Decaying buildings in Erie
Erie Mill and Press Inc Building 07 E 12th and East Ave
Advancing machinery and industrial equipment caused the need for a large work force to become a thing of the past and companies such as this began to shut down. While driving on the Bayfront Connector, I saw the faded print of Erie Mill and Press Inc and as I walked around the area I discovered the entire building was also deteriorating. The numerous mounds of broken wood and garbage that were seen throughout the lot made me think about what those nailed up boards were covering in the inside.
Left Erie City Iron Works Building 07 S 12th and East Ave Right Erie Engine and Manufacturing Co 07 S 12th and East Ave
Well after escaping to a fair distance after an unkept man creeped from the overpass and began following me with a garbage bag full of his life possessions, I finally got to walk around the broken down buildings. The area was an obstacle course; I had to step over barbed wire, overgrown weeds, rusty metal, and garbage. Once I thought I was in the clear, I had to turn around because a broken fence was blocking my path to my car. 
As I start my car I see the unknown man sitting on the cement surrounding pillars, I get out with a few beers someone left in my car and I walk towards the guy, knowing this could be really bad or fine. We get to talking and it turns out he’s nothing but a simple, normal guy just living his day. After 15 minutes of story telling, I get back in my car and see him start to walk and I begin to think, you never know what something is until you learn about it. The building’s off appearance may look run down but at one point it was someone’s possession and hundreds of worker’s lives similar to the life possessions that just grew six beers richer disappearing down the ally.
Advancing machinery and industrial equipment caused the need for a large work force to become a thing of the past and companies such as this began to shut down. While driving on the Bayfront Connector, I saw the faded print of Erie Mill and Press Inc and as I walked around the area I discovered the entire building was also deteriorating. The numerous mounds of broken wood and garbage that were seen throughout the lot made me think about what those nailed up boards were covering in the inside.
Left Erie City Iron Works Building 07 S 12th and East Ave Right Erie Engine and Manufacturing Co 07 S 12th and East Ave
Well after escaping to a fair distance after an unkept man creeped from the overpass and began following me with a garbage bag full of his life possessions, I finally got to walk around the broken down buildings. The area was an obstacle course; I had to step over barbed wire, overgrown weeds, rusty metal, and garbage. Once I thought I was in the clear, I had to turn around because a broken fence was blocking my path to my car. 
As I start my car I see the unknown man sitting on the cement surrounding pillars, I get out with a few beers someone left in my car and I walk towards the guy, knowing this could be really bad or fine. We get to talking and it turns out he’s nothing but a simple, normal guy just living his day. After 15 minutes of story telling, I get back in my car and see him start to walk and I begin to think, you never know what something is until you learn about it. The building’s off appearance may look run down but at one point it was someone’s possession and hundreds of worker’s lives similar to the life possessions that just grew six beers richer disappearing down the ally.Docks 1- 3 East Ave
During the Industrial Revolution, Erie became an important city for steel manufacturing. So, when I walked down the gravel ally, I pictured iron workers flowing out of all the doors carrying tin containers to go on their lunch break. This big business carried onto the 20th century and day after day, men would complete the same routine until the company changed or closed.Shipping 12th Street Tracks
As I walked by a Wal-mart shopping cart, a train passed through blurring the lower half of a shipping building with metal boxcars. I pictured workers unloading and loading passengers and cargo onto trains when Erie was a major railroad hub in the mid 19th century.
The Last Fisherman/Pennsylvania Beer Company East Lake Road and Lighthouse Street
Beer, Bait and Butane are words to live by but might not guarantee business survival. I couldn’t help but think of the variety of people that this product combination attracted. With various fishing times and drinking hours, you would never know if someone is beginning or ending their day. Maybe if the owners used the bait and hook advertising method, they would have been a better catch.
Eastway Plaza Buffalo Roa
d A bank you can't trust
d A bank you can't trust
The bank is located on the end of the Eastway Plaza, which isn’t really a plaza considering there were more vacant stores than occupied ones. I don’t venture down these parts of Erie that often so I’m not sure if these were old closings or a recent effect of the economy.
