Okay, maybe every once in a while there is a building that can’t be saved.  The source of the photo was Humboldt State University, so this was likely around here somewhere. 

It also looks like silt has built up around the front of the first building… Flood?  Exceptionally high tide?

I wish I knew where this was and if any structures in the background are still standing…

I receive This Old House magazine and one of the “Thirty lessons learned in 30 years of TOH TV” is that restoring an old house is a good investment.

The article points out that not long  ago (1970s) razing old buildings to make way for “progress” was common.   Many local buildings, such as the original Arcata City Hall, were lost this way (the photo below is a repeat, I know, but what a great old building).

Original Arcata City Hall

Fortunately, many things have changed (and few Humboldt residents had the funds to flatten old buildings and construct new ones from scratch).  Today we have many wonderful historic structures in the area.  

Just yesterday I worked for a client who has his office in the Stewart School Building in Arcata (across from the high school).  The building was built in 1925, closed some time ago as a school, was repurposed as office and studio space, and just became the new home of College of the Redwood’s Arcata extension program.

Hopefully this trend of repurposing historic structures will continue.  Not because we’re too poor to destroy old structures to create new buildings, but because we’re too smart to.

Really good photos of the interiors and exteriors of the major churches in St. George’s, Grenada. These made the location listings on marriage and baptismal certificates real for me.

St. George’s Anglican Church

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (Scot’s Kirk)

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic)

Photos of the Methodist Church were missing from this set, sadly.

Haven’t posted anything for a while as I have been moving house. Amazing how much crap you accumulate! You promise yourself that you will be ruthless and chuck out all the stuff you haven’t seen for ages but somehow it manages to stay with you. (Now, which box is that obscure doodad in? I need it right now!)
Probably won’t post anything for a little while either as I am about to undergo a hip replacement, so things won’t be much fun for a litttle while!

Anyway, one of the reasons I love going down to Tasmania is that you run across a lot of things like this old holding yard. Bush carpentry at it’s very best.
There are still a few of the old blokes who used to build things like this still around but sadly their numbers are dwindling.
While building materials and methods have “improved” over the years, it will be a sad day when places like this no longer exist don’t you think?

Ok now I know people (if any) who regularly check out my blog must be getting sick of me putting this story up but I am trying here to get some feedback, any at all be it good or bad, on it and so you can see the little changes I’m making that hopefully improve it. So please, spare 5 minutes to read it, it’s only 1000 words long and be generous by giving feedback of any kind.

As Old as Houses -Ghost Story – Yorkshire Magazine

“I wonder how old this place is.”

            “Who cares? It’s going to be gone after the weekend.”

            “Really?”

            “Yeah, there’s a notice about it in reception.”

            “Oh. What a shame.”

            “Why? It’s a dump.” Jenny muttered pointing at the mould covered and water soaked mattresses which lay scattered like decaying corpses amongst the trees concealing most of the old farm house walls. Staring at the tumbled pieces of brickwork, the roof with no tiles, not complete chimney stacks and the vandalism and graffiti all around, Sarah had to agree.

A wind blew down from the waving tree tops giving the girls intense shivers. Sarah paused to listen to it moan through the broken walls and empty doors.

“Come on, this place is boring.” Jenny complained.

Sarah cast one glance back at the house before racing after her friend who was already returning to the familiar lights of Storthes Hall student flats.

***

Sarah saw pure darkness yet within it something was moving. Silver edged waves lapped her feet sending shivers crawling up her bones. She could make out a faint white glow in the centre of her vision, weak but enough for a silhouette to evolve. Of a ship with a large square sail and a snarling beast head racing over the crests of black waves. Its sinister shape and swift movement made her feel like a seal hunted by a Killer Whale.

            There was a flash of lightning. It illuminated an axe blade coming down upon her from above. Just before it would slice straight through her paralyzed body, an unknown foreign male voice whispered into her ear.

            “I am here.”

Sarah sat bolt upright in bed, freed from the nightmare at last. The image of a raven flag still lingered in the shadows of her mind.

