I know this is kinda weird but my great aunt Dora Dillon was a nun here. She died in 1959 way before I was born. My mom used to visit this place when I was a small kid in the 80s. They moved her to a different burial site in Jersey City in 2018. I think the cemetery at Blue Chapel is empty now. They were supposed to do something with it the city just never did. Kind of crazy seeing parts of the building I never saw before. I really appreciate this video.
Years ago, an abandoned house video by someone had a comment by a person who lived in the house. There were family photos, family stuff still in the house. I do believe that the person said it gave them some closure to see it. Thanks for sharing your memories.
The area you walked into at 9 minutes into the video was the visitor's area. I noticed the passthrough to the far right of the frame. What would happen when family or friends came to see one of the sisters they would be shown into this area, and the nun would join them remaining on the opposite side of the grill work. The reason for this arrangement was because once the sister entered the community, she isolated herself from the world forsaking anything and everything connected to the outside world. This included physical contact with her friends and family. The grill ensured that this boundary was maintained. The passthrough allowed gifts from family and friends as well as other benefactors in the community could be given to the nuns if the gift was for a particular nun, it would be given to the Mother Superior so that it could be shared with the whole community.
I used to work in a convent and these practices weren't in place, the nuns had freedom to go where they wanted and leave whenever they chose. This system of isolation is extremely old fashioned. Some of the best people I've ever met were nuns. I enjoy these convent/monastery explores.
These Nuns and Preists think they're serving GOD, the reality is nothing could be farther from the truth! These women have a purpose in life and they are not fulfilling that purpose by wasting away in a convent.
Absolutely ridiculous. Jesus and God never intended for humans to live a life of neglect like this. It’s a major reason so many priests and others are ch1ld mol3st3rs.
@@AwesomeFish12 This depends on the order. these were probably Carmelite family who are a closed order and once they enter the convent are not allowed to have close contact with anyone outside, hust like Anthony says. My cousin belong to such an order.
That's correct, there are still a few convents like this in the south of the Netherlands. These are contemplative orders. Their main focus is a life of prayer. You can visit the Chapel, but all have this L shape, with a grate separating the visitors from the sisters in the main Chapel.
The room with the cage at 8:43 was probably a parlor where the nuns could receive visitors. In older monasteries, cloistered sisters were often separated from their guests by a grille like the one you saw.
The dentist drill is from the 1950's. I had my molars drilled and filled with such a drill in the 1950's. The rotating carousel is for parents to give their babies to the nuns for adoption. The bath tub is for the babies to bathe them and prepare them for adoption. In the 1950's there were not birth control pills so women had babies they may not want or could afford so they gave them to the nuns for adoption. Families which wanted children but medically could not have them, would contact the nuns for babies to adopt.
What you're describing is called a baby hatch, and if convent had one it would have been in an external door or wall facing the public street with a string attached to a bell inside. It wouldn't have been inside the main building. I have no idea if this convent had one (not all did). The rotating hatch in this video is clearly to prevent cloistered nuns from having to interact with outsiders that bring them deliveries or donations. They are trying to intentionally self-isolate from all distracting worldly matters so they can focus on praying. Even the screen in the visiting area is there to be blatantly symbolic of the barrier between the cloistered nun and her family on the outside - she can talk to them, but she's permanently out of reach.
There was a time when effort was put forth on building and maintaining that monastery. People lived in it and visited. Then as time went on, eventually as you said, things were abandoned. As I watched, I wondered about certain pieces left behind, a chair, or ladder, or dish, who was the last person to lay hands on such pieces not knowing they would never be touched again? The last time a prayer was uttered, a bible or hymnal opened or a candle lit? I have always found a beauty in the ruin and decay.
That's humanity for ya. Anything a million men can build over a thousand years can be ruined in a decade and obliterated in a century... just from sheer entropy.
@@inkman234 I always think about that when I watch these videos. I think about it alot with the machinery they come across. Someone had to be trained to work those things and now nobody remembers how it works.
It pains me to see this Cloister in this condition. I had the privilege of spending a few nights within the enclosure with the sisters back in the late 90s. It was really an absolutely beautiful and otherworldly place and experience, and the interior and gardens were not in disrepair at the time. The prioress Mother Mary Claire and another nun Sister Mary Gemma told me they had entered the Cloister as very young women back in 1939, and had been there all those years, I remember that both were very petite in stature. Towards the back, there was a small cemetery where they laid to rest the sisters that had died within the convent, and this is where they all believed would be their final resting place. The room at 13:40 is the choir where the nuns sat on beautiful wooden pews to chant and pray, and it was partially hidden from the public in the chapel who came to pray. Around the Clock, taking turns, there was always a nun in that area praying the Rosary. Both the Mother and sister Gemma, like all the other nuns in the monastery were just lovely, and quite contemporary women in thought and world view. It was truly a beautiful Chapel and Monastery with Incredible souls within that enclosure. This I will never forget.
It's criminal what the Catholic Church has allowed by sitting idly by while their daughters and sons were kicked out these sacred places due to lack of financial means. The Vatican has enough money to distribute for the rebirth of these holy sites. Unfortunately the monies never go to maintaining these historical buildings. I believe all of these monasteries could've been sustained by abherring to the pre-Vatican II traditions. Pre-Vatican II the monasteries were operating strong as orphanages, hospitals, and schools. Parents quit sending their children when the Catholic Schools quit being traditionally Catholic.
We will never see times, or architecture like this again. It's quite sad really. The heart and spirit of designers is gone. I wish I could see buildings like this in person. They exist only in my memory,and on the proper people. Thank you
@@fisqual right, and what happened with both sculpture and product design is, the accents were cast from existing works (rather than hiring an artist), and then simplified away during the bauhaus movements. however, unlike the economic accessibility which defined bauhaus, modern "simplicity" was to cut costs to increase profits.
