The Abandoned: Sunny Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Sunny Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Thursday I took a walk with my sweet Sis Clytie. When I leveled this picture after I got home, the Sunny Heart of this tree became even more apparent. I love this bright heart -- it was like a reflection of the joy I was feeling, to be once again walking with My darling Sissy through the magical place we call The Abandoned.

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.

2 comments:

Dani said...: awesome heart.

May it fill your hearts with health and happiness, Beth.

Hugs,
D.; October 1, 2011 at 4:02 PM
Clytie said...: I remember when you saw this one ... the excitement was contagious! And it turned out to be such a beautiful and perfect heart!!! Wow.; October 2, 2011 at 7:25 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.