                                                                        ***

It was Sunday and Sarah was surprised to find she wasn’t the only one going to see the sad downfall of the old farm house. She stood amongst the student mob kept behind the safety barriers now that the bulldozer was in position. It was just as the bulldozer driver was about to get in, alongside a big cheer and chatter from the small crowd, that someone pushed past her. The culprit ignored the barrier and ran towards the house, straight past the demolition team unnoticed. Only when Sarah glared after the rude person did she recognise who it was.

            “Hey! Jenny? Jenny!” She yelled trying to stop her friend, Jenny turned around just as she reached the old farms coal shed which was now visible due to the demolition team who had cleared all the vegetation. The friend’s eye’s met; Jenny gave a wave, a big grin and then disappeared quickly inside the farmhouse. “Jenny! Jenny! What are you doing?” Sarah couldn’t understand this, Jenny was meant to be at home in Doncaster. Why didn’t she tell me she was planning this kind of stunt? Sarah pondered anxious and confused.

            People were starting to look at her with puzzlement and the demolition team were ignoring her shouting completely as the bulldozer driver turned on the engine. The rest of her cries were drowned out in a huge cruel cheer from the student crowd.

            Sarah caught the attention of the nearest man in a yellow jacket. Her frightened eyes and nervous voice persuaded him that she was telling the truth. He halted the bulldozer and went to the house with Sarah, much to the disappointment of the crowd who began booing and jeering.

            “She’s in here I swear. She went right past you all. Jenny? Jenny can you hear me?” Sarah called into the dusty derelict building as her and the demolition foreman stood at the doorway. “Jenny? Please come out, you’re going to get into trouble.”

            “I am here.” Jenny answered.

Sarah took her first steps inside, immediately feeling the coldness of the shadows.

            “Are you sure she’s in here?” The foreman grunted, not satisfied.

            “Yes, yes she is. Where are you Jenny?”

            “I am here.”

            “She’s through there.” Sarah began to go towards the dusty and cobwebbed doorway to the cellar. “Are you in there Jenny?”

            Again came the reply. “I am here.”

            It sounded strongest and closest in the one room they had yet to enter. “She’s in the other room.”

            “Come off it, there’s no one here. You’re just stopping us do our job.” The foreman made a move to turn around and head back to the front door.

            “No, she is in there. Didn’t you hear her?” Sarah pushed past the Foreman towards the room. It was dark inside with bricked up windows but Sarah could see a darker form that wasn’t her shadow from the foreman’s distant torch light. She walked towards it thinking of Jenny. On her third step the dirt and rubble covered floor groaned, something snapped causing a shudder and the floorboards collapsed inwards. Sarah lost her balance with a wail and went down to the unknown.

The foreman came closer at the sound and shone his torch into the collapsed floor and stepped back in shock. In the dust flickering light was Sarah, on all fours amongst broken timbers and dirt but right next to her was a skull, its fixed expression so serious it was almost glaring at them both. Beside its other bones was what looked like a well rusted axe head only giving the faintest shine and a large lump of wood that was not from the broken floor. Its lizards tongue, jagged teeth, and painted ruby red eyes still looked menacing after so many years at sea as well as spent in dark, damp conditions.

The foreman swore before he clicked open the channel on his radio. “Dan get the Police on the phone, the damned house is on top of a grave. Until then this house stays up.”

Sarah heard words echo out of the skull by her side, it wasn’t Jenny’s voice. “I am here!”

She screamed and fainted, cruel laughter echoing in her mind.

The End

I took this photo years ago. I don’t know if KingHill is even there anymore

METRORail’s soon-to-be-built Southeast Corridor light rail line will scissor through the hardcore industrial section east of downtown.  Driving the route yesterday, I noticed this fabulous building at 3100 McKinney:

Going out on a limb, I am going to say the Minella Plumbing Supply building went up in 1920.  I’ve not done enough digging to know whether it was originally a plumbing supply company, but I suspect not.  That name, however, is the last one barely visible in the faded paint on the side of the structure.

If you squint at the now-empty cartouche below the windows, it appears that at some point, a business with a name ending in “works” might have also been housed here.  That would make sense, as this part of town has several buildings from about that vintage that are armories, ironworks, and other industrial, well, industries.

