The Abandoned: Mountain Reflections

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Mountain Reflections - Weekend Reflections

Sissy and I took a walk through The Abandoned after it had rained hard for a few days. Pools of reflecting waters lay everywhere. Both of us gasped as we rounded the corner.

Mounds of discarded carpet laid mountain reflections in the edgy quiet of still lake waters.

Only we stood in the mystery of The Abandoned.

For more wonderful reflections from around the world, be sure to visit James at Weekend Reflections.

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

3 comments:

erin said...: makes me stop and think what it is we need and just how much we don't need.

so much potential in these abandoned places for shooting and reflection:)

and thank you, beth. i know you have a strong relationship with god and yet you allow me my own journey. i'm very grateful for this.

xo
erin; November 19, 2011 at 3:45 PM
Clytie said...: Wow, you caught wonderful reflections - and the mystery of The Abandoned - all in one shot! Love it!; November 20, 2011 at 6:52 AM
Unknown said...: Great reflections. It must be amazing to wander around the Abandoned.; November 21, 2011 at 6:22 PM

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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.