The Abandoned: summer

Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Summer Hearts -Guest Heart Thursday

My sister Clytie and I love to walk here in Spring. Both exotic and native flowers fill the encroaching forest. This color just fills my eyes. Do you see the petals? They are hearts--summer hearts! Ah, I do miss summertime.

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

WARNING: With the demolition of these buildings, The Abandoned is especially dangerous. If you visit here without receiving permission, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Heart in Grass - Guest Heart Thursday

Here in The Abandoned, when Summer vies with Fall a heart-felt explosion ensues. I love the way this heart pops from the grass--like a miniature bit of fireworks.

Happy Halloween everyone!

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.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Tree and Thistle - Shadow Shot Sunday

One can feel summer's illusive ending in this photo--there is a sense of poignant change, of nostalgia lingering in the shadows. The crickets are chirping and buzzing--it is warm, yet in the shade where the sun's rays flee away, there is an edgy coolness--the promise of Fall and Winter to come, to The Abandoned.

For more incredible shadow shots, visit Harriet for Shadow Shot Sunday.

NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested for trespassing.

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.