One of my favorite back road routes takes me past open corn and soybean fields, a local wholesale landscaper, a farm that boards horses and many barns. On Sunday I took this route for the first time since our windstorms, which were actually clocked at category 3 hurricane levels.
This is what I saw when I turned the corner onto Dittman Road.
This barn was blown over. I have many pictures of this barn somewhere on this computer or on the separate hard drive but I can't find them yet!! The roof had been somewhat of a patchwork affair but the barn itself looked stable. Believe me, I've been around and photographed enough barns to be keenly aware of which ones look dangerous.
You can see that the wind came from west-southwest and caught the corner of the barn flattening it on it's side. You can't see the farmhouse which is a short distance away an in the direction that the barn collapsed. Luckily it was far enough away to escape damage.
It's not clear whether there was anything stored in this barn. There were no livestock but perhaps there was equipment or vehicles.
It's very sad to see yet another barn go down. When I got home I grabbed a piece of paper and pen and just off the top of my head I can tally 10 barns down since I started my photoblog 5 1/2 years ago. We are witnessing the final death throes of a way of life that is quickly becoming history in this area.
This is not something that is only happening in the American midwest. I get e-mails from Spain, Portugal and other places in Europe, assuring me that the farmhouses, barns and old dwellings are being left to disintegrate. It would be wonderful if someone had the time and money to transform these structures into a new and useful life.
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P.S. Don't forget to vote today. Freedom and the right to vote is a privilege. Remember, that somewhere in the world today someone is risking their life in the hopes of gaining freedom.
13 comments:
How sad! Thankful, there was no livestock being housed there. 10 in 5 years is a lot to lose.
I love to travel the backroads as well. I haven't been down Dittman for awhile, but I will probably pass by tomorrow. So sad to see the barns falling. I have a love for them too, and I would love to see their restorations. I mean, how often do you actually see a barn going up nowadays? They certainly beautify the landscape.
We see that here in Texas, too. I always travel the backroads, and over the years I've seen places just fall apart slowly and disintegrate, like you said. It's sad and we're losing a way of life and little bits of history along the way.
Yes, and we see it here, too. I am always tempted to do a drive-by of homes that have fallen into disrepair because of this tanking economy. My neighborhood looks very depressed and, sadly, the entire town is taking on that distressed, depressed look. No decorations, not many flowers in the summer, no paint or badly chipping paint. Ugh. Thanks for the urge to vote.
Oh, by the way, I have had such fun zipping around in your Etsy shop. I'll be contacting you as soon as the dough comes in. ;>
Suzanne--The email address I used is being returned undeliverable....
Please email me at Tessietoon@aol dot com with a better email address.
Thanks!
Tess
I have a things for old barns and stables. The huge, old barn where "C" used to board her horses and my teenager boarded her horse in the 90's is gone now. Torn down for no real reason. Too bad the historic preservation groups aren't rushing to the rescue! It's a way of life that truly is disappearing before our eyes.
Another one bites the dust...literally:(
our leader Carmen at One Stitch at a Time pointed us to you for the Apron...you mentioned what to do with collars and cuffs cut off the shirt?
How about using them as coffee cup cosies..a bit of embelishment or a name and a dot of velcro and you are good to go!
It really is sad because when they are gone who will rebuild them? Several years back a beautiful barn was demolished to make way for 2 houses. Nothing special, unique or historic about these places either. It frustrates me, I can't understand it?
As much as I enjoy the old barns too they were purpose built and now they are not longer needed or have been replaced by buildings made with more durable (and granted less attractive) materials. "The only thing you can count on in this life is change."
Marilyn from Norfolk
Miss you! Hope everything is well with you and yours!
Hope all is well for you Suzanne, miss hearing from you!
We are lucky to have a preservation society the next town over. They've managed to save several historical homes from being razed in the name of progress. That being said, my childhood home is now the crossroads for a highway intersection. The farm that ajoined our house is a megamall. Humph.
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