The Abandoned: Heart in Fence Post -Guest Heart Thursday

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Heart in Fence Post -Guest Heart Thursday

Can you see the heart here? This is a part of an old fence post found along the road, which once protected the forests surrounding The Abandoned. I have not walked there with my Sissy for some time. I am not sure what I will see once I do--all that is left of the buildings are huge piles of ground up debris.

I am grateful the beauty of the forest still stands...for now.

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

3 comments:

Clytie said...: I see a heart on the upper right side! Sad to say this old fence post is now gone. As is most everything else at The Abandoned. They have just approved a "master plan" for 113 "upscale" homes, most on "large to medium" lots. No row houses, no apartments, no shopping centers. Just rich people houses. Sigh.; October 4, 2013 at 7:50 AM
cyclist said...: I want to thank you for really seeing all the love in this area, more homes why? can we leave our natural areas alone to be free.

peace,

Joe; October 28, 2013 at 9:15 AM
cyclist said...: I want to thank you for seeing all the love in that area, more homes why? we need to leave the forest alone to be free.

Does Wilsonville make the right choices?... hmm I remember taking my
girls out there when walking it will
be in their hearts forever I know it.

Peace,
Joe raising my family in Wilsonville; October 28, 2013 at 9:18 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.