17:59 Jan 03 2011
Times Read: 994
Get a drink- this is a long one. :) Taking you with me on this trip.
Old High School in a small town. As in one red light and the population in the year 2000 was #878. So you understand why any stranger in town was watched closely, and why this one was hard to get into. I really wanted to get into this place, but like most things in life, it was not to par with my dreams of what is would be. Shame… such a great beauty left to rot.
I can’t find any info online on this building, but a local lady at the gas station told me it closed in 1970 when the new High School was built, and owned by a local man who had planned to redo it. It has not been touched and she did not know if it ever will be. The rumor was he was trying to turn it into a convention/ town hall building. Of a town of less then 1,000... Ok.
This is the view that first caught my eye as I drove into town a few weeks ago- and what I went back Sunday early to take a picture of, thinking I would wait till late spring to try and get into the place. Time to take the picture while the trees are bare. Taken from Main St.
It was on the way out of town that I looked up the hill, seeing no car at the noisy neighbor, the dog chained up. It was the time- he was at church, and it was only 10:25am. So I parked in a church parking lot (Strange car at church… sure it was someone‘s family in for the holiday), grab my cell phone and camera bag and off I went up the hill. Only seen by one man who stepped out of the church so I expected cops anytime to show up. That will be a fun call to my Sis- I need bail money. lol
But the cell phone worked, so… let’s go see what waits for me to find. Wanting to flip the dog off as I walked by, its bark sounding like a cannon going off, I huffed my way up the hill. Up the steep hill and around the small curve- and I was out of sight from anyone. And there it way, the sunlight bathing the one side.
Older part of the school with four classrooms added on during the years. (white part) Unlike the other schools I have been in this one had wood floors. And with the roof falling in - that meant trouble for this beautiful old building. My first look in made my heart sink… note the wooden stairs.
Well- that way was out of the question. But from the road I knew it has a door in front, standing open. So around the building front I went, wishing I had not worn a orange sweater as I am clearly visible from Main St. But the decay gods was with me as no one came about the half hour or so I was there. I step in to find more wooden stairs but in a lot better shape.
Up or down? Hmmmm… what dark doorway do I go into first? This is the second... that feeling of horror, of the unknown, of being a child again and the darkness beckings to you. So... I went down.
Into the small basement. I realized the basement did not go far, not fully under the building. It was clearly heated with coal as the only thing left behind was the coal cart, the heater/boilers gone long ago.
This was also the few seconds of noise I heard in the building. Understand it is 23 degrees, and the noise sounded like a bird trying to fly. I turned off my flashlight and stood silent…then nothing. No cop, no neighbor coming to get me out.
So up the stairs and to the office that seems to of been turned into a storage room of toilets and sinks. Colorful ones at least. This whole place had some color to it, noting the paint on the walls. It is also my first view of just how badly the place was gone. I made sure I stayed away from the weak, wet areas of the wooden floor. In my work- I have been in home like this. Left to rot, water damage, fire damaged. Nothing new for me really.
I knew I had to be super aware on this one. I did the step, weight, lean back when you deal with weak floors. And any wet spot- I stayed off of. Step forward, lean back a little, put some weight down…ready to fall backward in case the floor gives..bounce a little forward… ok... put your weight on it easy. Next step the same.. And I crossed the hallway that looked and turned out to be solid. At least I knew I would not fall far as the basement did not run under this area as you can see in the hallway picture, it only sloping a little.
I went into the only room that looked safe to get to- the library.
Brrr... it was too cold to stand still long. Then it was up the stairs with care, the same bounce step, and on the inner corner of the step closest to the wall.(strongest part).
First sign that it has been a school was found in the newer section. These was taken from the hallway, I did not trust the floors after seeing the ones below damaged.
Seems the newer part had less damage upstairs but I was still not trusting the floor. Why? Let me show you the other side of the hallway, the older part. There was only one room I dared to step to as far as just the doorway.
It was about then I decided it was time to leave. So down and out of the building with a few last detail shots and a swift wall along the outside of the building to the other door at the opposite end of the building.
Going up these wooden steps I was hoping the kitchen would be found on this end, a bathroom, maybe even more office. The basement stairs down was gone- but I kind of knew nothing would be found there anyway. Scrappers has already come and gone- even light fixtures missing. So I went up the stairs and step into the hallway of the other side of where I was. I stood, stun. Why would anyone let a building get this bad? I can see why a chain was finally put over the road, to help keep people out. First - I did find a bathroom, the toilet and sinks gone. It was right at the steps, and the only room I went into this side. Kind of surprised the metal stalls was still there. I would not even do the stairs upward as the roof above them was damaged, and seeing this damage…there was no use to even try.
Outside to do some outside shots before I head out to the side building. It is a small wooden structure that I knew had at least a one floor basement. But upon seeing the condition of the place and the bolding floors and the lack of anything I found nice, it was shots from the doorways, windows only of the top floor. No way was I going to hunt for stairs or a way around to the side of the building.
These two shots, looking at the floor,made up my mind about staying out of the basement.
Stage? The bulding had barn type doors on the side.
And a last stop on the way out to take some pictures from outside- into the collapsed area.
I stood there in the sun, its warm rays keeping most of the chill at bay as I looked upon the school- glad I came, sadden to see such a building gone to ruin. Such a difference between the two buildings, but their faiths the same. I sent a silent thank you for letting me in, view its charm, and for keeping me safe. A Thank you for the teachers and Admins who shaped lives all those years inside these walls. And a soft sorry for it being left behind, forgotten and abused.
Turning I started back down the hill, the dog greeting me the second I came into sight. I see that the neighbor was still not home as I walked by, giving Toto a smile and a wave. Getting into the car and turning the heat on I notice I was gone a total of a little over 30 minutes. Looking up at the hill, just seeing the roof line of the building, I gave a peaceful sigh and headed home to a hot shower.
COMMENTS
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LadyCatra
00:26 Jan 30 2011
This is really pretty. I love that shade. Glitter just rocks in and of itself. :)
MooniePie
00:42 Jan 30 2011
Ohhh I really like that! It's pretty. Fake lashes are wonderful. Even though I have really long lashes I still like to wear them at times. Course, when I have contacts handy because it's annoying having them brush on my glasses. lol
NocturnalMistress
03:25 Jan 30 2011
I love it.
The glitter...
The colors...
I love it. :)