Abandoned for decades and hidden from view in a remote location, this window remains as it was when the shop was still in use (a bit faded and dirty but intact). I’m fascinated with this lovely painted sign. Usually glass is the first victim of vandals followed by graffiti – this wonderful old building hasn’t suffered from either.
Thanks so much for you visit. The top image was with my Fujifilm FinePix S9900W and the bottom shot was with my Samsung Galaxy S4.
Chris
As seen on an abandoned souvenir shop along a Florida highway. At first glance I thought that they sold film and what not as they were the first stop in extreme Northeast Florida for southbound tourists. Cold drinks, smokes, candy, stuffed gators and Florida junk like that. But I got to thinking that it might have meant films as in movie films. This building was left to rot many decades ago and right next door is a closed motel on the same property. Some locals say that the souvenier shop showed movies from time to time for the guests at the motel and some of the bored to death locals. Makes sense as it was in the middle of nowhere and back in the 1960s or earlier that would be a draw.
Anyway, cool old faded signage regardless of what went on. ^.^
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W, Samsung Galaxy S4
Chris
Useful no longer but still standing. Thousands of hands have felt its cool metal – dozens of repairs and maybe not enough layers of paint have left the door exposed to Florida’s harsh environment. But it provides interesting points of view for the photographer and beckons further exploration. Weathered wood, peeling paint, broken glass and faded curtains add to the door’s appeal.
A once red door in a yellow building.
Peeling paint exposes old repairs and hastens the doors demize.
Hanging on by a thread. The strong Florida sun takes its toll.
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W and Samsung Galaxy S4
Thanks for stopping by!
Chris
The last strip of highway heading north towards Georgia. Up ahead the St. Marys River and bridge – heat radiates off the already hot pavement as a reminder that it’s only Spring – wait ’til Summer.
United States Highway 17 was the life giving link to the Eastern Seaboard and beyond. If you came to Florida in the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s you crossed that bridge (well one like it but it was a drawbridge then but it’s not anymore even though the sign says it is, whew!) and your first glimpse of the Sunshine State was this patch of pavement. I-95 didn’t exist and it was 17 or nothing in those days. Now it’s only travelled by locals, log trucks or tourists looking for the original Florida. Along this stretch, cheap but nice motels with air conditioning and swimming pools beckoned those travellers that wanted their first taste of Florida and a cool bed. If you were real lucky, you’d spot a gator or two in the wet areas just off the the road.
Distance wise, this is Florida’s first motel – just a half mile from the Georgia line. It closed decades ago, driven out by high speed travel on smooth highways. The doors were closed and locked once – now termites and rot have opened them again. Couples would snuggle together in these rooms while on their honeymoon. Children would run wild through the parking lot waiting for the car ride that would take them to Florida’s first attractions still well south. Now only grass and weeds run wild.
Air conditioned – and just down the road souvenirs, film, food , whiskey and ice cream. Too far north for oranges. Just right for cold beer.
I like coming here… it’s quiet except for the occasional log truck along the highway heading south to the mills and of course the stray local or curious tourist. Not like it used to be – a steady stream of cars spilling across that bridge into the sunshine.
Yep, no trespassing. Trespassers will be stung or bitten – wasps and fire ants do the enforcing. No tourists – just bugs, heat and photographers.
Be sure to get off I-95 at Exit 3 in South Georgia and head west on Georgia 40 to US 17 in Kingsland (just a few miles away). Turn south on US 17 (left) and in a little bit you’ll cross that all too narrow bridge over the St. Marys River and you’ll be in Florida. Just a half mile south on your left you’ll find that first motel in Florida pictured above. Oh there’s no plaque or marker telling you about the history of this place, and that’s a shame. It was part of the gateway to the “New South” and it deserves recognition. It is for sale though! ^.^
Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S9900W
Thanks for your visit! Be sure to watch out for the fire ants!
Chris
Always good to have one right next to another.
Chris
As common as Florida’s palmetto bugs – and just as ugly!
Bored while waiting for the lights to change. Is this “street photography”???
Launched April 16, 1972 from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The three Astronauts were: Young, Mattingly and Duke.
This is the official “Apollo Astronaut Emblem” new in the original package. 4 inch round patch very nicely embroidered. This is the launch that I was at and filmed with my dad’s 8mm movie camera. I hope to be able to post the video of it soon. It was one of the most amazing sights and sounds I have ever witnessed.
Back when TWA was still in business. This patch in its original unopened package is rather rare. I purchased it at the KSC as I lived in Cocoa Beach, Florida at the time of the launch.
Thanks for your visit.
Chris
Wednesday, March 22nd was our 43rd wedding anniversary! So we celebrated by going to see our New York Mets at their Spring Training facilities at Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Beautiful ball field inside and out!
Previously known as Tradition Field.
ESmiling Mets vendor selling Matz jerseys.
Starting lineups for both teams.
As well maintained as any Major League field. Bright blue Florida sky on a warm Spring day.
Still early – crowd filling in nicely.
Jose Reyes 3 our All-Star third baseman playing third in place of David Wright 5.
Jay Bruce 19 just before he homered to deep right field.
Zack Wheeler 45 pitching in relief of Steven Matz 32.
Curtis Granderson 3 loads up just before his home run swing.
Pitching change. Jeurys Familia 27 takes his warm up pitches as his team mates catch up on the afternoon’s activities (L-R Duda 21, Reyes 7 and Walker 20)
Yo-Yo Yoenis Cespedes 52.
Familia 27 delivers a pitch.
SNY TV Mets broadcasters (L-R Keith Hernandez, Somebody and Ron Darling).
Other than the final score… 15-9, it was a blast to see the players again in one of the nicest places to see a game. We got to spend the day together and that was the best part!
Thanks for your visit! And Let’s Go Mets!
Cocoa Beach, Florida firefighters, May 1972
As part of my college ‘Photographic Documentation’ classes at Hydrospace Technical Institute (a mouthful), I decided to join the Cocoa Beach Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter trainee in the Spring of 1972. The highly trained professionals at the station agreed to train me and allowed me to document their activities for my class. Since Cocoa Beach is so close to the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, the firefighters at Cocoa Beach had access to better personal gear (Lexan helmets and other high tech safety equipment) than other departments that were not expected to respond to a rocket related mishap. I hope to post a series of images over the next few weeks as more will be discovered in my archives. I’m sorry to say that I do not have the names of the brave firefighters I have pictured. I will be sharing my images with the current personnel of the Cocoa Beach Fire Department via their Chief.
My favorite truck. 1970 Chevrolet 4×4 Suburban Rescue Unit. Way cool!
Me and my favorite truck!
Camera: Yashica TL Electro-X
Lens: Auto Yashinon 50mm f1.7
Film: Kodak Plus X Pan
Processing: Self processing
Scanner: Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II
From a collection of recently ‘found’ negatives from 1972.
Many thanks to the personnel of the Cocoa Beach Fire Department for their expert training and friendly advice. They took the more than a few of us college kids in and it was a great experience for all. When I went on to join the U.S. Navy in 1975, I put my background in firefighting to good use aboard the three aircraft carriers that I served aboard.
Self portrait at 18
Cocoa Beach, Florida March 1972
Camera: Yashica TL Electro-X
Lens: Auto Yashinon 50mm f1.7 lens
Film: Kodak Plus X Pan
Processing: Self processed
Scanner: Canon CanoScan 9000F Mark II
Part of a collection of negatives that I shot while at college in South Florida. These have never been printed and have only just recently been ‘found’ again. Wow, 45 years ago!
Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris 