Middle Smithfield Presbyterian Church Cemetery

This is a quiet, beautifully maintained cemetery in East Stroudsburg, PA, near our weekend home in Bushkill. Click on the photo to see the slideshow.

Crumbling Building Behind Baxter Pond

This building can be seen along the path behind Baxter Pond in Port Washington, NY.

Search for Steam Locomotive under Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn

In the April 29, 2010 issue of AM New York, there was an article about the search for a buried steam locomotive, possibly the world's oldest, under Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn. The tunnel itself was undiscovered until 1980, when Brooklyn resident Bob Diamond was able to obtain a copy of the plans, and used them to find the right manhole, with the help of the NYCDEP and Brooklyn Union Gas Co.

The tunnel was originally built in 1844 as part of a LIRR link to Boston, and closed in 1861. Until Diamond found it, the city had denied its existence, but it was well known to many including Walt Whitman who visited it and wrote about it.

At the same time that the tunnel was closed, two steam locomotives disappeared from the LIRR official roster. Diamond believes that the trains may be buried in the tunnel, as the technology for disposing of them did not exist at the time. It is not so unlikely as similar trains have been found buried in Virginia and North Carolina. Diamond hopes to enlist the help of National Geographic to unearth the locomotives and produce a documentary.

Bob Diamond gives narrated walking tours of the tunnel on Sunday afternoons.

Neglected Flushing Rooftop

This is on the roof of a strip mall on Northern Blvd. These photos were taken from a room in a neighboring building. I wonder sometimes about whose job it is to maintain architectural details like this. I also wonder when was the last time the clock worked. The structure is lovely though just the way it is.

Sealed Tunnel Under Sands Point Road

While driving down Ashwood Road, I saw a tunnel completely sealed off. It leads under Sands Point Road and comes out at the end of the Sousa Elementary parking lot.

On Ashwood Road

At the end of the Sousa Elementary parking lot

Flammable and combustible storage?

I don't need the "KEEP OUT" sign to stay off these stairs!

Foraging for Edibles on Obscura Day

It was a gorgeous day on the first day of Spring - sunny and warm. We weren't sure exactly what to expect when we signed up for foraging with "Wildman" Steve Brill in Forest Park, Queens. It was Obscura Day, and we wanted to do something to celebrate. It turned out to be a terrific day, fun and educational.

Steve was personable and charming, and very knowledgeable about the herbs, greens, roots, and mushrooms along the Forest Park Trail. We collected garlic mustard, black birch, mugwort, and wild chervil. But the highlight of the day was finding sassafras, which smells exactly like root beer, and actually was the original source of root beer. Unfortunately, we weren't able to find any sweet cicely, which is supposed to taste like black licorice. Steve shared some of his home-made vegan recipes including curry sunflower seeds and "chocolate" ice cream.

Steve also serenaded us by sort of blowing into his hands - hard to explain. Check out "Wildman" Steve Brill's website.

Celebrate Obscura Day!

March 20, 2010 has been designated as Obscura Day - an international celebration of wondrous, curious, and esoteric places. Sounds right up my alley.

Some of the suggestions sound wonderful and creepy like the Kansas Underground Salt Museum, the poison garden at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, and the massive unfinished storm drain in Tokyo. I signed up for the Forest Park event called Urban Foraging. A bit geeky but I'm sure it will be fun!

Check out the Obscura Day website for expeditions in your home town.