@fisqual I guess I was different. I took pride in my work. Most everybody I worked with did the same, even at 3.35 an hr. When I hit the work force in the late 70s early 80s there were not many jobs, so you did your best so you could eat. Also I run Kanto people 44 yrs later who remember what I did. That follows you around, a good work ethic
@@aprylrittenhouse4562 Adjusting for inflation $3.35 in 1975 is worth something like $21 today and I know you could even own a house on that. I think people would have more pride in their work if wages weren't falling behind so badly. I don't disagree that work ethic is important but it's hard to maintain motivation when corporations are taking 90% of the value of your labor for themselves.
I’m a huge history lover and seeing parts of history that are sitting, left to the elements is fascinating but also heartbreaking. Architecture like this is amazing, something you don’t see anymore and it’s so sad to see it not being preserved somehow. Thank you for another great video. Look forward to the next.
I do as well. Unfortunately it may be slightly more difficult now since TPP posted this video. I know that they do urbex in good faith and most viewers appreciate what they do, but there's always a few people out there who look for these videos for pristine buildings to vandalize and steal from.
@@corsairplays6413 couldn’t agree more, the location is already known by comments I’ve read. This has to be protected, get a go fund me to hire security. To me , this is a look into something I had no idea about and it’s fascinating!😉 But yeah, some people aren’t proper..they’re dicks.
I don't know if it was sold. I found lots of information about this Blue Chapel, that's what the Monastery was called. City made it a landmark 11 years ago and there were lots of talk about future of property, preservation etc. There's a video from 11 years ago and interview was done inside of the Chapel, where you can see Christ (while it's missing now) and other things, and all beautiful painted glass windows. It looked beautiful and intact. 11 years past and that place was robbed and decay occured, and these explorers coming and going. It is a private property. Blue Chapel Order owner it, and they could of sold it or still owns it.
@@user-wc7mo9uo9o well that’s tragic to think they made it a heritage site by government and let it get robbed. 🤨 It’s a miracle that it hasn’t been tagged and trashed?! As is a structure it’s amazing and could be retro fitted AND keep a bit of history intact for the future. In my area there are buildings that are over 200 years old and left to rot, some beef with the municipality taxation and bylaws. Government VS crazy property owners, we all lose when someone burns it down.😔
@@devinangola3458 I think you better read about it. I was curious after watching this video. Just Google Blue Chapel or Dominican Sisters Monastery in Union City NJ. It was only landmarked by City, but it seems nothing was done afterwards. You see, that Blue Chapel Order owned it and Monastery was vacated not just because dwindling finances, lack of heat (imagine their electricity bill!!) but because they only had few nuns living at that place. But the history of this Monastery is amazing. I think in order to do anything with that place they needed money. Blue Chapel Order wanted to build 100 apartments with underground garage and raise it 3 stores. They obviously knew that this place can't longer serve it's original purpose. Maybe they would protect the building this way. But there were protests. Afterwards they wanted to sell it. Well, 11 years past (based on the video I watched) and obviously no buyer came in. And Government? They all just like to talk on camera. No money appeared to help this place.
I was a sister about a decade ago, toward the beginning the guys look like they're in a workroom where the sisters may have worked on habits, vestments, or other things related to sewing. You see large steamer trunks. A lot of times in the early days of a community, the young women were given a list of things they could bring (basic things like underwear, socks, etc. along with a limited number of personal items). Those items would be put in a large steamer trunk and that trunk would follow the sister throughout her life from assignment to assignment. If she could not fit it in the trunk, it didn't go with her. It was common way the community exercised the vow of poverty. When I was in formation, I got to explore the basement of our massive motherhouse and in that basement were the old steamer trunks with the tags in Polish (it was a Polish community) with the names of the long-deceased sisters who owned them.
Such an amazing place to explore. I think the word you were looking for is "deconsecrate," where they take the large crucifix out from in front of that awesome mosaic.
Well, it was either taken and placed somewhere else (Christ) or most likely stolen. There is a video from 11 years ago, when the City made Blue Chapel a landmark, and Indian reporter interviewed the man who worked there for 30 years, right inside of the Chapel. And you can see large figure of Christ, and all painted glass windows there, and some other interesting statue. Chapel looked beautiful and not damaged or robbed like today. It was a private property. Blue Chapel Order own it and was considering to sell it. I wonder if it was finally sold. In any case, this place was robbed; decay happened, these "explorers" going in and out. Sad.
I really appreciate you guys not messing with stuff or destroying it. i love to explore and I try to take only pictures and leave only footprints. These old forgotten places are in the memories of some people as we can see by reading some of the comments below so we should always treat them with the respect due.
I'm a dentist and this old "fuel pump" style dental unit was manufactured between the 1910's and the 1950's. In the 60's, dentists began working sat and reclining their patients. Many of these old units were retrofitted with high speed air dental turbines in the fifties. You are right about the belt-driven handpiece. This technology disappeared in the 70's with the micromotor now integrated between the shaft of the handpiece and the chord.
Came to say the same as @adriansrealm. Cloistered nuns, monks, friars, etc opt to focus solely on prayer and avoid the outside world's influences. I grew up in the Catholic church. It wasn't so much about not being touched but just being separated from the outside.
It's so awesome to see a place like this where no one has vandalized and tagged everything, or smashed everything 'just for fun', or otherwise desecrated it. Thank you for sharing this beautiful and peaceful place. I would love to be the caretaker of that.
@@fernandoferreira6293 careful there edgy mean boy don't wanna hurt yourself leaning on that massive sharp adult edge you big grown adult edgy man. People ARE the disease don't you know
The room with the mesh was a parlor. The nuns (cloistered sisters are called nuns/sister allowed to go into the world are called sisters) would sit on one side and the visitor(s) would sit on the other. The grille (what the mesh is called) was to signify their separation from the world. When a woman entered this community, she basically spent the rest of her days behind these walls, praying for the world and doing different types of work to support the community. Cloistered communities do not allow outsiders into their cloister save for priests and repairmen in case of necessity. Also, nuns very rarely left their monastery save for doctor's appointments where the doctor won't/can't do a housecall.
@8:47 that's the room where the nuns would receive visitors. these nuns were cloistered, so they had to stay on one side of the grate, while the visitors would stay on the other side. the panel in the lower wall was for passing items back and forth.
