The Abandoned: sunny

Friday, July 27, 2012

Splashed With Hearts -Guest Heart Thursday

Ned and his friends splashed hearts across The Abandoned--At first I was at loss to know how they accomplished drawing hearts clear up to this three-story ceiling in the pool area--then I saw the pipes! Brave souls, I must say.

Sissy and I found these hearts on the side wall at the base of one of the stairways.

Just below the cause way, past the main auditorium, I caught this sparkle highlighting another heart.

Nature joined in, just as we were leaving--with this cool sunny heart in the corner.

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

WARNING: You shouldn't visit The Abandoned without permission from the owner or caretaker. If you do, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Sunny Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Thursday I took a walk with my sweet Sis Clytie. When I leveled this picture after I got home, the Sunny Heart of this tree became even more apparent. I love this bright heart -- it was like a reflection of the joy I was feeling, to be once again walking with My darling Sissy through the magical place we call The Abandoned.

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.

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.