Name: Alma College Location: St. Thomas, Ontario Status: Demolished Accessibility: Easy Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Upon hearing the news that Alma College, an abandoned ladies college, had been approved for its transformation into a retirement community, one of my regular exploring companions, Jupiter, contacted me about checking out the building before the wrecking ball rolled around. Since Alma was one of those buildings I had always been meaning to check out but never found the time, I eagerly agreed. We parked the car near the side of the college on a residential street; all that separates the two of us from the property is a set of railroad tracks and some tall weeds. There is no perimeter fence and a well traveled trail leads straight to the building, besides that the only other security measures are the occasional ‘no trespassing’ notice posted on the side of building. This will be difficult for sure. As we approach the building two people wander out from the back of the building, a male and a female, both clearly adults carrying around camera equipment, it’s obvious we have a similar goal. The two people seem relieved to see our cameras out and introduce themselves as a couple of explorers from New Jersey who also heard about the impending demolition of the school. We exchange our online usernames, though I can’t recall their handles, and talk about entry details. The two New Jersey explorers had already been probing the windows and doorways for a way inside and have discovered that the city has done a satisfactory job at securing the building. At first the windows appear to be easily scaled for entry, until you notice that some kind individual has covered them in grease, it’s impossible to get a grip on anything and you’ll immediately take a tumble back toward solid ground. On top of that there’s exposed nails everywhere! However they did find one possible entry point nestled in a corner of the building if you didn’t mind awkwardly squeezing your way into the basement. There’s nothing like starting an exploration by getting a little dirty. Inside the school we all split up and go our separate ways, I even distance myself from Jupiter who is photographing at a sloth’s pace. The building interiors are gutted to the bare support beams as if someone planned to renovate it and then gave up, ran out of money, or hoped the building would simply topple down. Any majesty the building once boasted from its time as a girl’s school is long gone. Left behind are buckled hardwood floors and bare wooden support beams, to say it simply: this place would light up like a match. I ran into the two New Jersey explorers once more and they explain that they’re heading out, it’s a little sudden but then again they’re a long way from home. I see them exit the building from a higher floor and decide to ascend even higher through the building, most of the floors are very cut and paste so I don’t feel too bad just walking through the place. I enter the attic and suddenly I hear a god awful sound, pounding on the walls and shattering noises, screaming and threats of violence. My mind begins to jump to the worst possible conclusion; did the property owner or police show up and see the other guys exit? I try and get a better vantage point to see what’s going on but I can’t see anything. No cars, no people, just loud noises and now giggling. Giggling? I continue through the top storey and turn a corner to hear someone screaming out demandingly and then I stop noticing some movement from the corner of my eye, there’s this kid standing there, maybe sixteen, and he’s making that uneasy “do I know you?” face before suddenly darting away. The group of kids is in the building now and they’re making a ton of noise, I make a note that we should get the hell out of here. I quickly find Jupiter and we agree it’s time to go; these shit heads are going to attract the police. As we exit Jupiter explains to me that he saw the group of kids trying to force through some boarding with their bare hands and rather then have them bluntly break into the building in broad daylight he told them our point of entry. Presumably so they’d shut up. This did not work. After our quick exit we did a walk around the building taking a few exterior photos, their screams and laughter still clearly audible across the field. It was time to go. Less than a year later, two local teenagers burned Alma College to the ground. October 9th, 2007 BACK