Probably a nun who worked in the basement had a Brother in Vietnam and was praying for him. And nobody took it down as it had significance for one of them and they thought it bad to disrespect it.
Considering it shut down in 2009, it's possible that if it were a personal thing for one of the nuns, she may very well have still been there when the convent was abandoned.
For being in a major city, it was truly refreshing to see no graffiti. The drill looking machine was terrifying. The mosaic was beautiful. One of your best explores. As always, a great adventure. Thanks
There was typically a potress who were in charge of watching the door and greeting guests. There were nuns who were strictly cloistered and then those who were allowed to be outside the cloister called extern nuns. Those nuns did the shopping and any other tasks that required going outside of the cloister of the monastery.
Wow.That Hotpoint fridge at 4:07! We have a similar model sitting in our garage right now. It was my grandparents fridge that they used until the 80's and then relegated it to their basement pantry when they bought new appliances. Still works because they built these things to last and has outlived that fridge bought in the 80's. We kept it for utility and sentimental value. My grandparents fridge was bought in the 40's so I'd say that this one dates to around the same time or a little later and likely was still functional when the building closed in '09.
Also wanted to add that the way the church was laid out might have been because services held there may have been for the cloistered nuns and an associated parish. Having 2 areas with separation would allow the nuns to attend mass while still remaining cloistered. The room with the screen was for the same reasons. This is where members of the order would be able to interact with the public as needed but remained cloistered because they are "separated" by that screen. The little doors would be to pass things like mail or documents through.
What a beautiful and amazing "escape" from the world around it. It'd be amazing to see it somewhat restored and repurposed into a community for people in the area.
How amazing is that! The beautiful wood, the mosaic, the wooden pews! Makes me very sad to see that beautiful old monastery just sitting there, slowly decaying. Wow! Great video, boys!!
I’m not religious but it’s a shame to see a place like this no longer serve a purpose. With all due respect to the former occupants sacrifices for their faith and beliefs it’s sad to see it left as a decaying monument of the past. Great explore.
Michale and Bryan thank you for this beautiful exploration of the ministry seeing the old singer sewing machines and the old dentist chair I can see it was a bit of a time capsule what a great video I always love seeing where you explore next keep up this great channel
This must of been a beautiful monastery when it was in use, such a pity they couldn't preserve it, and maybe make it into a museum, another awesome video as usual, thanks for all the hard work you guys do to share such gems 😍♥️👌😊🇬🇧
This is a really common sentiment, but making it into a museum would condemn it to almsot the same fate eventually. Who pays for the museum? How many people would go to a monastery museum in the first place? It sucks, but buildings are like people, if they don’t have a purpose, they crumble to dust.
You're not wrong about the cassette at 17:30 being a fire mix tape. That album was actually really popular when it came out in 1994. It sold 2 million copies in the US (4 million worldwide) and made it to #3 on the US Billboard chart. Most people born before about 1984 probably remember the commercials for an album called Pure Moods that had a Gregorian Chant that was made into a pop song by the group Enigma. Chant was all the rage for a few years in the mid 90's. If a monastery was going to have one cassette it makes sense it would be that one. ua-cam.com/video/AZJSjrox_2s/v-deo.html
17:28 That actually WAS a 'fire mixtape'--that recording charted in the 1990s. 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵 Incredible time capsule--one of my all-time favourite Proper People episodes.
Such a beautiful place! Im so glad to see there was no graffiti and there was still loads of cool stuff to see inside! You guys always do a fantastic job :)
This is very similar to a monastery we have in Boston. Yes, they are nuns but it is a monastery. They were once cloistered so they have a dental setup like this one. This exploration was wonderful, thanks guys!
The second level overlooking the chapel was probably an early infirmary for older or sick sisters. They would be able to at least attend Mass. Communion was usually brought to them.
Great video as always and good to see you guys back in my weird little state. The small altar you point out at 14:07 was probably the Tabernacle. It's where the bread and wine are kept for communion.
I grew up in Jersey City and had been to this building many times. The building itself was known as the Blue Chapel due to the blue tint in the Stained Glass windows that were throughout the building. The room with the cage was manned by a nun each day as the order of sisters there made various handmade items. You would enter the room and ask the nun for the item you were looking for, Mass Card, Rosary Beads, Crufsfix, Christmas Cards, all of which were handmade by the nuns that lived in the monastery. It was truly a beautiful building and from what i understand now, there is a property management company that wants to buy it and turn it into loft apartments.
Remarkable how so much stuff that was obviously quite old, like mid-century at least, was so well preserved. Especially since there are whole sections that seem to be open to the elements. The place could be a museum.
Incredible video lads, one of your best in my humble..... There was a juxtaposition of emotions in this place: hope/despair, freedom/subjugation, power/fealty, beauty/horrendous...it goes on. Fine viewing as always. Best..... /Dan
It must have been a beautiful place. The Blue Chapel altar and the wood work can still be appreciated. Thank you for doing a close up of the mosaic. What artistry. I grew up in Union City. There is so much history here. It is sadly slowly drifting away. The Monastery, I haven't a clue what that is today, theaters where many came from NYC to see famous vaudeville acts, houses that look victorian some renovated and some that kept their facade and charm on the outside. I love vintage things and I'm just in awe with the books, Singer sewing machines, typewriters and telephones. Oh that tape or whatever, I used to have it. Gregorian Chants by the Dominican Monks. I'm saying "go in the box, the box" in the wheel chair room! Came to live here in 65 and left in 1990. I still miss my little big town.....what I always called it.
Cloistered adjective: having or enclosed by a cloister, as in a monastery. "a cloistered walkway bordered the courtyard" 2. kept away from the outside world; sheltered. "a cloistered upbringing Just incase anybody was wondering why the nuns were separated from the word. I can imagine it would be impossible to recute new nuns to this lifestyle. Everybody here just aged out. I wonder if they can save the building. So much more interesting than another super tall skinny apartment block for thirty people.
