The Days of Youth

I spotted this house on my way home one evening and decided to stop and check it out even though the sunlight was nearly gone. I usually don't explore at night, but I was intrigued... I really don't know why as it really isn't that appealing on the outside.

The driveway was plowed right up to the obviously abandoned house and it's barn... but the driveway still didn't seem very used. I pulled right up and around the house so I was slightly hidden and headed toward the house. It was a bit of an obstacle to get in through an obvious entrance just because of the snow and it being so run down. I really thought this was going to be a shack and considered just going back to my car as it was -10 out. I'm glad I didn't.

Welcome to the 50's... well... the poorly preserved 50's that's been left to fend for itself against Canadian winter for years and years and years. The kitchen has a unique and colourful style with one of those round 50's style fridges and the rotary dial phone on the wall. There are still handwritten notes pinned to the family bulletin board and little knick knacks piled as if they were getting ready to be packed but it never happened. The bathroom is absolutely disgusting and dirty, The top of the stairs and upper level are very unstable... the whole house actually seems very worn out and has that "abandoned for many, many, MANY years" feel to it.... but at the same time there is no vandalism or signs of theft really.... just the new habitat for little critters.

In the living room there is an old piano and all kinds of furniture and boxes sit neatly stacked toward the corner of the room and cover in a thick dust that hasn't been touched in years. The rooms all have furniture... mattresses have been removed from the beds, but there are posters on the walls and a few little items found here and there throughout the house that tell a little more about the memories that it holds.

Disappointed that it was dark, I decided I would leave and revisit another time during the day as the house would have amazing lighting because it's not boarded or anything. I headed toward my exit through the broken doors. Through the split wood of the door as I was leaving I spotted a man... just standing there staring at me. I actually screamed... lol he scared the crap outta me! He saw my camera and asked me what I was doing... I explained that I was just a curious photographer driving by that had to stop and check it out. He said he doesn't mind me looking, as he waited for me to exit to see if I was stealing anything and I came out empty handed. He explained that he lives across the street and just likes to check up on the property as the owner is an elderly man that has been in a home since 1994. He said he has caught other photographers snooping around the barn and seemed a little annoyed with the increased activity in the area lately. He didn't ask me to leave to leave in the end and overall seemed pretty nice about the situation. I'm sure he is just trying to keep it from becoming a party spot for kids or the next target for arson as he lives so close by.

I'll definitely be heading back to this place in the warmer weather for some better pictures, but I had to share!