Abandoned Season 1 Episode 4 Maryland Silk Mill
- TV-MA
- August 29, 2012
- 22 min
-
8.1 (26)
In the fourth episode of season one of Abandoned, titled "Maryland Silk Mill," host and skateboard enthusiast Rick McCrank sets out on a journey to explore an abandoned silk mill located in Baltimore, Maryland.
As soon as Rick arrives at the site, he is struck by the sheer size of the building. The silk mill, which dates back to the late 19th century, takes up an entire city block and is a maze of interconnected structures. Despite its dilapidated state and the fact that it has been abandoned for decades, the mill still has an eerie beauty to it, with its red brick facade and walls that are covered in ivy.
Rick is joined by a local historian, who explains the history of the silk mill. At the turn of the century, the mill was one of the largest manufacturers of silk in the United States, and it employed thousands of workers from the surrounding community. However, as synthetic fabrics became more popular in the mid-20th century, the demand for silk dwindled, and the mill was eventually forced to close its doors.
As Rick makes his way through the abandoned mill, he encounters a number of different spaces – from vast open rooms that once housed spinning machines and looms, to more claustrophobic areas that were used for storage. The mill is also full of artifacts from its past – including old machinery, scraps of silk, and even some of the original worker's uniforms – that provide a haunting glimpse into what life must have been like inside the mill during its heyday.
One of the most striking features of the silk mill is its stunning brickwork. Despite its age and the fact that it has been exposed to the elements for so many years, the mill's brickwork remains remarkably intact. As Rick walks through the mill, he can't help but admire the craftsmanship that went into creating it.
However, the mill also has its darker side. As Rick explores deeper into the building, he discovers evidence of vandalism and drug use. Graffiti covers many of the walls, and empty beer cans and drug paraphernalia litter the floors. It's a stark reminder of the toll that abandonment and neglect can take on once-proud structures.
Overall, "Maryland Silk Mill" is a fascinating look at a piece of American industrial history that has been left behind. Through Rick's exploration of the mill and its environs, viewers are given a sense of what life must have been like in the silk mills of the early 20th century, while also grappling with the challenges of preserving these historic sites in the modern age.