8:54 that’s called a grille. Since it was a cloister it was where guests/family would go visit the nuns. 13:59 that’s called the choir. It’s where the sisters would most likely pray the divine office, solemn salve, and other prayers in common. It’s usually closed off with a grille as well. Since they were cloistered nuns, they were closed off from the public. The main area of the church with all the pews was where the public could go to Mass with the nuns. The word I’m thinking you’re referring to is when it was deconsecrated. Also with the saint names on the doors - each cell (the name for the rooms) had a patron saint.
After the first drone shot to open the video, and seeing Manhatten from there, you could imagine the view they had of 9/11 and the growth of NYC over the years....
Thank you for uploading this video, I remember the monastery near the Cloisters ( upper manhattan) and it has some of the same architecture with the 3 tiles and 60s vibe.
The rotating capsule is a baby drop box. When a woman gave birth but could not keep her baby she would put it into the box and ring a bell alerting the nubs that a baby has been left. There it was safe until then nuns spun it around to retrieve the baby and look after it until another home could be found.
Nah. That'd be on the outside wall or door facing the street. This one is just an isolation carousel so they can get deliveries and donations without having to touch, hear or lay eyes on the public.
Watching this while having pneumonia, I’ll be at home until the end of the week so i got a lot of UA-cam watching to do lol. it’s quite painful experience to go through and i miss going to work and the gym. I want my life back. 😩 Well, thank you guys for keeping the exploration videos going all these years!
I'm guessing that if guys ignored the new lawn mower box at 9:09 its because you know how it got there and who put it there. It's pretty cool that you guys are so well known for taking care of the places you visit, that you are invited in. I'm also guessing because you are so well known that your video could actually spark enough interest that this place could get the attention it deserves to be restored. You guys are awesome and you are really good at what you do. Thank you
How the hell is this not destroyed being so close to downtown NYC, thats unbelievable! Also, someone else mentioned it, but when you urbex for long enough, you start to develop a pallete of "urbex smells" that tell you a lot of very important information apon your first step inside, its actually a very useful skill to have
@@dfelsing but I mean, you don’t find buildings that are this well preserved in cities usually, they are often further out of town, so it’s pretty surprising there is an intact abandoned building, anywhere even near NYC
Cloistered nuns had no contact with anyone outside. Once the nun entered the community, she isolated herself from the world forsaking anything and everything connected to the outside world. This included physical contact with her friends and family. My cousin was a nun from the time she graduated from HS. She spent some time in a cloistered convent, but they felt she wasn't ready for that life yet.
@4:27 ──That's an art installation right there on the wall (could be in a gallery), with the torn Stars and Stripes with pictures of saints, on top of a map of Vietnam. Brilliant video once again, P.P.
Thanks. It's fascinating to tour an old monastery, especially one where an enclosed religious order, like Discalced Carmelites once lived. It's amazing to see how they lived in isolation and silence except for prayer.
This is part of my old stomping grounds. I was there when this was a going concern and vaguely remember this back in the 60s and early 70s. One of my bowling alleys was just a few blocks from this place on 8th Street. Weird to see it again, like this when so much else has changed in the surrounding area.
I know this is kinda weird but my great aunt Dora Dillon was a nun here. She died in 1959 way before I was born. My mom used to visit this place when I was a small kid in the 80s. They moved her to a different burial site in Jersey City in 2018. I think the cemetery at Blue Chapel is empty now. They were supposed to do something with it the city just never did. Kind of crazy seeing parts of the building I never saw before. I really appreciate this video.
Comments like these make the videos that much better
Thanks for sharing your experience with this beautiful building, it gives perspective to the building and it's history.
This shouldn’t be considered weird at all. It’s interesting
That was cool
Years ago, an abandoned house video by someone had a comment by a person who lived in the house. There were family photos, family stuff still in the house. I do believe that the person said it gave them some closure to see it. Thanks for sharing your memories.
The area you walked into at 9 minutes into the video was the visitor's area. I noticed the passthrough to the far right of the frame. What would happen when family or friends came to see one of the sisters they would be shown into this area, and the nun would join them remaining on the opposite side of the grill work. The reason for this arrangement was because once the sister entered the community, she isolated herself from the world forsaking anything and everything connected to the outside world. This included physical contact with her friends and family. The grill ensured that this boundary was maintained. The passthrough allowed gifts from family and friends as well as other benefactors in the community could be given to the nuns if the gift was for a particular nun, it would be given to the Mother Superior so that it could be shared with the whole community.
I used to work in a convent and these practices weren't in place, the nuns had freedom to go where they wanted and leave whenever they chose. This system of isolation is extremely old fashioned. Some of the best people I've ever met were nuns. I enjoy these convent/monastery explores.
These Nuns and Preists think they're serving GOD, the reality is nothing could be farther from the truth! These women have a purpose in life and they are not fulfilling that purpose by wasting away in a convent.
Absolutely ridiculous. Jesus and God never intended for humans to live a life of neglect like this. It’s a major reason so many priests and others are ch1ld mol3st3rs.
@@AwesomeFish12 This depends on the order. these were probably Carmelite family who are a closed order and once they enter the convent are not allowed to have close contact with anyone outside, hust like Anthony says. My cousin belong to such an order.
That's correct, there are still a few convents like this in the south of the Netherlands. These are contemplative orders. Their main focus is a life of prayer. You can visit the Chapel, but all have this L shape, with a grate separating the visitors from the sisters in the main Chapel.
The room with the cage at 8:43 was probably a parlor where the nuns could receive visitors. In older monasteries, cloistered sisters were often separated from their guests by a grille like the one you saw.
Yup you got it! Seen this in others like it too.
You know it's a good day when the proper people upload
The proper people always make my day better ☺️
Exactly! I was having a crappy day until I saw the new post
Night. Days suck.
The dentist drill is from the 1950's. I had my molars drilled and filled with such a drill in the 1950's. The rotating carousel is for parents to give their babies to the nuns for adoption. The bath tub is for the babies to bathe them and prepare them for adoption. In the 1950's there were not birth control pills so women had babies they may not want or could afford so they gave them to the nuns for adoption. Families which wanted children but medically could not have them, would contact the nuns for babies to adopt.
Ehhh the rotating box was not for babies. that box is simply to deliver something to the nuns or vis versa.
