The company, originally known as the Industrial Fibre Company, had an annual output of about 12,500,000 pounds of rayon. This output was 1,000,000 pounds greater than another rayon plant in Covington. This synthetic fiber, created from a wood product called viscose, was heralded as “synthetic silk” in early Cleveland Press articles.

Richman Brothers was the first United States industrial organization to offer two weeks paid vacation for all employees. They were also the first to institute paid maternity leave, set a 36-hour work week, and offer corporate stock options. Employees felt comfortable at Richman Brothers, like they were truly part of a family. The company would even offer no interest loans to employees in need through the Richman Brothers Foundation. Such progressive ideas led to the federal government basing many workplace regulation laws we still see today off of Richman standards.

Goodbye Pontiac Silverdome 🙁

In the winter of January 2017 I had ventured to the old Sleighton School Village – a place rich with a unique history. The school had originally started been introduced to the state of Pennsylvania as the House of Refuge in Philadelphia in 1826, founded by a group of Quakers. The school would eventually part off into separate boys and

Buffalo’s Central Terminal was an active train station from 1929-1979. The structure was built in Art Deco style, designed by architects Fellheimer & Wagner for the New York Central Railroad. The main building stands 15 stories (271 feet) tall.

The tower now remains nothing more than a bleak skeleton of what was once imagined as something beautiful, towering eerily over the land. Interested explorers over the years have attempted a climb to the top, but unfortunately had found their fate at the bottom of the elevator shaft after falling from 10 stories up.

The liquid acid waste resulting from these processes was dumped directly into the Grand River until June of the year 1952. At this time, discharge was redirected across the Grand River into a waste pond, which was owned by the Diamond Alkali Company.

I’ve explored numerous industrial facilities across the country, but have never set foot inside something of such immense size and industrial grandeur left to rot.

This abandoned freeway looks out right into Downtown Columbus.

Over the last few years, since the creation of my first book Empty Spaces, and my second book Americana Forgotten, I have often been asked when there will be a book containing my best and most notable photos. Well, I am excited to announce that it’s finally here, and will be released as a limited edition, 200-page hardcover book called “Unbuilt by Time: The World We Once Knew.”