Abandoned but oh, the cost.

Found a beautiful mansion, back in September, of last year.  It was a magnificent stone house that stood 3 stories, plus a full basement.  It was one of the most beautiful, single family, abandoned homes that I have seen.  As I stood in front of the house, admiring her beauty, I could tell she was an old, one.   Doors set in 2 feet or so. This one was built to last.  I walked up the stone steps, over to a broken window, to the right of the doors, and had a peek inside.  There was a lovely mantle with a magnificent, mirror above it.  It looked as if it was green marble.  There were velvet chairs and a gold velvet couch.  There had been some invasion but it didn't seem to be, too bad.  A few things were strewn about.  Didn't look terrible.
   I walked around the beautiful home and it was amazing how big it was.  On the back side of the house it stood 4 floors.  There was also a garage and it was all locked up.  No way to enter from the back side.  Then on around to the other side.  There was an open door, on what looked to be a sun porch.   It was so far up, that you would need a ladder.  So far, the only way in was the window, at the front porch.  The two front doors, by the broken window, which were side by side, were boarded up.  On the side of the house toward the road.  There was a balcony.  Probably  6 feet or so.  It had wooden rails and spindles, and a door to enter the living room area underneath.  It too, was locked.  It was too elegant, to be abandoned.  But here it stood.  Empty for God knows how long.
    I was just glad it hadn't fell to the destruction of vandals.  It had some damage but was still savable. A miracle.  I didn't enter the premises just took pics of the outside and through the broken widow.  That was how I left it,back in September.  It was hidden among the foliage, unable to be seen from the road.  Safe for now.
   On the drive home my heart longed to visit again.  I was so afraid, it would be torn down, or destroyed!
My biggest fear is that wild ones and thieves would ruin this beauty.  It happens way too often.  So many mansions and beautiful farmhouses, are ruined at the hands of these people.
    For days, for weeks and months, I thought of this place.  Wondering how to get back there, and get another chance to shoot the gorgeous lady.  The stone facade, against the blue sky, with a roaring river, rushing close by.  I had determination to find this home.

     
    
  We left early one morning, and headed out to a route that I had written down.  We set our GPS, only to find out, that route didn't exist.  I had written down the wrong road. It was a long way, from where we reside, so we had quite a day ahead of us.   We would just have to hit the road and try to find it.
  That is what we did.  We headed out in the direction, I had remembered the house to be.  All I knew is we had to try to find it.  We drove for two hours.  When we arrived in the area, that I thought, it was at.  We started checking out all the side roads.  I knew it set along a river, so I kept watching for bridges.  Finally!! There it was!  To my amazement, the place was cleaned up.  The weeds had been cut and the grass had been mowed.  The house stood there naked against the blueness, of the sky.  Still as beautiful as I remembered.
    This time we were not alone. When we pulled up, there was a small, white pickup there.  Still running and a tarp on the back.  There was a coal sticker, and I believe coal plates.  I didn't think much about this.  I thought maybe it was the owner.  I went ahead and took some pics from the road, waiting to see, if they would return to the truck.  Hoping to meet the owner.  Well, no one returned, as we waited and waited.  Deciding to go on to the house, and try to talk to someone, we headed down the hill, toward the house, passing by an old well on the way.
     Well, no one came out and I was afraid to go in, not knowing who was in there.  We always try to be careful when exploring.  You never know what you will run in to.  Finally my hubby hollered to get their attention.  First time, there was no reply.  The second time, a teen came out of the front door and a grown man came out of the basement.  I let them know, I was just wanting to take some pics.  The older gentleman, told us they were doing the same.  Informing us about the great detail of the old house.  I went up to the porch.  The once boarded up door was now kicked in, opened up into a messy room, full of someones memories, scattered all over the floor.  I find this sad.  I hope when we are gone, that my family will take my stuff and keep it, or sell it.  I don't want my years of memories, scattered about, the house and walked upon.
    It was terrible, inside.  The beds were torn apart, mattresses stripped, and thrown to the side.  The floor, in what I think was the dining room was unstable.  It would not take much to fall into the basement.  There was an old serving table, the drawers pulled out,and thrown, who knows where.  That was the only furniture, that I saw, in the dining area.

   My heart broke when I spotted an old B&W picture on the floor.  The woman in the picture looked fairly young, and dressed in clothes from 50's or so.  She looked elegant and like a well groomed,  lady.  Sad to see it there :(
   There were cards and letters, ripped open and strewn about.  Birthday, Mothers day, thank you cards and more.  Some dated back to the 50's.
    I just took a few pictures and held a silent vigil for the person or people who had once lived here and enjoyed a happy life.  Not having a clue who they were, but knowing they had, to have loved it here.  I know I would have.  Big porches to sit on and an upstairs balcony to go out on, watch the sunrise and enjoy a morning cup of coffee.
    I always try to connect with the people, who have called these places home.  I look around and see what had meant the most, to them to them. I look at the clothes they had worn, trying to guess which was their fave.  Wondering what their favorite color was, were they married, was there children?  Just a few things I ask myself, as I walk through.  I respect these places and the life the people led.  I take nothing and leave only footprints in the dust.
     Well, this is not always the case.  There are people out there, that will take anything that is not tied down. And on this day, we ran into some that were doing just that.  Unknown to me for quite sometime, because I was taking pics and connecting to the home.  But there were people removing items and hauling them off.  Old vacuum cleaners, and many antiques.  I am completely against this!  This makes me mad!  They had taken stuff out, while I was elsewhere .  It is terrible to see this going on. Breaks my heart!
     I had connected to this place and had a love for it.  I am afraid it won't be around long and people will totally destroy it.  But I will keep it in my heart.
     When I got home, I loaded my pics onto my computer.  This took a while.  I knew I would have to wait until later, to see how they turned out.  I also, wanted to research the family, and see if I could find out who had lived here.  On Monday I did just that.  I did find out who lived there, when they died, and a little history.  Not much.  But to me it was something important.  It aloud me to put a face with the house.  May they RIP.  Glad they had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful country home on the river.