What you're describing is called a baby hatch, and if convent had one it would have been in an external door or wall facing the public street with a string attached to a bell inside. It wouldn't have been inside the main building. I have no idea if this convent had one (not all did).
The rotating hatch in this video is clearly to prevent cloistered nuns from having to interact with outsiders that bring them deliveries or donations. They are trying to intentionally self-isolate from all distracting worldly matters so they can focus on praying. Even the screen in the visiting area is there to be blatantly symbolic of the barrier between the cloistered nun and her family on the outside - she can talk to them, but she's permanently out of reach.
"Give their babies to the nuns (...)" Scariest horror film ever.
@@fernandoferreira6293 As opposed to murdering them in the womb? You are sick!
These videos always remind me of our mortality. That everything we work on, everything we care about, will one day, sit abandoned.
There was a time when effort was put forth on building and maintaining that monastery. People lived in it and visited. Then as time went on, eventually as you said, things were abandoned. As I watched, I wondered about certain pieces left behind, a chair, or ladder, or dish, who was the last person to lay hands on such pieces not knowing they would never be touched again? The last time a prayer was uttered, a bible or hymnal opened or a candle lit? I have always found a beauty in the ruin and decay.
That's humanity for ya. Anything a million men can build over a thousand years can be ruined in a decade and obliterated in a century... just from sheer entropy.
Abandonment is synonymous to existing.
@@inkman234 I always think about that when I watch these videos. I think about it alot with the machinery they come across. Someone had to be trained to work those things and now nobody remembers how it works.
Michael is such a pro at this that he can tell how good an explore will be just by the smell.
good ol Mike 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I thought the same thing. The mark of vast experience.
A true connoisseur. Like a wine 🍷 expert sniffing the cork.
did you imagine the smell
That mosaic from 14:08 was absolutely gorgeous. So much talent went into that. Such a shame it was just left to be destroyed.
Definitely gonna be destroyed now that these guys released this video .
I thought they just liked NATO for some reason.
It pains me to see this Cloister in this condition. I had the privilege of spending a few nights within the enclosure with the sisters back in the late 90s. It was really an absolutely beautiful and otherworldly place and experience, and the interior and gardens were not in disrepair at the time. The prioress Mother Mary Claire and another nun Sister Mary Gemma told me they had entered the Cloister as very young women back in 1939, and had been there all those years, I remember that both were very petite in stature. Towards the back, there was a small cemetery where they laid to rest the sisters that had died within the convent, and this is where they all believed would be their final resting place. The room at 13:40 is the choir where the nuns sat on beautiful wooden pews to chant and pray, and it was partially hidden from the public in the chapel who came to pray. Around the Clock, taking turns, there was always a nun in that area praying the Rosary. Both the Mother and sister Gemma, like all the other nuns in the monastery were just lovely, and quite contemporary women in thought and world view. It was truly a beautiful Chapel and Monastery with Incredible souls within that enclosure. This I will never forget.
It's criminal what the Catholic Church has allowed by sitting idly by while their daughters and sons were kicked out these sacred places due to lack of financial means. The Vatican has enough money to distribute for the rebirth of these holy sites. Unfortunately the monies never go to maintaining these historical buildings. I believe all of these monasteries could've been sustained by abherring to the pre-Vatican II traditions. Pre-Vatican II the monasteries were operating strong as orphanages, hospitals, and schools. Parents quit sending their children when the Catholic Schools quit being traditionally Catholic.
We will never see times, or architecture like this again. It's quite sad really. The heart and spirit of designers is gone. I wish I could see buildings like this in person. They exist only in my memory,and on the proper people. Thank you
The reason is, land and materials are expensive. Artists and designers can still build like this.
@tinyfingerdildos it's down to that pesky minimum wage -- surely nobody competent is gonna carve intricate works at minimum wage haha.
@@fisqual right, and what happened with both sculpture and product design is, the accents were cast from existing works (rather than hiring an artist), and then simplified away during the bauhaus movements. however, unlike the economic accessibility which defined bauhaus, modern "simplicity" was to cut costs to increase profits.
@fisqual I guess I was different. I took pride in my work. Most everybody I worked with did the same, even at 3.35 an hr. When I hit the work force in the late 70s early 80s there were not many jobs, so you did your best so you could eat. Also I run Kanto people 44 yrs later who remember what I did. That follows you around, a good work ethic
@@aprylrittenhouse4562 Adjusting for inflation $3.35 in 1975 is worth something like $21 today and I know you could even own a house on that. I think people would have more pride in their work if wages weren't falling behind so badly.
I don't disagree that work ethic is important but it's hard to maintain motivation when corporations are taking 90% of the value of your labor for themselves.
I’m a huge history lover and seeing parts of history that are sitting, left to the elements is fascinating but also heartbreaking. Architecture like this is amazing, something you don’t see anymore and it’s so sad to see it not being preserved somehow. Thank you for another great video. Look forward to the next.
This old building/monastery is remarkable!😉
I sure hope someone is trying to preserve this, it’s beautiful.
I do as well. Unfortunately it may be slightly more difficult now since TPP posted this video. I know that they do urbex in good faith and most viewers appreciate what they do, but there's always a few people out there who look for these videos for pristine buildings to vandalize and steal from.
@@corsairplays6413 couldn’t agree more, the location is already known by comments I’ve read. This has to be protected, get a go fund me to hire security. To me , this is a look into something I had no idea about and it’s fascinating!😉
But yeah, some people aren’t proper..they’re dicks.
I don't know if it was sold. I found lots of information about this Blue Chapel, that's what the Monastery was called. City made it a landmark 11 years ago and there were lots of talk about future of property, preservation etc. There's a video from 11 years ago and interview was done inside of the Chapel, where you can see Christ (while it's missing now) and other things, and all beautiful painted glass windows. It looked beautiful and intact. 11 years past and that place was robbed and decay occured, and these explorers coming and going. It is a private property. Blue Chapel Order owner it, and they could of sold it or still owns it.
@@user-wc7mo9uo9o well that’s tragic to think they made it a heritage site by government and let it get robbed. 🤨
It’s a miracle that it hasn’t been tagged and trashed?!
