Memories of the Old Homeplace: Trashed, Abandoned and Left in the Dust

Remember the Old Home Place Forever

As southerners we want to hold onto to everything. And, sometimes we don't have the resources and time moves on. Only the memories remain and the stories we pass down to our children about our elders and our childhoods.

What memories are more special than those of the old home place. It may be the house you grew up in, or maybe your Grandmother's house or the farm where you spent every summer. It could be that old lake house or river house or beach house. No one but you and your family can appreciate what that porch swing brings to mind, or that old truck in the barn, or the fence going down the drive.

Here is a way to preserve those memories forever.

Several years ago I took my 75 year old mother to a family reunion that was held at her old family home place. We were lucky in that some cousins had lovingly cared for the place and as I sat in the yard eating fried chicken and potato salad, it was just like being there 40 years ago.

I went back and photographed the place and presented my mother with a book of the pictures. She went through the book, page by page, reminiscing over times she had spent there visiting her grandparents, playing with her cousins, and enjoying holidays with her family. Since then my mother has passed away. But, I captured the magic of the home place forever. Who knows the place may burn down tomorrow.

Let me capture that magic for your family.

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The Brass Tacks (or How to Get it Done)

If you are interested in preserving a memory for generations to come I think you will be very surprised at how little it will cost to have your precious memories saved for generations to come by a professionally produced photographic book.

I like to work with every one on an individual basis because each project is a work in progress. Often we end up finding more than we thought was there. (Memories fade until we return home and are reunited - briefly- with the past.)

Just email me at homeplacememories@gmail.com I always enjoy hearing from folks and am happy to answer questions.

Friday, March 14, 2014

Trashed, Abandoned and Left in the Dust

My next discovery was probably the most haunting of the day. I almost missed this one as I drove by, but I turned around and went back. Fenced off and almost hidden by vines and weeds were the remnants of a motel that had been abandoned. I could not find a name or reference anywhere. The sign with the motel's name had been taken down.

The colors were all pinks and peaches.

It was a fairly large property with all the rooms on one floor facing the courtyard in a u-shape. In the center was a swimming pool built around a tiered fountain. Of course the pool was green with algae. on closer inspection the fountain was covered with these lovely tiles.

Naturally, the first thing that came to my mind was how beautiful this must have been in its day. The office had been trashed with the glass broken. But the brick work and design shows that this was not just your run of the mill roadside mom and pop place.