I had the opportunity to photograph a disused farm property at 53 Salt Point Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, NY.  It stands out among the modern development around it.  A railroad once passed along the northern border of the property, but the railroad bed has now been converted to a rail trail.  I was excited when the owner of the property showed me an old photograph that showed a train traveling along the railroad, and also an old photograph showing a house that formerly sat at the top of a hill on the property.

The owner told me an interesting story about the house at the top of the hill:  In the depression era (and prohibition era), the house was rented out to some gentlemen.  One day the people left and the property owners went into the house to see what its condition was.  They discovered that the renters had removed most of the floors and ceilings of the three-story house so as to place a gigantic distillery that was taller than two stories.  Needless to say, the house was no longer rentable and eventually it burned down.  Now only stone remains are left.

Map: Location on Bing Maps Bird’s Eye view