Thursday, March 19, 2009

I visited a small town from my childhood. What was left were shells of buildings that were once the center of a community. A gathering place to discuss the harvest or watch Ed Sullivan on a black and white TV through the hardware store window. Like so many small towns of this era, a nearby interstate robbed the community of it's lifeblood. In nature, a fallen tree or the leaves of late Autumn are reclaimed and used again to live in the Spingtimes to come. Nature reclaims man's creations as well. It has begun in Cynthiana.

The ringing of the payphone drew my attention to the city hall building. The phone rang to no avail. I was tempted to answer it. Finally the silence returned and I left with memories in color.

12 comments:

boneman said...

Wow! Looks like Fairmount, and specifically, the building my Grandad worked in.

You know, the way things are going, this might one day retun to being a thriving community.

Dan Felstead said...

Boneman...
The town is Cynthiana Indiana about 20 miles northwest of Evansville. I know we needed the progress of the interstates but there are so many towns like this spread across the US where generations of families just disappeared.

Dan

Clive said...

Dan

We're amazed - you're right - Scooter does look just like me!! The little man couldn't believe it when we showed him! We could be identical twins!

People often ask the little man's mum if I'm a large wheaten terrier - goldendoodles are still very rare over here!

Great to have you stop by ...

Clive

Dan Felstead said...

Clive...
You are the first dog to visit my blog...welcome aboard. I was wondering if you are married...I would like to introduce you to Scooter...you would make a great couple!

Dan

OliveStreetStudio said...

Very nice shot. Kind of 'old west' to me. BTW, I used to go to Evansville every 3-4 weeks when I have some apartment buildings that I was working on. Didn't own them, but my responsibility at work. Always liked it there.

Anonymous said...

I am really touched by this post. I absolutely love the photo.

Dan Felstead said...

Olive Street...
Well...Welcome back to Evansville! The old city hall building is about 20 miles northwest of Evansville just off interstate 64. Thanks for stopping back by.

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Jen,
Thanks for your kind words. I am certain that there are small towns like this near to everyone's home. Different names perhaps but towns that have succumbed to the same fate as Cynthiana. Thanks for stopping by.

Dan

Barbara/myth maker said...

Wonderful shot.

Dan Felstead said...

B.Valient,
Thank you for the comment and thanks for stopping by.

Dan

Sunny said...

We have a few building of the same sort around here, but none of them has ever been taken seriously by photographers.

Thank you for the memeories :)

Dan Felstead said...

Sunny,
I think buildings such as these should be chronicled by photographers...they will soon non longer exist with no record of ever having existed.

Dan