Respect the signs

As much as I get an itch to check out a place, if a no trespassing sign is posted, I always resist the urge.  Here's the deal everyone...these signs could be up for a LOT of reason.  Safety is so important when you are exploring properties.  Not only because the structures are probably not safe, but because that is someone else's land and they have a good reason they don't want you on it. 

I know that there are plenty of people out there who would say that you mean no harm, you just want to look...etc. etc. and that's all great, but it's also very important to respect the signs.  That owner may be trying to preserve the property, keep people from vandalizing it, making sure they don't get squatters in the building...there can be any number of reasons.  But the important thing here is the no matter how great the urge, resist disrespecting someone's property.  Lets just face it, some people are crazy anyway.  Do you really want to be shot at or have the police called on you?  Always seek permission before going onto private property that has clearly marked signs and even be careful when you go places without signs.  Just because there isn't a sign doesn't mean someone doesn't want you there and will make sure you get off it.  Please use good judgment!

First day of abandoned places exploring

The weather has finally turned around here in Ohio.  This is not to say mother nature won't take another cold swing at us, but for now, we are enjoying warmer temperatures and sunny days.  My work schedule is Sundays to Thursdays, which means today is my Friday night.  Instead of going home, I really wanted to take advantage of the beautiful day and get in some drive time. 

The previous night, I had been all but glued to my computer chair looked at Google maps satellite view searching the surrounding area for cool things I wanted to go and check out.  A small abandoned cemetery near Lockbourne, Ohio struck my fancy and so I made plans to check it out this evening.

This evening has not disappointed!  Landes Cemetery, also known as Plum Travis or the plague cemetery is located just north of Lockbourne, Ohio on Lockbourne Road.  I spotted it right away.  A small grassy plot sits in the middle of a large field making it not too hard to pick out.  Parking was a little rough, but I found a place that got me far enough off the road and not trapped in a ditch.

The stones are very old and have seen their share of weathering and time.  It was quite difficult to actually make out what most of them said.  Several had been pushed over or were sinking into the ground.  I'm not inclined to believe the grounds have necessarily been vandalized.  Research showed me that the plot was once overrun by trees and tall grass.  More than likely no one really knew this place was there.  It is now maintained by the Hamilton County Trustees.

The story that the plot is actually a plague cemetery doesn't seem to hold weight.  While it is located away from the village itself, I believe this once may have been a small town.  Several houses build around the 1800's sit close by.  Also, the dates (at least the ones I could make out) appears to be spread out from the early to mid 1800's.  Sources say the last burial here took place around 1859. 

 

After leaving the cemetery, I really got the driving bug!  I wanted to see what I could find by just driving around.  My curiosity about a satellite picture I found in the area the night before had me driving down the road less than a mile to see if I could see a building from the road.  I wasn't disappointed!  I could see through the mature woods a structure, clearly abandoned.  I took note of the private property sign and reluctantly tried to get the best pictures I could from where I was.

 

 

 

 



I made a note to go back at another time and see if the people living in the houses in front know who owns the property and if I may get permission to check out the house.

My next stop didn't happen for a while. I drove though a active cemetery I found west of Lockbourne, but active cemeteries really don't peak my interest and there weren't many old stones worth getting out for.  I headed south after that and eventually came to a train town.  Lots of older homes in which residence appeared to be moving out.  A couple abandoned homes not really worth posting pictures of.  I did, however, find why the town was going abandoned (at least this is my theory.)  In the 10 minutes I was there, I watched three trains go by!  I certainly wouldn't want to live in a town with so much train traffic all the time!

But as I headed east out of that town, I found a real gem.  I literally slammed on my brakes in the middle of the road when I saw this place!   A two story log cabin with a collapsed roof and several structures behind it.  I couldn't find a good pull off, so I contented myself to a quick picture while sitting on the road in my car.

 

 

I certainly want to go back to this place again and stop by the neighbor's house to see if they own the property.  I didn't see any "No Trespassing" signs, but especially in the county you can't take the chance. 

 

One I hit Ashville Pike, I headed south into Ashville and stopped at an old school house sitting right beside the road.  This one did have a clearly posted sign, so I stayed my distance back, but still managed to get some GREAT pictures!  I posted my favorite below.

 

 

By this time, it was getting late and my stomach was reminding me I hadn't eaten since 11:30.  I did a little driving around the Rickenbacker airport area, but didn't find much of interest save some old barns.

 

Overall, not a bad first day for exploring.  I definitely saw some cool place and want to check out this area again real soon!







Awareness

A few months ago while the weather was still subzero, I made a crazy decision to go and buy a new to me (used) car.  Ever since I brought my 2010 Chevy Equinox home, on any given day, I spot at least 5+ models of this SUV every day on my daily drives around Cbus (that's Columbus for those of you who don't know Ohio lingo).  It is amazing how much more aware I have become off how many other people own this vehicle since I got one myself.  I never used to pick out an Equinox from a line of cars.

I have found the same goes with my love of history and abandoned places.  Ever since my fascination and desire to find these places has taken off, I now am far more aware of when I drive by an old one room schoolhouse, or when I see a lowly old farmhouse sitting abandoned in the middle of an open field.  All of the sudden I have realized that I drive by three abandoned places each day to and from work, and countless other old homes still being lived in. 

