There used to be more farms here, but many of these became uncompetitive and were bought out by larger operations. Sometimes the houses remain, derelict, being slowly reclaimed by nature; I looked at one today.
It wasn't large, a simple one story house, though it had two substantial stone chimneys, topped off with brick. I peered through the dirty windows, mindful of snakes, and saw that the furniture was still in place and the kitchen shelves still stocked. It was like a decaying time capsule that someone had left, expecting to return.
And not that long ago. The rusting Impala in front of the house was last registered in 2005, though an old plow had fallen into disuse long before that. It was becoming part of tree, which had grown up around it.
There was a well, too, and you could see water flowing at its bottom. If the grid goes down I'll know where to go, if the ghosts don't mind company.
I left that place thinking about Detroit; chances are, the chimneys would have been in use.
There's a moral to this, if you care to draw it.
LSP
11 comments:
Impala looks promising for a resto Padre. Low rust climate after all.
I notice abandoned houses a lot, it is something that sticks in my radar for some reason. On one trip from Ontario to Nova Scotia, I drove through upper NY state and was stunned by the number of abandoned houses, stores, even factories all boarded up and just left. Like some kind of event happened and everyone just took off. I often wonder where the folks are who have left these places and what they are doing now.
I was thinking that, Lukeya.
Upper NY state is a right disaster, Julie. I was taken aback the last few times I drove through there. Scary.
There are stories of quiet and unheralded tragedy that attach to every abandoned home like that one. Part of me is curious, like a freeway gawker, trying to see a bit of blood on a wreck as I pass. Part of me feels that there is enough sadness in the world that I don't even want to shoulder a tiny bit more even though it's separated from me. After all, as members of the human family, we all are diminished in some degree when one of our number is.
I'd say that was very well put, LL. I didn't try to get inside.
Makes me think the old homesteaders passed away, and the kids had moved away long enough ago, they didn't want the hassle of that lifestyle anymore, or are firmly settled into wherever their homes are, far enough away that the commute for maintenance would be a pain. If you can find an address or point to it on a topo map, you might be able to ask the county about the current owner, if any. We have a small vacant lot across the street, that the county would sell to catch up on the taxes for it, if we had a couple thousand just sitting around, doing nothing.
I can find out the history, Mattexian. Curious...
Could be a good homestead for you Padre at the right price. Fun project too, its great to put homes back into use. Is there any land with it?
The house sits on the edge of several large fields, and doesn't seem to have any land of its own, to speak of. I'm not sure who owns it, but I could find out. It seems a bit of a waste to see it slowly fall down...
very curious! do find out more, if you can.
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