paper, and it is still holding stronggreat wallpaper adhesion & designthis bathroommirror selfiesmore mirror selfiessad zone againThis is a vintage Anheuser Bush beer crate – allegedly we missed the cremation vaults on our initial visit herevintage late 80s early 90s toy/ learning deviceMJ ha ha ha ha ha *cough – cough*“for a time, we became so close” – beef referencing the wig..the laughter this day… that is what life is all aboutour faces hurt from laughterso so many smileswell, it has been fun…. I’d say even worth it!
back to beef’s vision from that 2nd day!
my brain didn’t register seeing this on our 1st trip here. I instantly got walking dead vibesThis reminded me of “most” TV set-ups in the late 80s early 90s. Big not working furniture TV under a smaller working tv“Here’s Johnny”…… big fan of the Shining, self promotion, or cocaine… apparently I love this “snapshot” in time. everyone had a “junk drawer” or place for clutter.. that is my entire house now :/Again, I got “bio-Shock” audio recording feelings here… even on the 2nd visit.he does save!Funeral Home Movie Review forms??? Is This A Thing?? -also the dust here told a bit of a storyI can’t tell if this room was less cluttered or more. I def. don’t remember that casket there…it most certainly wasI like itgotta buy em somewhereWe are taking bets… is that hair from the 60s, 70s, or 80s??? you decide.. Baller tho!Name plates just strewn aboutsuch a sad sad cornerMissed these entirely on our 1st trip through this site“couple of hot broads”These smiles are what I remember from this day of adventures
Through Rita’s lens on the second visit!
This is the shot I had Hoped for… But Damn that Muther F’er was itchy.. How much gauze was cut with these?“Hello Friend” “I hoped we’d meet again”I always keep my “TCB hair food” next to my VaselineThere is a reel of the moment I realize this is a pony-tailFits well… a bit darker than my shade, but “it’ll do donkey”Again, with that puppy look and retriever pose“And the Lord Said To Beef…..Whomp Whomp”A mini “time-capsule” of a desk drawer. Look at those 60s, 70s, & 80s fonts, colors, and bits of advertising! Woah.. Woah.. .. Slow down there Winter Warrior…You may find our name on this page of the calendar ….twas a fun show…Cheesy beef grin
We hope you decide to play along at any, or all of our sites!
I love this full shot of the cabinet, “the wig”, and the 2 embalming pumps – extra shadows for cree[y factor
pumps-r-us… All in the name of body preservation – to extend the time you can viewed and not offensive to loved ones
next time we whip it out…… ….. …
just trash now
this could be a movie set if it were less cluttered
family remembrance photos. Maybe they were just left behind by the families?
The founder’s photo. plus cremation vaults under his pic
I love finding the boards.. even semi-intact with some of the letters, they are always fun
quaint 1950-60s metal cabinets!
calm down.. that isn’t a welcome winter…
I’m hoping these are the Asian meditative balls, and not the other kind.
dark, and creepy
less gurney, more battle ready version? any ideas? email us!
always a sad thought
sad
hello
Yup – a toe tag
a head/neck support
one last shot of “the wig” and 1 pump
Still don’t know what this is…
This isn’t blood… I assure you.. way tooooo red in person
This is the shot I had Hoped for… But Damn that Muther F’er was itchy..
How much gauze was cut with these?
“Hello Friend” “I hoped we’d meet again”
I always keep my “TCB hair food” next to my vaseline
These is a reel of the moment I realize this is a pony-tail
Fits well… a bit darker than my shade, but “it’ll do donkey”
Again, with that puppy look and retriever pose
“And the Lord Said To Beef…..Whomp Whomp”
Cheesy beef grin
mirror selfies
more mirror selfies
sad zone again
old crate
vintage late 80s early 90s toy/ learning device
the laughter thihs day… that is what life is all about
our faces hurt from laughter
so so many smiles
Told you I regretted now trying the wig on
“The Thinker” I am not, bbut we have fun!
my excitement at this being real was way too high
sadly, this was attached to someone in years past
body humidors today, not coolers
the cobwebs….
Mrs. Thursday Newport
Hey we found the light switch
anyone wanna get a few reps?
such fun wall paper, and it is still holding strong
great wallpaper adhesion
this bathroom
Initial few feet in the door felt unreal
Walking out on our 1st day here.. this was the layout of the room… someone rearranged it before we come back….
well it has been fun….
I had a high school friend who was going to study restorative arts
This is an embalming pump/machine, and it does all the nasty hard work
Body coolers – not so cool on a 90 degree day
random side office now cluttered with everything
playing a ton of video games… I half thought we would find our next clue or piece of backstory of that reel to reel
such an eerie environment normally. now just us 2 quietly roaming made it somehow worse.
piles of old albums
pamphlets and brochures
“side” visitation rooms. The smaller rooms that can be divided for multiple viewings.
This was the majority of the neglect.. piles of old paperwork strewn about
not a ton a tags or b.s., just clutter and paperwork in most places..
This bathroom tho! Id take this stylin bathroom remodel in my home
as far as cozy bathrooms go! In an abandoned apartment, above and abandoned funeral home, this clean time capsule bathroom lay.
piles and piles of various gurneys for moving the deceased
name plates that weren’t picked up and used?? maybe they were misspelled or had incorrect info – dates, etc
paperwork from the late 30s early 40s
yes that is a small casket
sadly, tucked away in the basement there was a small wall full of children’s caskets
More metal gurneys and caskets on wheels – burial vaults maybe??
a child’s casket just tossed next to an unused bo-flex and piles of clutter and detritus
Maybe it closed because of a gambling issue?? or the vagrant that stays here is “hoping to hit it big”
I completely missed the tools on our initial pass through this room
Think of what these containers have “seen”
I love the accidental shot <3
I would find out weeks later that That is a REAL tony-tail
my brain didn’t register seeing this on our 1st trip here. I instantly got walking dead vibes
This reminded me of “most” TV set-ups in the late 80s early 90s. Big not working furniture TV under a smaller working tv
“Here’s Johnny”…… big fan of the Shining, self promotion, or cocaine… apparently
I love this “snapshot” in time. everyone had a “junk drawer” or place for clutter.. that is my entire house now :/
Again, I got “bio-Shock” audio recording feelings here… even on the 2nd visit.
he does save!
Funeral Home Movie Review forms??? Is This A Thing??
I can’t tell if this room was less cluttered or more. but “Hello” was said
it most certainly was
I like it
gotta buy em somewhere
We are taking bets… is that hair from the 60s, 70s, or 80s??? you decide.. Baller tho!
Name plates just strewn about
such a sad sad corner
Missed these entirely on our 1st trip through this site
“couple of hot broads”
These smiles are what I remember from this day of adventures
