Thursday, August 2, 2007

Abandoned houses in Maine

In western Maine, close to the New Hampshire border, is a tiny town mainly consisting of an old railroad (still used for freight) along Main Street, maybe 10-20 houses, and a volunteer fire station. One of the houses along Main Street, which actually was called Railroad Avenue I think, was abandoned and falling apart. When you see houses like this you wonder what the story is - who lived here, why isn't anyone fixing the roof (when the roof goes so does the house), and what will happen to it. The lines of the house were beautiful, well-proportioned. Maybe it was an inn at one point? The railroad was only 20-30 m away, and imagine the steam trains going by, and winters with 2 m thick snow. It was a different life!
But, you could still see the old, nice detailing on the house, and there were remnants of the former owners, such as shirts hanging in the window, tattered curtains, and a water tank. Who wore those shirts? How long had they been hanging there? Someone also cuts the grass, probably since this is in the middle of the village, right in the center. Maybe someone does live there still? But the door handle was gone.

7 comments:

O.K. said...

A little paint and it will be as good as new. What? Me, an optimist?

PP said...

maybe you should go up an re-roof that baby!

O.K. said...

Really? Do you find that necessary? I've read that good ventilation lessens problems with moisture in houses...

LS said...

Look at the detailing over the door. Also, this is Maine, lots of snow, so the veranda and the little roof over the door reflect this.

LS said...

I am trying to figure out the color of the house - the door was blue, but the house? White, blue? Or just plain wood? Any suggestions?

Julia Powers said...

Where is this home located?

LS said...

I think it was in Gilead, Maine.