As is a structure it’s amazing and could be retro fitted AND keep a bit of history intact for the future.
In my area there are buildings that are over 200 years old and left to rot, some beef with the municipality taxation and bylaws. Government VS crazy property owners, we all lose when someone burns it down.😔
@@devinangola3458 I think you better read about it. I was curious after watching this video. Just Google Blue Chapel or Dominican Sisters Monastery in Union City NJ. It was only landmarked by City, but it seems nothing was done afterwards. You see, that Blue Chapel Order owned it and Monastery was vacated not just because dwindling finances, lack of heat (imagine their electricity bill!!) but because they only had few nuns living at that place. But the history of this Monastery is amazing. I think in order to do anything with that place they needed money. Blue Chapel Order wanted to build 100 apartments with underground garage and raise it 3 stores. They obviously knew that this place can't longer serve it's original purpose. Maybe they would protect the building this way. But there were protests. Afterwards they wanted to sell it. Well, 11 years past (based on the video I watched) and obviously no buyer came in. And Government? They all just like to talk on camera. No money appeared to help this place.
I was a sister about a decade ago, toward the beginning the guys look like they're in a workroom where the sisters may have worked on habits, vestments, or other things related to sewing. You see large steamer trunks. A lot of times in the early days of a community, the young women were given a list of things they could bring (basic things like underwear, socks, etc. along with a limited number of personal items). Those items would be put in a large steamer trunk and that trunk would follow the sister throughout her life from assignment to assignment. If she could not fit it in the trunk, it didn't go with her. It was common way the community exercised the vow of poverty. When I was in formation, I got to explore the basement of our massive motherhouse and in that basement were the old steamer trunks with the tags in Polish (it was a Polish community) with the names of the long-deceased sisters who owned them.
Very interesting!! ❤️ Eternal rest grant on to them……….🙏🏻
Such an amazing place to explore. I think the word you were looking for is "deconsecrate," where they take the large crucifix out from in front of that awesome mosaic.
Was going to say the same.
Desanctify
They take away the tabernacle with Jesus, not the cross
Well, it was either taken and placed somewhere else (Christ) or most likely stolen. There is a video from 11 years ago, when the City made Blue Chapel a landmark, and Indian reporter interviewed the man who worked there for 30 years, right inside of the Chapel. And you can see large figure of Christ, and all painted glass windows there, and some other interesting statue. Chapel looked beautiful and not damaged or robbed like today. It was a private property. Blue Chapel Order own it and was considering to sell it. I wonder if it was finally sold. In any case, this place was robbed; decay happened, these "explorers" going in and out. Sad.
I really appreciate you guys not messing with stuff or destroying it. i love to explore and I try to take only pictures and leave only footprints. These old forgotten places are in the memories of some people as we can see by reading some of the comments below so we should always treat them with the respect due.
I'm a dentist and this old "fuel pump" style dental unit was manufactured between the 1910's and the 1950's.
In the 60's, dentists began working sat and reclining their patients. Many of these old units were retrofitted with high speed air dental turbines in the fifties.
You are right about the belt-driven handpiece. This technology disappeared in the 70's with the micromotor now integrated between the shaft of the handpiece and the chord.
fascinating old tech
My chest was literally burning with pure awe with this exploration. Absolutely stunning.
My stomach reacted similarly.
How does this place exist in the middle of New York?!? What an incredible, beautiful find. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Union City is nowhere near the middle of New York City.
@@hateercenor It's in New Jersey, same thing.
@@paulvamos7319huh? your one of those guys :/
@@jacobfisher3080
Union city is literally a 10 min drive to nyc without traffic
Came to say the same as @adriansrealm. Cloistered nuns, monks, friars, etc opt to focus solely on prayer and avoid the outside world's influences. I grew up in the Catholic church. It wasn't so much about not being touched but just being separated from the outside.
I think it was a lot about not being touched. Ask the boys!
It's so awesome to see a place like this where no one has vandalized and tagged everything, or smashed everything 'just for fun', or otherwise desecrated it. Thank you for sharing this beautiful and peaceful place. I would love to be the caretaker of that.
Au contraire; all I see is leftovers of vandals.
How lovely to see a beautiful old decaying building like this untouched by graffiti. Thank you guys for sharing it with us.
It's a church. It IS a graffiti.
@@fernandoferreira6293 careful there edgy mean boy don't wanna hurt yourself leaning on that massive sharp adult edge you big grown adult edgy man. People ARE the disease don't you know
The room with the mesh was a parlor. The nuns (cloistered sisters are called nuns/sister allowed to go into the world are called sisters) would sit on one side and the visitor(s) would sit on the other. The grille (what the mesh is called) was to signify their separation from the world. When a woman entered this community, she basically spent the rest of her days behind these walls, praying for the world and doing different types of work to support the community. Cloistered communities do not allow outsiders into their cloister save for priests and repairmen in case of necessity. Also, nuns very rarely left their monastery save for doctor's appointments where the doctor won't/can't do a housecall.
I used to live near here and remember going there with my mom. It was a beautiful place and still is despite the decay.
Absolutely love the variety of places you guys explore!
@8:47 that's the room where the nuns would receive visitors. these nuns were cloistered, so they had to stay on one side of the grate, while the visitors would stay on the other side. the panel in the lower wall was for passing items back and forth.
Superb drone footage, guys. I always enjoy the "Proper Copter's" excellent contributions!
Seriously, this is the only channel that i don’t mind watching ads on UA-cam. They’re totally worth it.
Probably a nun who worked in the basement had a Brother in Vietnam and was praying for him. And nobody took it down as it had significance for one of them and they thought it bad to disrespect it.
Considering it shut down in 2009, it's possible that if it were a personal thing for one of the nuns, she may very well have still been there when the convent was abandoned.
For being in a major city, it was truly refreshing to see no graffiti. The drill looking machine was terrifying. The mosaic was beautiful. One of your best explores. As always, a great adventure. Thanks
There was typically a potress who were in charge of watching the door and greeting guests. There were nuns who were strictly cloistered and then those who were allowed to be outside the cloister called extern nuns. Those nuns did the shopping and any other tasks that required going outside of the cloister of the monastery.
