If you’ve been reading my blog for very long, you probably know that theories are something I love to knock around. You probably also know I adore abandoned buildings—a deep passion! Look at how beautiful these places are (above). When I look at them, I can’t help but think not only of the building but its very architecture, materials, and geology, as well as the history of those who have inhabited it. They come together to make something quite extraordinary. If you look at five elderly people’s faces, you will see five different lives led, from their genetics (good and bad) to the hard times (worry, anger, laughter)to how much they smoked or drank—all etched in their skin. When I look at these buildings, I see a history that is unique. Some have potential to be haunted, but some because of perhaps its human inhabitants, its geology and very feng shui of its rooms and shape, it becomes something so much more sinister.
If you’ve been reading my blog for very long, you probably know that theories are something I love to knock around. You probably also know I adore abandoned buildings—a deep passion! Look at how beautiful these places are (above). When I look at them, I can’t help but think not only of the building but its very architecture, materials, and geology, as well as the history of those who have inhabited it. They come together to make something quite extraordinary. If you look at five elderly people’s faces, you will see five different lives led, from their genetics (good and bad) to the hard times (worry, anger, laughter)to how much they smoked or drank—all etched in their skin. When I look at these buildings, I see a history that is unique. Some have potential to be haunted, but some because of perhaps its human inhabitants, its geology and very feng shui of its rooms and shape, it becomes something so much more sinister.
Comments
cool...I love old, abandoned buildings, too. I have a friend on DA (deviant art) who slips into old, abandoned mental institutions and takes some awesome photos... I'd love to take a look into some of these old places!
ReplyDeleteHey Pam;
ReplyDeleteAbandoned places are something I write about often in the blog. It's one of my favorite hobbies. My son is an art major and many of his projects have to do with abandoned sites. In fact, he's working on a project now on it, hoping to get a grant. The Southwest has a lot of them. If you use the search bar on the righthand side, you can probably find more of what I've written about abandoned sites and how to photograph them. Enjoy!
So many of these don't look scary at all but I still would be spooked to be in many of them after dark. I haven't seen any spirits for almost a year, but I suspect there aren't too many on the sixth floor of dorms. That said I have been in some unusual places with spirits. Newly built houses can be haunted just as easily as old houses. It is important to know the history of the land places were built on as much as it is important to know the histories of the houses.
ReplyDeletePanademona;
ReplyDeleteYeah, I wrote about that recently--how new buildings can be haunted as well. I suspect that all the ghost hunting shows are having a very lame time lately because of the lack of any geomagnetic activity since late 2008. Until it picks up again, I think ghostly activity will be less noticeable. I just adore those buildings in the video. Admittedly, nothing about abandoned buildings scares me except for people lurking in them and their rotted conditions that might be dangerous. I study abandoned places mostly because the residual in them is so potent--not diluted by live people in them. I can't get enough of those places and with the recent economy, it seems more and more of America is looking like old route 66. I have a post I'm writing about that subject right now. Should be on tomorrow maybe.
autumnforest, i love that video! i'm fascinted by old abandoned buildings too. i love the ones downtown in our town...they're just big old 3 or 4 story brick buildings that used to be stores years ago, but went out of business...a lot of them have apartments on the upper floors, & they have the old fire escape iron stairs outside...truthfully, if i could still walk & stuff, i'd love to live in one!! obviously, i'm a city mouse, not a country mouse!!
ReplyDeleteoh, the movie "the stand" is on syfy at 5 today! i LOVE that movie!
Libby--thanks for letting me know it's on! I'm working on my horror writing on this rainy day off work and I'm looking for good background spookiness while I write. I think it would be cool to live in one of those upper floor apartments. When I was a kid I used to dream of living in one of those big old warehouses on an upper floor where you take the old-fashioned freight elevator to go up. I love the idea of having one giant open area to live in rather than walls.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the years I've known some old abandoned houses with interesting architecture and history.Part of these houses have been demolished , and part have been sealed by the authorities to prevent "invasion" of homeless and drug addicted people.
ReplyDeleteThis second category of houses belongs to people authorities cannot locate, and there's much talk of haunted houses by unknown/ unreachable owners.
Duta;
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I love so much about these buildings is the "left behind" feel of them. When you walk inside, things are often forgotten as if someone just up and walked away from the place. You look at the clues like a crime scene and imagine how they lived, what they did, why they left... The mystery of the people is more powerful than the mystery of the building.
I think everyone leaves a foot print. Buildings are no different.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I pass some of the old, abandoned, decrepit barns here I think of you. (Because they have that abandoned look...NOT because I associate old/abandoned/decrepit with you!!!!!!!!!)
ReplyDeleteCourt;
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know I'm not some big old sagging structure filled with hay and horse manure. hee hee
Just wanted to say fantastic video! When I talk about old buildings like that I always say my ghost hunters eye loves it but you might not. As always your gift with words is amazing.
ReplyDeleteKimberly;
ReplyDeleteThanks. When I write about things that excite me, it seems to come out easily. Try and make me put words together to talk about what a great job George Bush did in office and I'm likely to just hunt and peck a bunch of 4-letter words. Hee hee
I think scary is a matter of perspective. There were some wonderful buildings in that video!
ReplyDeleteMore often than not, abandoned buildings are sad and lonely. They yearn for the days when they were in their prime (like many humans), for that moment in history when they were needed and serving a purpose.
I think that a building can be imbued with the emotions of the architect as well as the workmen who build it. And then add to that, the emotions of the people who dwelt there. A very strong mix indeed!