Flaming Grill Buffalo Road and Brooklyn Ave
This looks like an upgrade after three summer’s worth of saving up quarters from a lemonade stand. Before becoming a restaurant that sold burgers and other grilled food, they should have worked their way up by adding Kool-aid to the menu to save up for expansion because this establishment is the size of a Dixie cup. I suppose their interior designer’s color choice backfired and the decorative and textured blue and green dots on the walls attracted the health department rather than customers with an appetite.
This looks like an upgrade after three summer’s worth of saving up quarters from a lemonade stand. Before becoming a restaurant that sold burgers and other grilled food, they should have worked their way up by adding Kool-aid to the menu to save up for expansion because this establishment is the size of a Dixie cup. I suppose their interior designer’s color choice backfired and the decorative and textured blue and green dots on the walls attracted the health department rather than customers with an appetite. House on Buffalo Road
And we thought living in a three person apartment on Briggs Ave with a thin layer of black mold on the bathroom ceiling was bad. I did not want to get too close to this house because it looks a bit suspicious and I could see a creepy, witch lady from a fairytale coming out of it if I got within a short distance. However, on the other hand, the unattrac
tive appearance could be intentional if this house were a meth lab because you don’t want to be interrupted during the crystallization process by someone who admires your house and wants a tour.
tive appearance could be intentional if this house were a meth lab because you don’t want to be interrupted during the crystallization process by someone who admires your house and wants a tour. 
Every Sunday when people come together to praise and worship the name, I can just picture the Good Lord smiling down on this honorable establishment. I wonder how and why the sign is broken; did someone have a bad day or did a rebellious teen experimenting with atheism walk by and thought I’m going to throw this rock in the name of God. I really do see the light- of a strip club/drive thru/church.
No Gas East Lake Road
When this gas station was open, I picture an older man wearing overalls, smoking a pipe, sitting on a bench all day and talking to whoever he can. The friendly local entertains the customers while the tobacco spitting owner fills up the cars and his son checks the tires. Then I began to think about the current oil situation and how independently owned gas stations are beginning to close. I also wonder if the sign in the pump is the truth of this business and gas stations will become recharging stations for hybrids.
Gas Station Wagner and Buffalo Road
Gas Station Wagner and Buffalo Road
When this gas station was open, I picture an older man wearing overalls, smoking a pipe, sitting on a bench all day and talking to whoever he can. The friendly local entertains the customers while the tobacco spitting owner fills up the cars and his son checks the tires. Then I began to think about the current oil situation and how independently owned gas stations are beginning to close. I also wonder if the sign in the pump is the truth of this business and gas stations will become recharging stations for hybrids.
Hardy’s Auto Sales East 18th Street
Hardly selling, run down auto sales and repair services are commonly seen on many streets. When I pulled into this driveway and saw the beat up Chevy I asked myself, what did this car look like before it either was wrecked or stripped of everything on the site or why someone would buy it or agree to try to sell it? The rust on the tire wells and soggy looking interior make it apparent that this car has been exposed to the elements for quite some time so, if its been sitting there for a while already, when will it be removed? Vacant lots filled with abandoned cars can be seen in any city, but why are they there? Were they just dropped off as a gift to the area like a Good Will donation? Can’t these tin boxes on wheels get towed to a junk yard and possibly be recycled? There should be laws about blighted areas and if they do exist they should be enforced better. 
Christopher Auto Pearl and Water Street
This auto shop located on the corner of Pearl and Water Street is attracting more mold than gold. The smell of stagnant water lying on top of the rusty barrels assures people will abide the No Trespassing sign.
Sanitary Wiping Cloth Co East 18th Street
The occupants or land lords of all of these buildings should call this number for some spring cleaning tips and maybe a few cloths or industrial size cleansing sheets if they do custom orders. The appearance of this building really does not compliment the company’s purpose. This looks like an Erie hole in the wall bar rather than a cleaning/janitorial service, so in exchange for cleaning tips, the interior decorator for the Flaming Grill should offer some advice in return.
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