Id rather they stood all there. Mad people are motive for concern.
man this is why I watch you, you are the people that risk it just to show us
Incredible find and explore lads… so lovely without graffiti too.
Wow.That Hotpoint fridge at 4:07! We have a similar model sitting in our garage right now. It was my grandparents fridge that they used until the 80's and then relegated it to their basement pantry when they bought new appliances. Still works because they built these things to last and has outlived that fridge bought in the 80's. We kept it for utility and sentimental value. My grandparents fridge was bought in the 40's so I'd say that this one dates to around the same time or a little later and likely was still functional when the building closed in '09.
Also wanted to add that the way the church was laid out might have been because services held there may have been for the cloistered nuns and an associated parish. Having 2 areas with separation would allow the nuns to attend mass while still remaining cloistered. The room with the screen was for the same reasons. This is where members of the order would be able to interact with the public as needed but remained cloistered because they are "separated" by that screen. The little doors would be to pass things like mail or documents through.
"Is this a Precious Moment?" *head falls off* 😂
I found that odd too, then I thought ahhhh practical joke on the next curious person. LOL
What a beautiful and amazing "escape" from the world around it. It'd be amazing to see it somewhat restored and repurposed into a community for people in the area.
really appreciated the upclose look at the mosaic. beautiful piece
How amazing is that! The beautiful wood, the mosaic, the wooden pews! Makes me very sad to see that beautiful old monastery just sitting there, slowly decaying. Wow! Great video, boys!!
I’m not religious but it’s a shame to see a place like this no longer serve a purpose. With all due respect to the former occupants sacrifices for their faith and beliefs it’s sad to see it left as a decaying monument of the past. Great explore.
It's perfect as is. A testament to utter madness, as it should be.
Michale and Bryan thank you for this beautiful exploration of the ministry seeing the old singer sewing machines and the old dentist chair I can see it was a bit of a time capsule what a great video I always love seeing where you explore next keep up this great channel
This must of been a beautiful monastery when it was in use, such a pity they couldn't preserve it, and maybe make it into a museum, another awesome video as usual, thanks for all the hard work you guys do to share such gems 😍♥️👌😊🇬🇧
This is a really common sentiment, but making it into a museum would condemn it to almsot the same fate eventually. Who pays for the museum? How many people would go to a monastery museum in the first place? It sucks, but buildings are like people, if they don’t have a purpose, they crumble to dust.
You're not wrong about the cassette at 17:30 being a fire mix tape. That album was actually really popular when it came out in 1994. It sold 2 million copies in the US (4 million worldwide) and made it to #3 on the US Billboard chart. Most people born before about 1984 probably remember the commercials for an album called Pure Moods that had a Gregorian Chant that was made into a pop song by the group Enigma. Chant was all the rage for a few years in the mid 90's. If a monastery was going to have one cassette it makes sense it would be that one.
ua-cam.com/video/AZJSjrox_2s/v-deo.html
Proof of hypocrisy.
I remember those commercials from then - I was about 18-20 years old.
17:28 That actually WAS a 'fire mixtape'--that recording charted in the 1990s. 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
Incredible time capsule--one of my all-time favourite Proper People episodes.
Such a beautiful place! Im so glad to see there was no graffiti and there was still loads of cool stuff to see inside! You guys always do a fantastic job :)
This is very similar to a monastery we have in Boston. Yes, they are nuns but it is a monastery. They were once cloistered so they have a dental setup like this one. This exploration was wonderful, thanks guys!
awesome film work once again guys love the intro of the building the music rely set the mood
The second level overlooking the chapel was probably an early infirmary for older or sick sisters. They would be able to at least attend Mass. Communion was usually brought to them.
Yes. Saw the same in a 200yr old convent in France @thePethericks.
Great video as always and good to see you guys back in my weird little state.
The small altar you point out at 14:07 was probably the Tabernacle. It's where the bread and wine are kept for communion.
This is one of the best explorations I've seem in awhile.
Of course they saved the best part for last.
I grew up in Jersey City and had been to this building many times. The building itself was known as the Blue Chapel due to the blue tint in the Stained Glass windows that were throughout the building. The room with the cage was manned by a nun each day as the order of sisters there made various handmade items. You would enter the room and ask the nun for the item you were looking for, Mass Card, Rosary Beads, Crufsfix, Christmas Cards, all of which were handmade by the nuns that lived in the monastery. It was truly a beautiful building and from what i understand now, there is a property management company that wants to buy it and turn it into loft apartments.
Make schools; so the hauntings remain.
I am glad that you guys are back missed you all 🤍
We also loved this Monastery, filming the colors here and seeing the things left behind were one of our favorites. Love your videos guys!
Stellar work as always chaps! I think the word you were looking for in the chapel is 'desanctified'.
Love how every video they find some way to find new areas of exploration
Truly superb, definitely one of your best vlogs.
Impeccable sound track/ ambience. Really spot on creative work.
Inside and out, this is so beautiful! I love it! Thanks!
14:15 I can't believe art like this was abandoned. many times, I watch your videos my mind is blown by what has been abandoned, crazy.
Beautiful location. Long timer here years with this channel . Thanks fellas
Me too, found them through Decay is Headed Your Way back in 2014! Almost 10 years!! Holy crap!
Crazy how many amazing abandon places you guy’s have been to bet you will have some great stories to tell great video guys
Ok I got a great giggle at you walking up to the ceramic saying " oh is this a precious moments"? Barely touch.. whelp not precious anymore! 😹
Remarkable how so much stuff that was obviously quite old, like mid-century at least, was so well preserved. Especially since there are whole sections that seem to be open to the elements. The place could be a museum.
