Haunting photos reveal sad ruins of a prestigious New York girls school left abandoned for more than 30 years

By LAURA COX

Imposing: Bennett College's Halcyon Hall sits atop a steep hill in a desolate neighbour-less location

These are the haunting images of a once-privileged Millbrook school abandoned and left to rot. Set atop a steep hill, the imposing Halcyon Hall of Bennett college looks sure to harbour a lifetime of secrets and debauchery.
Having served as the main building of the all-girls private school for almost a century, one can only imagine the secrets these decaying walls hold.
The building’s crumbling façade is weather-worn and battered, with glass-less windows and mossy walls.
There are no neighbouring properties in sight of its desolate location, where it once stood proud and prestigious, originally designed as a luxury hotel.

Then and now: Bennett College, an all-girls school, was founded in 1890 and closed its doors in 1978

Derelict: Beams of light shine through holes in the crumbling walls, casting light onto the moss-lined floorboards

Tape recorders, old desks and battered sofas remain in the shell of Bennett college, strewn across the decaying building as an eerie reminder of the life that was there before the school closed its doors in 1978.
A door marked ‘H-212C’ adds to the mystery of the building’s past – what went on behind it?

Deserted: The empty shell has lain abandoned for years

Sad: Torn and damaged furniture remains inside the building, which is set for demolition any day now

But that piece of history will soon be lost forever, as the old school building is set to be demolished any day now.
Parts of the school have maintained their former glory, like a grand looking staircase that just needs a quick sweep but much of it is already destroyed, with holes in walls and the roof casting beams of light onto dusty, splintered floors.
And vandals have had a go at the sad old building, too, with graffiti scrawled across many of the walls.
Photographer Steven Bley went inside the decaying building, which has been fenced off since last august to take the harrowing images.
He was told that demolition is imminent.

Abandoned: An old tape recorder serves as a reminder of the young life that once flourished within the school's walls

Ornate: A grand-looking staircase remains in good condition, bar the graffiti on the walls and a lot of dust

Mystery: What went on behind this door?

Original: Just imagine what went on within these walls when the building operated as a school from 1890 to 1978

Read more: Flickr: stevenbley

source: dailymail