June 2022 | Page 19

CityState : Current l Edited by Dana Laverty

Abandoned from Above

A filmmaker captures the state ’ s forgotten icons in an online series . By Lauren Clem
Where others see neglect , Jason Allard sees art . The Providence-based filmmaker uses drone and traditional video footage to capture scenes of Rhode Island ’ s most iconic abandoned spaces and features them on his YouTube documentary series , “ Abandoned from Above .” “ There are a lot of places that people are familiar with , but might not know the full story ,” he says .
Among the tales of forgotten ghost towns and unpaid debts are stories of roadside attractions heavy with summer memories and once-vibrant businesses that stand as monuments to another time . The Woonsocket native first became interested in filmmaking at the age of thirteen when his parents bought him an 8mm camera . Though he studied psychology at the University of Rhode Island , his interest in urban exploration soon found him scoping out spots like the former Ladd School in Exeter and Providence ’ s Crook Point Bascule Bridge ( the “ stuck-up ” abandoned bridge
on the Seekonk River ).
In 2013 , he had his first break as a documentary filmmaker with the release of My Old School , a behind-the-scenes look at the former Woonsocket Middle School , which had closed four years earlier . The film , which premiered on Rhode Island PBS , gained a foothold with audiences and inspired him to explore more of the state ’ s abandoned spots .
“ My hope with these films is to bring more awareness to these places and hopefully push redevelopment along or at least preservation in some way ,” he says .
For some of the properties featured in the series , such as Providence ’ s Superman Building , the future looks promising as new redevelopment plans come to light . For others , like the former Windswept Estate just north of Scarborough State Beach , Allard ’ s videos are a snapshot in time of a place that will never flourish again .
“ They ’ re pretty much time capsules when you visit them ,” he says . “ A lot of them are stuck in time .”
Windswept Estate Known to some as the “ Pain Killer house ,” this iconic property on the north end of Scarborough State Beach was built in 1895 for the Davis family , who made their fortune marketing a potent mix of opium and alcohol as a remedy for chronic pain . After several changes in ownership , the property fell into disrepair and was eventually sold to the Department of Environmental Management . “ Like most abandoned places , it burned to the ground , but what ’ s left is the remains of the carriage house on Scarborough Beach ,” Allard says .
Apex Building Once a thriving department store , Pawtucket ’ s iconic , pyramid-like structure just off Route 95 was designed by Andrew Geller , an architect better known for his whimsical home designs . “ He was called the architect of happiness , so he had all these strange designs . He originally designed beach houses that looked like spaceships ,” Allard says . Though not officially abandoned — the company still operated there in a limited capacity as of May — the site is due for a new look after it was purchased by the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency last year . “ If you look at it , it ’ s basically the largest billboard in the state ,” Allard says .
Milk Can The Milk Can , noticeable to anyone driving in North Smithfield on Route 146 , is a relic of a time when roadside food stands ( and their wacky ways of catching the attention of passersby ) were an important element of America ’ s newly discovered driving culture . As noted in his video , the former creamery was originally located about a mile down the road in Lincoln , but later relocated to accommodate a new highway .
Ram Tail Factory Hidden inside the woods of Foster are the ruins of the Ram Tail Factory , once the home of the Foster Woolen Manufacturing Company . In 1822 , Peleg Walker , one of the business ’ s partners , was found dead on the factory floor in the midst of personal financial straits . His ghost was later said to cause odd disturbances in the factory , making the ruins a site of interest for historians and paranormal investigators alike . “ In the 1880s state census , it was designated as haunted , making it the only place in New England , as far as I can tell , officially designated in a census as haunted ,” Allard says .
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ABANDONED FROM ABOVE / JASON ALLARD .
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JUNE 2022 17