Abandoned Decaying Workshop 2
by John Twynam
Title
Abandoned Decaying Workshop 2
Artist
John Twynam
Medium
Photograph
Description
An old workbench with tools including a vice sits decaying outside an abandoned workshop in the ghost town of Ballycroy, Ontario.
The area is passed through by thousands of commuters every day, but very few of them know that atop the hill in one corner of the intersection, a pioneer town once thrived. Started in the 1820s primarily by Irish immigrants (and getting its name from their hometown in Ireland), by 1870 there were two churches, two general stores, a mill and complimentary businesses, a millinery shop, post office, doctor, veterinarian, and a blacksmith. There was also a small race track and a fairgrounds, but most notably there were four hotels and a liquor store – a lot of alcohol for a town of 200 people.
With most of the townspeople being Irish, and a large portion of those being of Catholic faith, having a small segment of Protestant faith often spelled trouble in those days. There were several legendary brawls in the town streets, no doubt fueled by the strong differences in faiths as well as all the booze. In 1875, a fire destroyed one of the hotels; the owner and his family escaped, but three women who worked in the hotel were killed. The cause of the fire was never determined, but arson was suspected; along with the buildings, the fire destroyed a lot of the heart of the town. In 1878 and 1879, a couple more fires damaged other buildings, and the town was in decline.
It had a run of about 55 years before being all but abandoned. The main street is now overgrown and mature trees now stand where once businesses did. The surrounding forest still contains remnants of some of these buildings, but for the most part, the town of old is gone. The only original building remaining is the former general store, which is now used as a private home. The town sign still proudly stands, one of the last reminders that the town was even there.
Uploaded
August 15th, 2021
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