Abandoned Hospital transforms into empty field
This blog was a year in the making. It all started back in July of 2022 from right before the fences were put up around the abandoned Byron Health Center hospital on Lima and Carroll Road. Then came the exciting capture of the hospital's demolition to its current state now - a grassy field with lot signs waiting for it to become something new.
I was not fortunate enough to get to explore the inside of this building before demolition began, but I was able to explore around the outside right up until it was fenced off. Those that know me well know I greatly enjoy exploring abandoned buildings. There is something about the mystery and decay that I can’t help but love.
I was saddened to see that this building didn’t get time to decay further, but it was a fascinating process to watch the demolition through all four seasons before finally wrapping up this past spring.
The Byron Health Center stood its ground for over 100 years (built in 1916). It started out as an anti-tuberculosis hospital and changed names over the decades, ending with Byron Health Center. It was even rumored to have a “Stairway to Hell” before one of its remodels.
The story goes that the old building remained trapped inside the remodel, like a ghost of its former self, and if you started walking down the stairs to the basement, the air would grow colder, but you would never reach the end. You could walk down stairs for over 15 minutes, but if you turned around to climb back to the top - you’d be back in a few short minutes.
Below are my favorite images throughout the entire process, start to finish:
Exploring perimeter of back building
Front of back building (by water tower)
Between buildings
Shipping Bay
Rusting Receive Bay
Aerial before demolition
Aerial of back building before demolition
Start of Demolition
Approaching winter during demolition
Over half done
View from Lima Road
Snowy day as cement is grinded into gravel
Winter demolition continues
Spring enters and all is levelled off
Piles of gravel remain
Grassed over and done!