Incredible video lads, one of your best in my humble..... There was a juxtaposition of emotions in this place: hope/despair, freedom/subjugation, power/fealty, beauty/horrendous...it goes on. Fine viewing as always. Best..... /Dan
It must have been a beautiful place. The Blue Chapel altar and the wood work can still be appreciated. Thank you for doing a close up of the mosaic. What artistry. I grew up in Union City. There is so much history here. It is sadly slowly drifting away. The Monastery, I haven't a clue what that is today, theaters where many came from NYC to see famous vaudeville acts, houses that look victorian some renovated and some that kept their facade and charm on the outside. I love vintage things and I'm just in awe with the books, Singer sewing machines, typewriters and telephones. Oh that tape or whatever, I used to have it. Gregorian Chants by the Dominican Monks. I'm saying "go in the box, the box" in the wheel chair room! Came to live here in 65 and left in 1990. I still miss my little big town.....what I always called it.
This is so beautiful. I love every minute of this. Thank you so much! ❤❤
I am hooked to your abandoned videos.
I enjoyed this video. Thank you proper guys and maybe we will see you before the end of February for another great exploration 🧲
Glad to see the VHS of "Fatima" at 3:22. Portugal is everywhere
I'm not shocked they used all the old equipment at one time, but I AM shocked they were using it as recently as 2009. Crazy.
Cloistered
adjective:
having or enclosed by a cloister, as in a monastery.
"a cloistered walkway bordered the courtyard"
2.
kept away from the outside world; sheltered.
"a cloistered upbringing
Just incase anybody was wondering why the nuns were separated from the word. I can imagine it would be impossible to recute new nuns to this lifestyle. Everybody here just aged out. I wonder if they can save the building. So much more interesting than another super tall skinny apartment block for thirty people.
That dentist machine was nuts, an articulated arm with a belt running along it, awesome, I wonder how old. Cool video once again guys. 👍
I like that these guys actually have good quality low-light cameras unlike so many UA-camrs.
Beautiful! One of my favorite explores & I’ve been watching you guys for a long time.
Awesome video as always
This was a super cool explore, and good commentary as well. "What do you think's in here?" "Juice". This video made my day!
8:54 that’s called a grille. Since it was a cloister it was where guests/family would go visit the nuns.
13:59 that’s called the choir. It’s where the sisters would most likely pray the divine office, solemn salve, and other prayers in common. It’s usually closed off with a grille as well. Since they were cloistered nuns, they were closed off from the public. The main area of the church with all the pews was where the public could go to Mass with the nuns.
The word I’m thinking you’re referring to is when it was deconsecrated.
Also with the saint names on the doors - each cell (the name for the rooms) had a patron saint.
Lonely and peaceful at the same time but...
a lot of pain still remaining inside those walls...
@14:40 the word is deconsecrate. Basically turn a church into a regular building again.
After the first drone shot to open the video, and seeing Manhatten from there, you could imagine the view they had of 9/11 and the growth of NYC over the years....
I was just thinking the same thing when I saw the opening view of NYC
You're the best. You guys always have such cool episodes 👍🏼😁
Your explores never disappoint. You two are by far the best at this! ❤
It’s a very beautiful building, and it should be saved as a historical landmark .
Thank you for uploading this video, I remember the monastery near the Cloisters ( upper manhattan) and it has some of the same architecture with the 3 tiles and 60s vibe.
The rotating capsule is a baby drop box. When a woman gave birth but could not keep her baby she would put it into the box and ring a bell alerting the nubs that a baby has been left. There it was safe until then nuns spun it around to retrieve the baby and look after it until another home could be found.
For real?! You’ve officially blown my mind!😂
LOL?!
Nah. That'd be on the outside wall or door facing the street. This one is just an isolation carousel so they can get deliveries and donations without having to touch, hear or lay eyes on the public.
Appreciate you guys being respectful
Watching this while having pneumonia, I’ll be at home until the end of the week so i got a lot of UA-cam watching to do lol. it’s quite painful experience to go through and i miss going to work and the gym. I want my life back. 😩
Well, thank you guys for keeping the exploration videos going all these years!
Absolutely beautiful!
A very cool place that should be preserved.
Good Job, guys!!!
I'm guessing that if guys ignored the new lawn mower box at 9:09 its because you know how it got there and who put it there. It's pretty cool that you guys are so well known for taking care of the places you visit, that you are invited in. I'm also guessing because you are so well known that your video could actually spark enough interest that this place could get the attention it deserves to be restored.
You guys are awesome and you are really good at what you do. Thank you
How the hell is this not destroyed being so close to downtown NYC, thats unbelievable!
Also, someone else mentioned it, but when you urbex for long enough, you start to develop a pallete of "urbex smells" that tell you a lot of very important information apon your first step inside, its actually a very useful skill to have
It’s probably so well hidden no one knows its there. Or at least that its abandoned.
@Ithecastic I cannot, in any correct words, explain to you how little I give a shit
I grew up in Union City and it really isn't "so close" to downtown Manhattan.
@@dfelsing but I mean, you don’t find buildings that are this well preserved in cities usually, they are often further out of town, so it’s pretty surprising there is an intact abandoned building, anywhere even near NYC
Cloistered nuns had no contact with anyone outside. Once the nun entered the community, she isolated herself from the world forsaking anything and everything connected to the outside world. This included physical contact with her friends and family. My cousin was a nun from the time she graduated from HS. She spent some time in a cloistered convent, but they felt she wasn't ready for that life yet.
I love that these guys look, but never destroy or take stuff.
As all urbex should be.
14th and west streets, Union City, New Jersey is where this is located
@4:27 ──That's an art installation right there on the wall (could be in a gallery), with the torn Stars and Stripes with pictures of saints, on top of a map of Vietnam.
Brilliant video once again, P.P.
Thanks. It's fascinating to tour an old monastery, especially one where an enclosed religious order, like Discalced Carmelites once lived. It's amazing to see how they lived in isolation and silence except for prayer.
That fridge was so amazing. God I wish I could have a 50's fridge.
A new Proper people video....WOOHOO!
Thanks guys! I miss you when you don't upload!
I saw exploring with Josh do this epic place. But. The epic thing is yalls filming is so unique I love the attention to the small things
Totally made my week. Love your work.
This is part of my old stomping grounds. I was there when this was a going concern and vaguely remember this back in the 60s and early 70s. One of my bowling alleys was just a few blocks from this place on 8th Street. Weird to see it again, like this when so much else has changed in the surrounding area.