What is it about an decrepit, old, smelly, falling down house that draws pretty much everyone’s attention? Why do we want to explore them? Why do we want to photograph them?
After all, if wanted to see a historic building from the past, there’s plenty of museum’s scattered about that are immaculately restored to look as they did in times gone by. At these museums, you won’t potentially fall through a floor, have a ceiling fall on you, have rodents attack or breathe in possible carcinogens.
The thing is, a crumbling old house, or any abandoned building for that matter, hasn’t had its spirit and authenticity restored out of it. They are a true depiction of life and not a created memory. A museum is like a Hollywood movie. It’s someone’s opinion of how life used to be.
Abandoned House Image Gallery
It was supposed to be foggy. The only area where there was no fog was at the abandoned house. I wanted some moody fog shrouded shots with the leaves still not on the trees. Now, I’ll have to wait until the autumn. But, will the house still be standing?
Actually, I’m sure it will be. For the past few decades, I’ve visited from time to time and it never really seems to change. Ten years ago, I was sure it would collapse. The ‘For Sale’ signs have fallen and rotted but the house remains. The driveway now has a good crop of pine trees growing right down the middle. In fact, I think it’s the trees on the property that are holding the house up.
For larger versions of any of the photos in the image gallery, simply click on the individual pictures.
High resolution versions of these images and other photos from the same day are available at Dreamstime. Want to earn cash from your own photos? Why not sign up for free with Dreamstime and start submitting now: Become a paid photographer!
Forgotten Past
There really is something about an old, decaying, empty house. If a modern house was left abandoned, it wouldn’t have the same feel. Why? For me, anyway, it all comes down to the walls.
Older houses and their lath and plaster walls and ceilings have such a nicer look as they fall apart than drywall. In fact, drywall would just melt down to piles of powder in no time, leaving just the struts.
It definitely fits the mold of the classic haunted house. It has the feel of something out of the Blair Witch Project. And, yes, it does have a basement.
So many get romantic about these places and think of buying them and trying to bring them back to life. It usually ends in failure. A few years ago, we visited The Old Barber House, aka the Gath Mansion, aka Chestnut Place. This beauty is located on the opposite side of the Genesee River from Letchworth State Park, not far southeast of Buffalo, New York.
That house, much larger than the one pictured here, had an attempt at revival not too long ago. However, a worker had a wall collapse on him and the lawyers/government put a stop to any more work. Quite frankly, I’m not sure if that place is still standing.
Where Is This House?
It’s in the Canadian province of Ontario. That’s all I’m going to tell you. Part of the fun is searching for and discovering these places for yourself. Also, I will not be held liable for any injuries or deaths that result from people going to a place like this because I told them where it is. I could go into my whole ‘unprepared idiots killing themselves taking selfies’ rant, but…
