The Abandoned: Shell Heart and Gater Eye -Guest Heart Thursday

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Shell Heart and Gater Eye -Guest Heart Thursday

I love filberts--when the shells are cracked open they look like tiny little hearts. I found one in the woods as Sissy and I walked through the forests of The Abandoned. What I didn't see until just a bit ago--is there was a gater looking at me--or perhaps it is a dinosaur, or dragon?

What a tiny little fellow he must be! Can you see him? Once you find his "eye" you'll find the rest of him. Not surprising to find a dragon-like creature hiding next to a filbert shell heart in The Abandoned.

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

WARNING: If you visit The Abandoned without permission, you risk getting arrested for trespassing. Please be careful. Since the buildings have been demolished, some people question the presence of surveillance cameras. Don't assume there aren't cameras in place. Individuals who come onto the property without permission, should know the owners are VERY serious about identifying trespassers.

2 comments:

Maria said...: I like the heart-shaped shell, now I know it's called filbert! :D

I didn't find the creature though no matter how hard I looked. Perhaps I need a bigger laptop screen. Haha!; April 4, 2013 at 9:48 PM
Laura said...: beautiful discovery!; April 5, 2013 at 10:27 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.