Urbex playground

It was a garage, but also a gas station, a car wash and a house. But today, the large building is completely abandoned. Newspapers and magazines on the floor suggest that the owners left about two years ago. They have left suddenly, by the way. In the portion of the house, several photos of children are lying here and there on the floor. Around the desk in the commercial area, there are still a few magazines, cash register rolls and other trinkets that rain and snow are moistened.

Partially destroyed in 1986 (nearly 40% was razed) and now totally neglected, the Redpath Mansion was designed by architect Sir Andrew Taylor and built for Francis Robert Redpath, a member of the rich family who worked on the construction of the Lachine Canal and who founded the famous sugar refinery that still bears his name. His family was one of the most influential in 19th century Montreal.

In 1918 the Erie Canal was re-routed to by-pass downtown Rochester, and in 1919 the abandoned canal was bought to serve as a grade-separated route for the heavy "inter-urban" streetcars that were seen as obstructing surface street traffic. Tracks were laid in the former canal, now a dry open trench. Only in the downtown area was the subway in a tunnel, under Broad Street. The cars were powered by overhead electric wires, like streetcars (such as current systems in Buffalo and Seattle), not an electrified "third rail" (such as New York and Toronto).

Abandoned for more modern constructions or left behind to adrift once the occupants died, abandoned houses populate the countryside. Hidden under vegetation who tries to conquer its old territory, sometimes the time prevents explorers from entering into these incredible places by collapsing the foundations or by twisting the walls like old rags.

Few of them will be restored after many years left to themselves. Most of the time, years will turn them down or will be by the owners when municipal councils will be tired to see these building agonize (and visited by kids).