Glenwood Power Station in Yonkers

Photos by Nate Dorr » Yonkers' Glenwood Power Station was completed in 1906 as part of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad's switch from steam engines to electrified rails. In 1936, the coal-burning power plant was sold to ConEd to power much of Yonkers and the surrounding region, until the 1960s, when it shut down for good. Now, with turbines and reusable machinery removed, much of the building has fallen into a state of beautiful decrepitude. Water pools on the floor of the huge, balcony-skirted gallery of the turbine room, while the boiler room's winding network catwalks and shaky ladders gradually crumbles, leaving the smokestacks suspended, eerily, 40 feet off the ground.

Text by Nate Dorr
Posted on November 12, 2007

As with much of New York City's waterfront, the historic building is up for renovation and re-development. Fortunately, much of the original infrastructure will be maintained, and their are plans for a contemporary art museum. Less promisingly, the new design lops off both the original skylight roof and the striking smokestacks, installing, instead, condo towers that seem bent on being as out of place with their surroundings as possible.

blog comments powered by Disqus

I would love the chance to photograph this place. I went there recently and there are all sorts of "No Trespassing" signs all over the place. Something about rustic abandoned places give such an artistic attraction for decrepit appreciation.

— Spin on April 21, 2009

These photos are exquisitely beautiful. Let's hope that all of the world's industrial sites have the good grace to rust out as gorgeously once we're all gone from this planet.

— Tim on July 10, 2008

How often do these gang initiations happen here? And is it true that a woman's body was found beaten and mutilated in there 1 year ago? That mattress sure looks inviting!

— TrixieDelight on July 01, 2008