Long Abandoned © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry
My passion for old and derelict buildings is, by now, no secret! For those of you following on Twitter or Facebook, you will be aware of the fact that I saw a place on one of my drives that really caught my imagination. The kicker was, I had decided against bringing the camera due to the fact that it had been raining most of the morning. Of course, once I hit the road, it never rained, in fact, the sun came out.
I had the good fortune to get another semi-overcast day on Wednesday to get a few shots. I am only including one I like but will not paint. Some people (Patrick!) pay too close attention!
It seems that every so often, a place grabs a hold on me and I am driven to learn more about a property or just the times. This place made it easy to imagine. I ended up on another research binge and learned that the “Orange” Celebrations always happened on July 12 in one of either Huntsville, Bracebridge or Gravenhurst and that this was immediately followed by the harvesting of the hay on the 13th if it didn’t rain. This house was surrounded by huge fields and I could almost hear the men coming in from them.
I am a strong believer in synchronicity and that sometimes, the right things come at the right time. I am a big fan of the rural explorers; people who, with great reverence, explore old farms and other buildings that are long abandoned. They tell a story through photographs of places that would otherwise, simply disappear. I am a believer that permission should be asked if it is possible and many of the greatest images come back when generous family members or farmers allow photographs to be taken. I am hoping that I will get the tour of one of my favourite places very soon.
Muskoka Cottage Sanatorium c. 1928, Archives of Ontario
It was on one of the exploration sites I found mention of a book called “A Life Consumed” by Diane Sims on a thread discussing the Gravenhurst Sanatorium. It was the first tuberculosis sanatorium in Canada. The book is a true account life there in the 1920’s, from the letters of Lilly Samson.
I don’t know why this house and the book insist on connecting somehow in my mind and to the series of events that have followed my visit and my research, but there is a story here. I plan to follow my instincts….
that house looks so familiar! it could be any farmhouse, but there is something about it that seems to register in my head but I can’t figure out what. It really looks like a house I use to go to when I was younger but then again lots of farmhouses looked the same
Very cool place Michelle. I just love your blog.
Love,
Linda
Michelle,
Ovecast days often fit really well images of derelict houses.
I envy you a little bit because we had many overcast days here but we don’t have any of these old abandoned buidings.
The archive image you found is beautiful. I’ve seen and used (a little) some very old cameras and i’m always stuned to see the impressive work photographers were doing one hundred years ago.
Am i the (Patrick) you speak about ? 🙂
Jennifer Rose – This is a very common design on the exterior, but the interior had some rather unique features.
Thanks, Linda! I know you love these posts.
Patrick – I am not sure what I would do without these built ‘old people’ around. And yes – YOU are the Patrick! LOL!
I love that photograph with the glazed sun. It looks so moody. The huge sanitorium windows must have been a comfort to those afflicted.
Dear Michelle,
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo. It is such a seemingly simple photo and yet for me highly complex emotionally.
On one hand the colors are warm even though it’s over cast. And my first reaction was, “Oh I’d love to own that house and fix it up.” It just seems so orderly and the color is gorgeous. I love the bay window on the end of the house and the design up near the roof corner. But what is so weird when I started to notice the two windows just above the bay window and below the white trim in the roof peak, I started to get chills. Like when you watch a horror movie and at first everything seems all normal and warm and friendly and then all of a sudden you notice something eery. It was almost like I half expected to see someone staring out of one of those upper windows. I don’t watch horror movies or even own a TV by choice but this photo is SO excellent that it is a highly complex photo. It evokes numerous emotions in me. I love photos that do that. It’s sophisticated art.
Even the sky is a contradiction in a way. It is both cloudy and sunny, both over cast and yet kind of warm and glowing. This is truly a remarkable photo.
I’d love to explore the house. I so enjoy going through old abandoned houses and wondering what kind of lives the people lived.
You are very very talented and have a remarkable eye for these buildings both in painting and photography.
I also have to tell you that I have SO enjoyed getting to know you better through your site here and your thoughts on my site. There is much depth in you that is continually unfolding in everything you do. You are bursting with creativity.
Hugs,
Robin
Thanks, Ingrid – I sometimes wonder. I seem to love to s;eep with my window open in the cold. I feel like I can breathe better…
Robin;
Your comments are such a gift – they are insightful as well as complimentary. I feel like I learn a secret about myself as well as an insight into how you see the world. It is a wonderful exchange we have here as your rich and generous spirit constantly inspires me.
I do see them as a contradiction… And explore a little more, I did.. 😉
BTW – There is something to the rooms (once two, but the wall was removed) above the bay window. I was attracted to that room on the right the second I got there… My imagination flooded!
I would guess that you are right to follow your instincts and pursue this one. Often, doing some detective work on the back story can inspire you as an end in itself, apart from the visual aspect, and then infuse your work with a depth that would otherwise not be there when you return to the subject.(From what I’ve seen, you already practice that philosophy anyway, so I’m not saying anything new.)
We’ll just have to wait and see what develops..Happy digging:)
wonderful photo of the house Michelle and the interior of the sanatorium is eerie…I bet it has a thousand stories to tell…
Kim – Thank you! I finished one story from the “San”. Many of them are so tragic…
I got goosebumps from this post…I am not sure that I would like to explore this one! It doesn’t give me happy vibes at all…but it is very intriguing.
I disliked history when I was at school and yet now I love to research places and people, particularly if I can relate to them on a personal level. I wonder what you will uncover?
Funny I find both the photo of the house and the sanatorium eerie!!!
The house looks as though it could be haunted…
As for the sanatorium, my mother in law spent a great deal of time in a sanatorium when she was a young girl…not sure where… I will have to ask as she was born and raised in North Bay! You have me wondering???
Cheers