Well I know I said I would try for 3 updates a month to the blog and here we are with almost 4 months later and no updates.That will be changing very soon as I have approximately 6 posts ready to go and I will be publishing them all in the next couple weeks.This winter has been a little slow for exploring due to heavy amounts of snow and very cold conditions.I got out a few times in December on some small trips where Arilem and I explored some ghost towns in the Yorkton and Swift Current areas.Things may continue to be a little slow for us until the snow pack melts.The desolate rural areas we tend to frequent are almost inaccessible right now even with a 4×4. However if the flood predictions are true I might have to go document some of the flooding which I will post on this blog as well.I appreciate everybodys patience and the patience should be worthwhile as several updates are on the way.
The base officially closed in the early 1970s. A private company has taken over a fair bit of the base. They use the runways, the hangers, the barracks, and most of the support buildings which makes it not possible to explore those areas. The areas that we have been able to see include hundreds of duplex houses, schools, post office, community centre, church, theatre and various other buildings.
Our return visit will more than likely be our last as we move on to see other new locations. Enjoy!!
Approach lighting for the main runway
Barracks – this base once had 10,000 people on it so there are lots of houses and barracks around.
One of the schools – This one is in better condition than the other
Community buildings – not sure what this one was used for – it was near the church and post office.
On our return visit to the US we stopped by the Hospital that we saw in July. We saw about 25% of it back in July and wanted to see the rest. This hospital is the most intact abandoned hospital I have ever seen. There is so much equipment left. It is hard to believe that there wasnt any effort to sell some of this equipment off.
I am not sure when this hospital closed, but I would assume sometime in the late 80s or early 90s. There isnt any computer equipment that I recall seeing so I think it is safe to say it closed in that time period as thats about as late as I can imagine a hospital still not using computers.
The hospital surprisingly still has all kinds of patient files lying around which seems like a major breach in patient confidentiality. Now I am not aware of US law in regards to patient files however its a common site. I have found all kinds of confidential personal information laying around many different abandoned sites.
I recall seeing all kinds of records in Providence Hospital in Moose Jaw when I explored it in November 2005. I photographed it and reported it to the Saskatchewan Privacy Commissioner in 2006 shortly after the hospital was razed. The Saskatchewan Privacy Commissioner disputed my photos and the dates and said I must be mistaken. They insisted the hospital was demolished in September 2005 even though I have photos of its demolition in Sept 2006. So much for doing the right thing when nothing happens because of it and you are basically called a liar.
Treatment room near the entrance
Looking from the surgical area towards the cafeteria
Most doors were fairly well secured
This appears to be the nurses call station. I assume when you pushed the nurse call button in one of the rooms it would come to this unit.
Front of the Hospital and what remains of the sign
Scrub up area adjacent to the operating room
Another shot in the OR
Laboratory – lots of patient files from the early 1970’s
X-ray machine
Controls from X-ray. There were two identical X-ray – however one room had no equipment left.
Dentist Chair
Most of the rooms still had beds in them. Unusual as most abandoned hospitals I have been in have no beds left.
