The Abandoned: Busted Bucket Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Busted Bucket Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

One day last Fall on one of our walks through The Abandoned, Sissy and I found this battered bucket heart. Yes, those are Sissy's shoes.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

WARNING: Anyone wishing to visit The Abandoned, must have permission from the owners. Trespassers may be arrested and prosecuted.

6 comments:

Clytie said...: I love your shot of the bucket heart. Mine didn't turn out so well ... and now the bucket is gone. I'm glad your picture turned out ... even with my shoes showing! (Hey, those shoes have seen a LOT of miles and hearts!!!); June 2, 2011 at 3:09 PM
Inger-M said...: That's an amazing heart!; June 2, 2011 at 4:42 PM
MarieElizabeth said...: I am not sure I would have seen that heart, nice.; June 2, 2011 at 6:06 PM
Lois said...: That's a good one!; June 3, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Dani said...: Great find, Beth; June 4, 2011 at 6:26 PM
Lyneen said...: Amazing all the hearts you have found at the abandoned. AWESOME PIC... thf; June 4, 2011 at 11:10 PM

The Abandoned

Years ago, I dedicated this blog to The Abandoned, a huge complex of abandoned buildings in rural Oregon.

Surrounded by wetlands and old growth timber, The Callahan Center was built in the 1970's by the State of Oregon as a rehabilitation center for people recovering from injuries on the job.

In 1992, the property was bought by a mega church. However, the Living Enrichment Center closed in 2004, amidst financial scandal and the property was abandoned.

The buildings stood empty for many years. Over that span the property was vandalized and looted. Yet the beauty of its rare architecture shone through the shambles of abuse and disrepair.

In the summer of 2013, the complex was completely demolished. We were all sad to see the buildings go, but because of trespassers and vandals, it was necessary to take them down.

The area where The Abandoned once stood is filled with $500,000 mushroom houses (homes built so fast they pop up like mushrooms) built on postage stamp lots. There are sidewalks and tall lamps where I once watched the foxes of the field leaping above the grass, hunting rodents.

The surrounding woodlands still survive. It is my prayer the wetlands and forests with their pristine creeks, native trees and flowers, as well as the wildlife which shelter there, will be protected.