Beauty in the Breakdown
My friend Jeremy Hart recently posted a link to 100 Abandoned Houses and I found it to be fascinating. We have plenty of abandoned houses of our own in West Virginia, and sometimes I feel drawn to visit them with my camera.
They make me wonder where their families went.
And what stories they might have to tell.
Some seem to be waiting, hopeful, for their people to come home.
Others look like they’ve given up.
Funny how they all pull at my heartstrings. I’m sure they have some sort of deep commentary on life — how nothing is sure, everything changes, you just never know what the future will bring … but I just soak in the quiet, take their pictures and wonder where their families went.
May 1st, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Thanks for linking, Coop. I think the thing that interests me so much is, like you, I want to know the stories behind it. I’ve always been fascinated by the back stories - the “day in the life”, the “how’d we get here” look at the subject. That’s what pulled me to those houses so much.
And I love your photos, as well. Sometimes, when showing older properties here in the NRV, we’ll come across an old homestead in the woods. Every once in a while I’ll go back at a later time, looking around at the homes and the items that former owners - and tenants, and squatters - have left behind. Sad and interesting at the same time.
May 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Oh Sarah, Please, please, please let me tag along on your next abandoned house adventures? I would love to go and take some shots.
Off to explore the link. Thanks.
May 1st, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Kelly, if you know of a cool abandoned house, I would gladly go with you tomorrow! (Sounds like Jeremy might know of some.)
The first two pictures are near the Milton Flea Market, right on the edge of their lot. The third is off Rt. 34 heading towards Winfield, and the last two are way past Charleston out Amma Road.
May 4th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I don’t know of any…. I’m sure there are some in my old home county but I can’t recall any locations off hand. It might be time for a trip to the milton flea market. I bet there are lots of photo ops there too. Still trying to get together a photo walk. I have a few ladies from church interested. We need more blooms
Thanks.