During a recent visit to my Aunt's small town, we went for a walk after dinner. Along the way, we ended up walking through a rather large subdivision not far from her house. There's not much appealing to the eye, in a subdivision under construction, but that was okay because the entire time, all I could focus on was an old barn off in the distance.
As we neared the end of our walk, I asked my Aunt if there was a road that lead to the barn. "Sure!" she said, "would you like to see it?" I'm pretty sure you can guess what my answer was. As we walked over, she filled me in on the barn's story. It seems all of the land we had just walked through once belonged to the same farm as the barn and the house beside it. The farmer had passed away and his widow sold the land and had a home built by my Aunt's friend, in the new subdivision, while the barn and farmhouse are now waiting for their execution day. A heartbreaking end to what were, no doubt, many years of toil and sweat equity that went into a farm that surely had provided for many. And perhaps even sadder, is that this story is not unique or rare but rather is happening in every one's neck of the woods.
The abandoned property had an eerie feel to it, on a grey and windy day but the barn doors were wide open, welcoming me. So I carefully wandered in and was amazed at the immense size inside.
As the wind whistled through the gaps in the walls, I could almost here the low mooing of cows from below, the shouts of instructions as hay was stored for the winter, and the sound of children laughing and playing in the long gone loft up above. And then I was certain I had heard the farmer's wife calling the men in for dinner.
Clearest of all, however, was the soft weeping I heard, as this rural life was about to disappear forever.
I'm joining in on
~Be well friends~
28 comments:
I love old barns and your photos are terrific!
You have me weeping.....
Just beautiful pictures, Andrea!
It is so sad, isn't it?
We have two old barns and I have never posted about them. I need to do this. One of them has a stove from the 1940's in it! It needs much cleaning up before it can come near the house :)
And we have found old toys, bottles etc. in it. Hmmmm. You have given me a reason to poke around in there more!
Thanks for such lovely post. I am sure the old barn appreciated your visit and felt your love for it...
LYLAS!
xo, misha
Your pictures are just amazing, as is the post you wrote. I grew up on a farm and it's so sad to see all these old barns falling apart and being taken down. At least you have saved this one in a photo!
So sad! Andrea, your photos are absolutely amazing and dreamy... love them.. as well as your beautiful descriptions. Sadly, we lost several nice old barns around our neighborhood during some early Spring storms this year. Brings the tears to see them in ruins ;( -Tammy
oh, how sad... it's true - it's happening everywhere...
It is so sad...I sometimes make the comment that all the farmland is going to be under concrete and pavement. And I see places out that are right on newer highways and think to myself, they were built there never thinking they were going to have a major highway not even a hundred yards from their front door!
that first shot is amazing!!!
yes, it is quite sad to see abandoned once loved farms/barns falling apart at the seams.
That widow must be of very strong stock to be able to live in a new home watching her land and farm disappear in front of her.
Beautiful--both the photos and your words! I like your vision from inside the barn and the echo of all the voices from the past.
Your photos are beautiful, haunting. Sad that the old barn will be taken down, the old farm will be plowed under.
Great blog!
I couldn't agree more...it breaks my heart to see these old farms disappear. Years ago I would drive by a lovely old home...it had such character. One day I stopped and courageously walked inside just to look around. I took some photos, knowing what its fate would be someday. Sadly...on my drive home I could see and smell the smoke...someone had burned it down. There were some architectural pieces left behind in the ashes, and yes, I snapped up what was left of a lovely old front door. Oh how I wish people would love these old places and bring them back to life. I know it's hard...our uneven floors, cracks in the plaster, and other old house oddities, but it's worth holding onto a bit of history. Thanks for capturing this barn for all of us.
beautiful post and photos...now you've got me all sad...this sad story happens here too....i hate to see a big piece of land for sale because you know a greedy developer will buy it and build even more houses that will sit empty, or maybe another strip mall, just what every town needs, blah!
A beautiful tribute.
I'm sad for your barn. It's beautiful. I'm glad you captured it before it's too late.
Such a sad story behind these great pics. Makes me happy that I am getting quite a nice collection of old barns for the next generation to see. They sure won't see them in person! :(
Beautiful photos Andrea! I think the only "sadder" than an empty, abandoned, falling into disrepair barn... is a home in a similar state!
~Chris
Dear Andrea ~ Your post speaks volumes! I am always saddened, while out for a drive in the 'country', to come upon the vast farmers fields, not filled with farm equipment but filled with construction equipment, all ready to build the next subdivision! Our drives in the 'country' require us to head further and further North.
We RARELY ever get to see INSIDE these old barns... I'm sooo glad you got to go in & actually take pics to show us!!! You really tell a wonderful story & it actually brought a tear to my eyes toward the end... I hate to see these old farms rot away...
Wouldn't it be neat if we could save them for museums like old revitalized mills or covered bridges, etc!
Beautiful barn! When is it suppose to be destroyed?
Oh my gosh I think I know that barn are you my neighbour? just kidding but I have seen it I think we live near the same areas. Strange.
It makes me very sad to see this you know I have a lot of rundown barns in my blog. It is heartbreaking but it is a very tough business to stay in I know I am drowning in it 200 acres would make a huge subdivision hoping to hold on till death but you never know.
Fantastic post and photos.Great job Andrea. B
I've taken many barn shots, but have never gone inside. Something I've wanted to do, but did not have the opportunity or courage.
Beautiful photos, Andrea. Well done!
That is a really big barn. What a life it has had - the stories it could tell. Great photos.
Amazing architecture.
And character.
Great photos, I love that you went inside, the 3rd photo really caught my eye with the light.
These are all such beautiful photos. The fact that you know the story makes them even more haunting. I look at it as a very sad thing in America....farms that don't carry on in families and are subdivided for housing. No more production.
What a wonderful but sad post Andrea. such a shame to see a beautiful old barn and farmhouse fall into ruins and know that it will all be torn down soon for a new subdivision. I can't help but feel bad for the lady who's farm it was. I'm so glad we aren't seeing that here in our area. Thanks for taking us along on your walk!
Maura :)
Andrea, I just checked in on all your latest posts. I've been so busy at work learning my new job that I've been on sensory overload and haven't had the energy to post on my blog or leave comments on my friends' blogs. I love this post and the photos. It's so poignant and really touches my heart. Your photos are just absolutely beautiful. What camera and lens are you using, if you don't mind my asking. The color and feeling of the mood in each of them are just wonderful. And I love your new header! Can I ask how you did it? LOL! So many questions, I know.
I'm going to sound like such a dork but... it looks just like a movie!
I like to photograph old houses. My Mother likes the old barns but I haven't paid much attention to them. Here, you were interested in the barn and don't show photos of the house. :)
I'm in Ontario too. You can find the group for Ontario Rural Ruins on Flickr. People post photos of barns there too. You might see others to find yourself.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/ontarioruralruins/
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