I photographed this abandoned building along a country road near Kasota last fall.
ABANDONED FARMHOUSES and rural buildings have always held a special fascination for me.
As odd as this seems, I see poetry in these buildings that lean against the landscape, that view the world through shattered lenses.
I often wonder: Who lived or worked here? Why was this farmhouse or barn or outbuilding or schoolhouse abandoned, left to decay in the elements? I feel a certain sense of sadness knowing that once this building stood strong and proud.
But, yet, I manage to see the beauty in the bones that remain—in weathered boards muted to soft shades of gray, in crooked doors clinging to rusty hinges, in roofs that sag under the weight of time.
In my mind, I have personified this abandoned building, given it new life, through my photos and my poetic thoughts.
HOW ABOUT YOU—do you see what I see in old buildings? Share your thoughts in a comment.
© Copyright 2011 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I do see what you see! In fact I wrote a blog post about it the other day. My abandoned building photos are in Oregon. I would love to see more pictures from Minnesota, having never been there myself. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks for stopping in from Oregon. I checked out your website and your photos of abandoned buildings. They are definitely different than those in southern Minnesota, where I live. Readers, be sure to click on eponaleah to see the old building images.
It’s nice to “meet” you, someone who sees what I “see” in abandoned buildings. I definitely enjoyed your post.
It is always nice to meet a kindred spirit! Nice to “meet” you too.
Totally. When I was driving around the state this summer researching my book, I took tons of photos of abandoned buildings. I also found I really liked small old churches, little clapboard buildings. I too wonder about the previous inhabitants, what their lives were like, how the home came to be abandoned.
Ah, ha, another kindred spirit who appreciates abandoned buildings and old churches. Have you seen my many posts featuring old country churches? Just type “churches” into the Minnesota Prairie Roots search engine.
Minnesota Moments magazine published my 8-page photo essay, “In praise of old country churches,” in the September/October 2010 issue. I think you would enjoy this photo tour of eight historic churches in southern Minnesota.
So…, I am curious. What type of book are you writing? I would love to hear about your project. I write book reviews for Minnesota Moments magazine and am always seeking new Minnesota-authored titles to consider for review.
I’ll look for it!
My book is called Backroads & Byways of Minnesota, coming out in late May. If you’re interested, email me your address, and I’ll have the PR folks send you a copy. It was great fun to research.
I also found myself interested in post offices too. Lots of fun small-town post offices out there.
Have you seen the MN Historical Society Press’s series “of Minnesota”? There’s Cabins of Minnesota, Churches of Minnesota, Barns of Minnesota, each with a different author providing text (Bill Holm, Jon Hassler, Will Weaver). Lovely books.
This sounds like a book I would love to consider for review. I’ll contact you via email shortly.
Yes, I’m familiar with Doug Ohman’s book series from the Minnesota Historical Society Press. Great books with great photos. I’ve reviewed one, if not two, of those titles. Can’t quite recall as it’s been some time ago. I also saw Ohman’s presentation on country churches many years ago.
To me old buildings are genealogy. I am so happy to know my cousin Rueben is on the family homestead at Courtland MN. Old building are our past and also give our children the energy to press on and keep history going.
I think you’re absolutely right that old buildings connect us to our past. If the walls would speak, imagine the stories they would tell us.
I always wonder about things, especially abandoned buildings. You can’t help but think about the stories it might have housed. The lives lived there. What a gorgeous shot!
I agree. I’m pleased, too, with how the image turned out. I need to start photographing more of these abandoned buildings.
They make me sad. I do love them. But I think of all the happy times people could have shared in the house. Then I think about how sad and unloved it is. We take pictures of those types of buildings in Montana as well.
Through these two posts, I’ve discovered that many people appreciate abandoned buildings. And why shouldn’t we. They honor the memories of those who lived or worked there…
[…] state. I’m not the only one intrigued with these: Minnesota Prairie Roots’ Audrey has also taken a shine to the beauty of the sometimes underappreciated or unnoticed buildings all around […]
Family that lived arround the area where this building is said it was an old county school house.
That totally makes sense. Thank you for sharing that info, Barbara.