Per Request – Abandoned Building
Out in the Oregon wastelands between OR205 and US395 are the remnants of hardier people than of now that made a go of survival. Perhaps in their time, they were successful – this ruin certainly does not appear to have been a barely-hanging-on rancher’s shack.
One wall – between the two parts of the house – looks to be stone; perhaps part of an original structure built as protection against Indians (1850s) or the harsh winds of winter. The shake shingles suggest construction before the advent of corrugated tin or asphalt roofing. The thickness of the window frame suggest thick walls. The portion to the left suggests a screen porch. The outhouse was on the other side of the tree – whose condition suggests plentiful water. The metal artifact low in the grass suggests 1920s.
The condition of the building and surrounding grounds suggests it might have been lived in as late as the 40s or 50s.
If I could remember where I was when I took this photo, I’d go back and see what has changed in the 20+ years since I was there last.
In my neck of the woods, high humidity, and high rainfall amounts, turn wood into dust over time; if the termites don’t find it first. Still, up to about a decade ago, the old log cabin still stood. It leaned badly, the roof was mostly gone, but the sturdy solid log walls still held on.
It had a breezeway. Divided in the middle, one side was obviously for cooking, while the other was for sleeping. The open, covered area in the middle was where some family kept cool, and probably slept, in the there during summers, when the temperature at night would hover around 80 degrees. There was no indication electricity was ever supplied to the small home.
It’s now gone. I don’t know if the property owner tore it down, or it finally succumbed to the ravages of time. The area where it stood is now grown up with the thick congestion of blackberry vines, and the undergrowth that covers the woods that one time held towering trees that blocked the sun.
I think the “breezeway” made the house a “shotgun shack”.
Sledge hammer
Framing hammer
Hatchet
Cross cut hand saw
Spade shovel
Mattock
4′ Level
50′ Line level
24″ Framing square
30′ Tape measure
Carpenters pencil
Utility knife
Aviation snips
1″ Wood chisel
6′ Step ladder
50′ 1/2″ Rope
12″ Waterpump pliers
30″ Crowbar
10lbs Spikes
10lbs Box nails
5 gal Bucket
12’x12′ Canvas tarp
With these 22 items a young healthy dood could drop on that site and in a month or so have a domicile that would serve all his general purposes for the rest of his life.
I’d add some lumber to the list
I see. You want a game plan.
I believe there is enough salvageable wood on site.
Keep in mind, I’m talking a space large enough for 1, maybe 2 people to habitate full time, nothing fancy.
I never claimed it would be easy, just doable.
Lots of physical work…but no money needed.
So yeah, demolition and separating the good wood would be the first order of business. Once that is done a plan can be determined on how large the thing can be (1 story).
There are obviously a lot of things I’m discounting here.
Stuff like, owners permission, the builder being capable (knowledge and strength), and the entire thing under up close inspection is not dry rotted (punk wood) to death.
🙂