2.25.2011

this old house






Yesterday I listened to this show on "This American Life" about a teenage boy who explores an old abandoned house he has stumbled upon. The house still had a full pantry, handwritten letters, and even an old white dress hanging in the closet. The boy admits to having a "crush" on the house, because he cannot stop thinking about it and what mysterious circumstances led the owners to leave.

I was so intrigued by this story, probably because I can totally relate to having a house crush-especially when the house is abandoned and that lived in feeling still lingers. Peeling sheets of wallpaper can be read like a book-floral pattern over plaid pattern over a pattern no longer recognizable. Those are my favorite kind of stories to read.

(images from this fantastic collection)

12 comments:

  1. hannerFebruary 25, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    oh my gosh. i heard that story last year and i stopped doing whatever i was doing at home and just sat on the couch and listened. it was so intriguing!!! and i'm still not super satisfied with the ending but oh well.

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  2. BeccaFebruary 25, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    i love old houses.

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  3. Amanda Jane JonesFebruary 25, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    mmmm. I haven't listened to that one yet. it sounds fantastic. beautiful houses...

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  4. JulieFebruary 25, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    hanner-I felt the same way. I was hoping for a solved mystery or dark story-alas, neither took place.

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  5. UnknownFebruary 26, 2011 at 7:45 AM

    Fab post! I will listen to this right away! Unlived-in houses are so fascinating! x

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  6. julie digs designFebruary 27, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    wouldn't it be cool if you got the story behind each house as well? Such a neat post!

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  7. rubiFebruary 28, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    have you seen the rodarte video with elle fanning? she explores an old house in beautiful rodarte dresses. it's pretty fantastic. there are so many old abandoned brownstones in harlem that i wish i could own. i wouldn't explore them on my own though because i'm sure they're filled with rats.

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  8. You Are My FaveMarch 3, 2011 at 7:17 PM

    I love TAM. I cannot imagine the circumstance you would have to be in in order to just abandon your house. Crazy.

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  9. Hermine - Journal de joursMarch 3, 2011 at 11:17 PM

    Love love love those houses.

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  10. tanyaMarch 4, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    these are beautiful.

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  11. Eva / Sycamore Street PressMarch 9, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    That was maybe my favorite episode ever of TAL. ANd I love these photos, too. So mysterious, beautiful, and sad.

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  12. AnonymousMarch 15, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    http://www.100abandonedhouses.com/

    Was profiled by the NYT a couple of years ago.

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