The Abandoned: Green Goat Glass - Weekend reflections

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Green Goat Glass - Weekend reflections

Sometime back, Sissy and I visited the old Dammasch State Hospital Dump. Not many people know where it is located these days. There was an incinerator at the hospital which melted and burned most of the hospital's garbage. That waste was then dumped along a ravine, now hidden by trees and undergrowth.

Today one can find beauty amidst nature's attempts to cover this scar. Hidden in the moss and forest flowers you can find all kinds of things at the dump -- twisted glass, vintage jars, tiny glass bottles, along with spoons, knives and forks.

The melted piece of glass above reminded me of a mythical creature--sort of like a goat with a unicorn horn! What do you think?

To see more wonderful reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections!

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

2 comments:

Clytie said...: I am green with envy of your green goat glass!!! It's awesome!!! Who would have thought beauty could be found amongst the ruins and ashes of the old dump ...; August 27, 2011 at 6:59 PM
'Tsuki said...: Same idea than you pops in mind, when I look to this melted piece of glass. It remind a little the rams of the Karnak temple in Egypt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SFEC_EGYPT_KARNAK_2006-001.JPG) because of the shape of the horn.; August 28, 2011 at 1:15 AM

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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.