The Abandoned: July 2011

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Yellow Swamp Beauties - Weekend Flowers

These pictures were taken from a small hidden bridge along a path which leads to an unusual fruit tree. How I love the tasty fruit of that strawberry tree!

The once lively pond and stream is now a swamp clotted with beautiful yellow flowers. Frogs, spiders, insects and birds seem to adore living there.

Close up, the detail of these bright blooms is lovely.

This is a jumping spider. Sissy and I spotted him on this wrinkled leaf in the midst of the yellow lilies, as we crossed over one of the hidden bridges found in The Abandoned. It was a decided shock, to see this critter watching us, for sure!

I love the idea of Weekend Flowers! To see more lovely blooms from everywhere, visit Terra's blog Goodies for a Pleasant Life.

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Heart Jewel - Guest Heart Thursday

Here is another bejeweled leaf from our last walk through The Abandoned. It might be a stretch, but I think that pink leaf could be a heart. (grin) I just love the contrasts in this photo. There might even be an upside down heart inside one of those raindrop jewels.

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

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Feather Tree Blossom - Weekend Flowers

Sissy was telling me about the magical red feather tree she found growing in The Abandoned. As we walked the rain misted everything around us--our footsteps were sogged as we walked through the deep rain soaked grasses.

We meandered through the empty buildings--cameras in hand. Then just as we emerged from beneath the old sky bridge, the sun burst through the clouds. Bejeweled flowers and leaves sparkled all around. We were in a veritable garden of rainbowed diamonds.

This is my first ever entry for Weekend Flowers! I think this is going to be GREAT fun! I hope you'll join us at Terra's blog Goodies for a Pleasant Life.

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

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.