Glen Cairn Arms

At a fairly busy intersection in a rundown New Jersey city sits an abandoned, dilapidated apartment complex.  Its story is familiar: swanky 1920s-era apartment complex devolves over time into squalid ghetto tenement.  City takes it over, shuts it down, then lets it rot for 20 years.  I had to check this place out.  As expected, it was a homeless squat.  My first trip there was pleasant - only the faint rustling of a few homeless behind closed doors.  I was courteous and careful not to disturb them.  During my second trip here (slightly warmer weather) it was more like a homeless convention with people shouting at me and other weird occurances.  I opted not to make a third trip.

I initially wanted to make one of my time-lapse movies of this place.  But getting a time-lapse shot involves setting up a camera and time-lapse rig then going away for an hour while it does its thing.  Due to the numbers of inhabitants here, I never felt comfortable just leaving a camera alone on a tripod, so I never got the footage here I wanted and the video was never completed (I eventually threw together what pathetic little I had and put it on YouTube to join the other masses of UE video fodder).  Still, the place made for some interesting exploring, photography and stories.  Enjoy!

UPDATE: This place is finally demolished.

Glen Cairn Arms
angry sky
A thousand stories in the naked citySomebody pulled their car up while I was shooting this and yelled something incomprehensible. I payed no attention.
Windows, doors, fire escapes and floorsThe windows are like mouths - some with clenched teeth, others gaping wide. They will swallow you whole - and did me.
I had another dream about lions at the doorVestiges of grandeur
No EscapeNot quite safe for climbing.
Tenement View 1
Tenement View 2I felt safe in my little room - listening for sounds and signs of life around me, and wondering what I would find out in the halls and thoroughfares.
tenement hallway 1
tenement hallway 2
Even the kitchen sinkAs expected, evidence of scrappers was everywhere
Good morning, birds!
Found photosI like abandoned buildings. No matter what condition, there s almost always something left behind to tell the story of those who once lived there.
Burned-out Barbie
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.quote by Berthold Auerbach
KitchenetteThe complex was made up of one bedroom and two-bedroom units. The one-bedroom unit featured this handy hide-away kitchenette.
Walk-in kitchenWhile the one-bedroom units featured the hide-away kitchenette, a two-bedroom unit featured this spacious walk-in kitchen. These apartments were originally considered 'luxury'. At that time, indoor plumbing, electricity and heat were considered pretty luxurious.
Who left the refrigerator door open?
Blackjack and sternoSterno, roach-spray, and an assortment of canned goods
Windows Vista
Dead Rat
Roof access
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Chris 03/26/2025
My grandmothers Aunt ran that complex when gmom was young it was very nice. Gmom is106 now. Many of the family lived there .Gmom wrote about it in life story she wrote when 93. In these later years, she says a lot that shes going to the Glen Cairn Arms to see her family. She has fond memories
Mary08/29/2020
Lived in Glen Cairn with two roommates as a TCNJ college student in 77 78. Price was right and imagining what the place was like in its hey day intrigued me - as did the old timers who still lived there. Steak and Egg Kitchen across the street - always hoppin. Scary high crime but great memories!
Eliezer Montes10/19/2019
Lived here in the 80s as a kid, so many good memories. Thanks for the amazing photos
Jeff Solimando10/03/2019
Hi Marc! I do a picture feature for the Trentonian each week. On Oct. 11, I'm featuring a few pics I took of the demolition, and will also include this link to your amazing pictures. I'll credit you by name. Very nice!!
George09/05/2019
Thank you for these sad pics. I lived there on the 3rd floor of the west most tower from Jun 1970 to January 1973. Mostly old people then, we were newlyweds and i was working at McGuire AFB.
Mary R Walker07/21/2019
Wow, thank you. I used to live around the corner and each time I passed the Glen Cairn, my curiousity increased. Wish there were more photos but I'm very grateful for these.

 

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