I guess it most certainly true that when you change something about your environment or routine, you really start to notice and take observance of things you never did before. 

Those who wander are not always lost....

I have always said that I only need three things before deciding to take a turn off of a familiar road and onto one I have never been on before.  Those things are a full tank of gas, a GPS, and the good Lord watching out for me. 

I am, by definition, not a thrill seeker in the usual context and definition of the word.  I do not enjoy leaping from great heights, riding a roller coaster down massive free falls, or racing a car at a 100 miles an hour.  Okay, maybe that last one is kind of fun, but my definition of thrill is the unknown.  I am not morbid when I say this.  I simply mean that I love not knowing what I'm about to find.  The anticipation is almost enough to send my senses into overload!  People take for granted now a days the release of just taking a drive.  Not knowing where you are going to turn up, what you will see along the way, who you may meet, the new experiences you may add to your life....how could the human spirit resist?  The most amazing trips I have taken in my life have always been the unplanned ones.

Just the other day I was heading to Ashville to pet sit for the night and decided I had a rough idea of the direction I needed to go, so I took some roads I had never been on before.  An Ohio girl by birth, I have forever loved the wide open spaces of fields and sky.  Yesterday's detour was no disappointment.  As I looked out over the miles of fields, I got chills.  This was my home.  I am a forever Buckeye.  A bonus to this side trip was driving by an abandoned farm house, which I made note of to stop back by again, a burnt out one room brick schoolhouse, which I cried a little inside at seeing, and a construction machine graveyard of sorts, which I almost slammed on the brakes to go back and see.  All these things would have to wait till another day.  But just knowing they were there and I had happened upon them made my day!

On the way to work this morning, I even passed another one room brick schoolhouse which I made note of to come back to.  A short distance up the road was another old looking church.  Perhaps it was even a replacement for the one room structure.  A farming town to my left gave me great curiosity and if it had been any other day but a work day, I would have hung a left and gone to explore further.

Life gets in the way sometimes, but sometimes you have to get away in order to add to that life.

This Saturday, my friend Jane and I are heading down to the Hocking Hills for a day long adventure of abandoned places searching.  This is a first trip of many for us.  We are friends through another common friend and I am most pleased to have her as my exploration partner.  You will see her photography on here regularly as she does have a better piece of equipment than my own iPhone camera.  We share a common love of travel, photography, history, and abandon places.  While I know the Hocking Hills well, I have no problem turning down a road I am less familiar with to discover what it has.

On the list of places we do most certainly want to see are:

Logan Drive-In Theater
Old Nelsonville High Schools
Nelsonville Train Graveyard
Nelsonville Pig Iron Furnaces
Ruins of the Buchtel High School
The Ridge, formerly the Athens Aslyum
Moonville Tunnel
The Chapel Ridge Road church and log cabin

Come back this weekend for pictures and stories of our adventure!

Abandoned places are good for the seeking soul

What is it about a red, brick structure sitting back on a wooded lot or out in the middle of a wide open field left to time and the elements, that is so appealing?  Does it stir the imagination to wonder who once lived there?  Does it stroke the curiosity of wanting to take a look inside and see what years of neglect has left?  Does it awaken a sort of horrible beauty to know as time passes the brick will continue to crumble into dust?  Or is it simply all the unknown?  A bit of all the above combined with an escape from the daily norm? 

I can not describe adequately what the ruins of an abandoned building stir in me.  In some ways it is such a personal and internal excitement combined with a passion for the past and my need to be a part of it.

Visiting a historical site, a building in ruin, an abandoned place, or even an old, forgotten graveyard to me is like visiting a place I have already been.  I'm simply returning all these years later for a visit.  I feel as if I am older than I really am....like I wasn't born in this time.  I have a young body and mind, but yet I remember these places and can see them for what they were back their day. 

I feel that those like me who seek an adrenaline rush from stepping in the footprints of history or researching a time, place, or people are a unique breed.  While many of us are sad to see history torn down or crumbling into ruin, we also see a beauty in time and nature reclaiming what was once vibrant and alive in a different way. 

It is unfortunate that even within this group of thrill searchers, two separate types of people exist.  There are those who only seek out these places to destroy.  Their intentions are cruel and they don't care about truth.  They make up stories and fiction which brings others to the same place; further destroying and leaving a negative mark. 

Then there are those like myself who see history as something you visit in order to appreciate, learn, and admire it.  But you wish to take nothing other than the experience, truth, memories, and a camera full of pictures. 

Perhaps as the days go on those structures will no longer stand.  But simply by visiting and searching for understanding of a time long past gone, you carry the history of that place with you.  For it is more important for the soul to learn from walking in history's footsteps than to leave a permanent scar of disrespect.

I am reminded every time I come across an abandoned place that a no trespassing sign is not a taunt for me to break the rules.  If anything, it is a barrier put in place to preserve that history.  Sometimes it is appropriate to allow time and nature to reclaim a place.  While I hate to see such beautiful structures left to ruin, there is something appropriate in simply letting them live out their existence carrying with them only what is past.  And in these times, I simply keep my distance and take in every wall, gable, and piece of craftsmanship so that I may take it with me.