RiddimRyder Photography

RiddimRyder Photography Exploring and documenting abandoned properties — one location at a time. I photograph what remains, look into the history, and share the full experience.

A different explore that was so delicious!
06/05/2026

A different explore that was so delicious!

Before demolition, Zenning with Zay & I had the opportunity to explore this vacant mid-century home sitting on nearly ha...
06/05/2026

Before demolition, Zenning with Zay & I had the opportunity to explore this vacant mid-century home sitting on nearly half an acre of land in one of Toronto's most exclusive residential areas.

The house sold for approximately $4.35 million in 2019, but after walking through it, it was hard not to feel that something was being lost. While developers saw a building lot, I saw a remarkably intact snapshot of post-war luxury home design.

Inside were exposed wood beams stretching across the ceilings, massive brick feature walls, oversized windows, curved archways, and spacious open living areas that flooded with natural light. Even many of the original finishes remained. The bathrooms were a highlight, complete with pink patterned wallpaper, matching double vanities, and design choices that instantly transported you back several decades. The home wasn't frozen in time, but it felt surprisingly close.

What made the property even more intriguing was its location. Directly next door stood the former home of Barry and Honey Sherman, the billionaire couple whose 2017 murders remain one of Canada's most talked-about unsolved cases. Knowing that history while exploring the empty rooms added an extra layer of fascination to the visit.

Unlike many abandoned houses that have been heavily vandalized or stripped, this one still retained much of its character. Walking through it felt less like exploring a ruin and more like stepping into a well-preserved chapter of Toronto's architectural past.

Today the house is gone, replaced by a new luxury residence, but these photos preserve a glimpse of a style of home that is becoming increasingly rare as older properties disappear from the city.

Looking through these photos, what feature stands out most to you: the exposed beams, the brickwork, the pink bathrooms, or something else entirely?

One of the most iconic abandoned psychiatric hospitals in North America is making headlines again, and sadly, not for th...
06/04/2026

One of the most iconic abandoned psychiatric hospitals in North America is making headlines again, and sadly, not for the reasons preservationists had hoped.

The Hudson River State Hospital (later known as Hudson River Psychiatric Center) opened in 1871 overlooking the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, New York. Designed in the massive Kirkbride style with grounds planned by Frederick Law Olmsted, the facility once housed thousands of patients and stood as one of the most recognizable psychiatric institutions in the United States. Over time, changing treatment methods led to its decline, and the sprawling complex was eventually abandoned.

For me, this was one of those bucket-list locations. I'd wanted to explore it for at least a decade, ever since I first started seeing photos of the enormous complex online. In 2020, Zenning with Zay and I finally had the opportunity to visit while redevelopment efforts were underway. Much of the campus had already been demolished by then, but enough remained to appreciate the scale and history of the site. Walking through a place I had hoped to see for so many years was an experience I won't forget.

The hospital has survived multiple fires over the years, including incidents both before and after its closure. Unfortunately, history has repeated itself. A massive fire is currently burning at the site, with firefighters from numerous departments responding as flames spread through portions of the remaining structures.

It's a sobering reminder of how quickly historic places can disappear. After decades of abandonment, demolition, redevelopment, and repeated fires, the future of what remains of this legendary hospital is uncertain.

Did you ever see our 2020 photo set from Hudson River State Hospital, or have you explored any of the famous Kirkbride hospitals yourself?

🏡 2677 Bayview Ave, North York — Another one gone.This was a large family home tucked onto a deep, mature lot in the St....
06/03/2026

🏡 2677 Bayview Ave, North York — Another one gone.

This was a large family home tucked onto a deep, mature lot in the St. Andrew–Windfields area, one of North York’s most established pockets. From the exterior, it had that classic mid-century estate feel — steep rooflines, dormer windows, and a long driveway set back from the road.

Inside, the layout followed a traditional centre-hall plan with formal living and dining rooms, multiple fireplaces, hardwood floors, and a big kitchen that had seen updates over the years. It wasn’t a luxury showpiece by today’s standards, but it was a solid, spacious home that clearly served a family for a long time before sitting empty.

By the time it was photographed, it had already entered that in-between stage — not really lived in, but not yet gone either. A place waiting for its next chapter.

That chapter never came.

The house was eventually demolished as part of a larger land assembly, and the site is now tied to high-density redevelopment, replacing what was once a single home on a large lot with new multi-unit builds.

💭 And that’s the question this raises:

Should homes like this — on large city lots in established neighbourhoods — be preserved and restored whenever possible?

Or is it inevitable (and even necessary) that they make way for higher-density condos and townhomes as the city keeps growing?

Would you have kept this house standing, or is this just the natural direction of Toronto now?

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