About

“It is much more difficult today to simply drive up, park your car, and take a walk along the shore. It was easier in the time of decaying waterfront industry, and I personally preferred it that way. The few people you met were friendly lovers of nature and of the Hudson, instead of scowling parking lot attendants and deputy law enforcement officers telling you to “move on.”

~ Arthur Adams, The Hudson Through the Years, 1996.

Yeah, that sums it up.

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Email me/bio
Hudson Valley Ruins Homepage
Hudson Valley Ruins Photography Exhibit at the New York State Museum
“Hudson Valley Ruins: Forgotten Landmarks of an American Landscape.” Published by the University Press of New England

Photographs and text that appear on www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/rob/ are the property of Robert Yasinsac, unless otherwise noted, and may not be published or posted elsewhere in print or online without permission.

14 Responses to About

  1. VINNY COSTANTINO says:

    REALLY ENJOYED YOUR BOOK AND TURNED A FEW PEOPLE ON TO IT ALSO BECAUES OF THE BOOK WE HAVE TAKEN A COUPLE OF MOTORCYCLES TRIPS BASED ON PLACES IN BOOK. I REMEMBER AS A KID THE TERRYTOWN GM PLANT AND MY UNCLE HAD A LOVE FOR THE CASTLE SO FAR TWO YEARS IN A ROW WE CAME UP. FIRST TRIP SLEEPY HOLLOW AND STOPPED AT OL GM PLANT…KIND OF BRINGS A TEAR TO YOUR EYE THIS YEAR WE CAME UP TO VIEW CASTEL WE COME FROM EASTERN LI…TAKE CARE

    • HV-Rob says:

      Hello Vinny,

      thanks a lot, I’m glad that you enjoyed the book and found it to be inspiring and useful. I have a lot of photos of the GM plant as it was being torn down, someday I’d like to scan them and post them to the site too.

      Thank you again and enjoy your travels.

      -Rob

  2. Comet says:

    Come a little farther North and you can see some more ruins—from the OTHER sections of Hudson Falls/Fort Edward –including what is left of Rogers Island where bodies have been recently discovered dating to the Revolution when the Island was a hospital and also ruins of the docks at the North End just South of the GE plant were uncovered during the dredging.

    See the stretch of Route 9 between Albany and–well almost anywhere!!!–but the Clifton Park area boasts so many beautiful abandoned structures it makes me cry. There is a small collection of a Tavern and other buildings that is screaming SAVE ME at the intersection heading to Mechanicville; on Rt 9 heading North from there I see many boarded up 18th century homes that sadly will NOT fit on my Harbor Freight trailer! Mech-Ville itself recently lost the old NYSEG power plant to fire; just the bricks alone were fabulous; and the old yellow glazed brick smoke stack across the street from an old mill was also torn down-it was once one of a pair one of which was damaged and torn down due to a tornado in the late 90’s if I ‘member right.

    Glens Falls and farther North have even more fab ruins or soon to be ruins–Pre-Ruins????—–old houses mills and barns.

    And if you have not run into it seek out an older book called DUTCH HOUSES IN THE HUDSON VALLEY BEFORE 1776. Forward by FDR. Think this was reprinted by Dover or similar. Amazing houses some of which are still standing. Having grown up in a Dutch house from well before 1776 in NJ I got the historic “bug” as an infant. Haven’t been “cured” yet. Am going to be making a big effort to take more pics as we travel the area on our motorcycle—astonishing what MORE you see when there is no roof and windows in your way! I am one of those sappy people who think that anything with even one brick left is worth preserving-all it needs is a couple coats of paint and a few throw pillows!

    Oh and GE might be leaving this area—recent announcement. The dredging continued up until last week–that water musta been COLD!!!!!—-and is still stirring up PCB’s in the Thompson Island “Pool”. We really need a better way to do this! There are some fab ruins in that area too. But–bear in mind–that when most of these PCB’s were leaked or dumped this was legal. And I know people who worked there who died horrible deaths because of their exposure. So–conflicted on this. My husband worked for a time at a papermill where they had encapsulated some of these from the first dredging ops and they were warned to NEVER drink the water. That newer mill is gone now but the eerie dome of the PCB tomb remains—people fly model airplanes there now. In 100 years will anyone KNOW or CARE what is buried there??? Scary.

    Would love to email you more spots you might like to see before they are gone!

  3. Andrea says:

    Hello Rob,
    I just discovered your blog & I love it! Thanks for all the interesting history.

  4. Michelle says:

    I just discovered your photos, book, and blog tonight while looking at pictures of ruins online. I am so intrigued that I have to get your book! I live in Rockland and am interested in all things Hudson Valley, and I just wanted to let you know. I can’t wait to read through your book and hopefully do some exploring on my own.

  5. HV-Rob says:

    Thank you Michelle! Enjoy the book, and good luck exploring!

  6. chris says:

    your work on the Bennett school was incredible I cant stop thinking of this pleace !!

  7. Kyle says:

    Hello Rob,

    I’ve been a fan of Hudson Valley Ruins for years and the blog is great too. I can recall checking out your website way back in middle school. Many years later I’m working on an MD and continue to enjoy your posts!

    This site has a great message, which has evolved for me over the years from a simple fascination with these old structures to the sad realization that we are sacrificing our personality for a quick fix. (Well demonstrated in the Tarrytown village hall post)

    Keep up the good work, you never know who you’ll inspire to one day save some of these historic places that charm our towns.
    -Kyle

    • HV-Rob says:

      Hi Kyle,

      thank you very much! I appreciate you coming back to heck out the site again and again. Inspiration is the best thing I can hope for out of this site. Good luck in school!

      Best regards,

      Rob

  8. Tyler says:

    hey Rob,
    I love your site…can you tell me a bit more about the buildings on your header picture?

    Best

    Tyler

  9. Faith Duchene says:

    Hi Rob, I am very interested in the ruins of St. John Fresh Air home in Tomkins Cove. Is there a book or pictures of the Gate house and camp house? I am visiting in 2 weeks and would love to have these memories with me! My whole family has wonderful memories of spending years there! My mother and brother worked at the big house and evan stayed in the gatehouse! Really appreciate your pictures posted. Thank you for your kindness.

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