The Abandoned: Tree Heart and Onyx the Cat

Monday, February 20, 2012

Tree Heart and Onyx the Cat - Guest Heart Thursday

I feel blessed to be able to walk there, with my sister Clytie. By the way, if you visit this place you will need permission from the owners. I never come here without walking with someone who has permission. Above you can see the heart of The Abandoned. I took this picture some time ago.One never knows what one will find in The Abandoned. Last Friday I introduced my friend Amber to my family and to the mystery of this place.

Meet Onyx--Amber's alter ego. He came with her to visit The Abandoned.

He immediately plopped to the cold cement floor to insist he "didn't do it..."

Dear little Onyx didn't waste time getting into trouble...

BIG trouble!

His Mommy Amber promptly stuck him into her bag--and he hasn't been seen since. If you'd like to see more of AmberArtist's work, visit her on Etsy at AnemaeGirl.

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.

1 comment:

Clytie said...: Ooooooh sissie - how did I miss this post???

I love your Onyx pictures - I had such a wonderful time that day!

And I love the heart of the abandoned.; March 1, 2012 at 6:27 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.