You just know that the odds are highly in favor of this building coming down.  Wouldn’t it be lovely if it could be preserved, renovated, and repurposed?  I mean how fantastic is that eagle?

There have been strong rumors lately that the Molly Stark building is set for demolition.  I’m not sure when, but I know it shouldn’t be happening.  Our local history is fading, and fast.  If we don’t do anything soon, this hidden architectural marvel will be destroyed, and all the memories that go with it will be forgotten.  Somehow this type of thing needs to be stopped.  We need to start saving our history.  Take a look at my site for some pictures I took while visiting the historic Molly Stark building.

If you are interested, this building is located on Columbus road in Louisville, Ohio.  It was used for multiple purposes through it’s working existence, but I believe the last use was a Sanity (mental) facility.

There is history in this building. Let's join together and save what's left.

Click on the image to jump to my Molly Stark photo album.

Gwalia, once the second biggest gold mining town in WA, is now almost deserted. The “Sons of Gwalia” mine closed in 1963 and the population of over 1500 disappeared overnight. The first mine manager, 23 year old Herbert Hoover, brought in cheap Italian labor to help make the mine profitable.  Hoover went on to become the 31st president of the USA. Most of the abandoned cottages built by the workers are still in good condition thanks to the hot, dry climate.

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Gwalia’s State Hotel was the first state owned pub in WA. Built to counter the sly grog trade in the town, it is a stark contrast to the makeshift dwellings of the workers.

The Sons of Gwalia mine has since reopened and, judging by the size of the hole in the ground, must be doing fairly well.

Conservatory

Originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl

This place, in Golden Gate Park, is pretty cool. We didn’t go inside… to hot for a tropical tour… even still, cool building.

in my continuing obsession with all things southern, here’s the Trustees Theater at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

(photo from Jules Pieri.)

i absolutely love that the college purchased and restored an old theatre, but kept every element true to its original 1940s style. from the Daily Grommet blog: “The school has a very sophisticated and controlled visual identity in most communications, but it breaks all the rules when it comes to exterior building signage—using whatever signage style is appropriate to the period of the building.”

can we see more of this in toronto, please? this city’s quickly losing all its old theatres. yes, the Bloor West Chapters (which was once the Runnymede Theatre) is still somewhat authentic inside, but outside? that facade just looks like a big box shop.

From this…

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Trinidad (built in 1872)

To this…

After restoration

 I don’t know who was involved in restoring the old church, but the results are nothing short of amazing. 

It is a shame the folks in Arcata were not as successful in their efforts to save this one.

Old Arcata City Hall, torn down about 1970

I believe the Historical Sites Society of Arcata was formed after the destruction of this beautiful building to prevent the loss of other historical resources in that community.

YESTER YEAR BEYOND THE HISTORY…..

THE ART OF BUILDINGS, THE GLORY THEY HAVE BROUGHT, THE HIDDEN HISTORY WITHIN THERE WALLS.

MY DESIGNS OF THE AMERICAN HISTORY AS IT WAS THEN AND AS IT CAN BE FOUND TODAY.

Freo (West Australian for Fremantle) was the old, original settlement in WA, before Perth developed. Miraculously, many of the old buildings remain and have been well preserved.

Not just individual buildings remain in tact, but whole streetscapes have been saved.

In the downtown area there are beautiful examples of renovated Georgian and Victorian architecture .

Great shops and lots of cafes and bars are scattered about the main part of town.

Gothic picnic table lurking outside a Freo church

One of the interesting features of “Freo” is the Little Creatures Brewery. Great beer and food in a fantastic waterfront location.

They even hire out bikes for free to help patrons wobble home

• Статията е в незавършен вид – нова информация предстои да бъде добавена.
• Статията на английски със селекция от снимки – примери по темата може да прегледате тук…

Вторият основен проблем по отношение на старите сгради в София е друга ежедневно наблюдавана тенденция и още по-масово разпространена. Поради липса на нормативна уредба и фактически контрол старите сгради, притежание на частни собственици, се оставят на саморазруха или се ремонтират по ощетяващи ги начини; пребоядисват се в безразборни цветове и гами с непрофесионални методи или се облепят с ненужни пластове топлоизолация по некачествени начини, а още по-нелепо се изтърбушват до основи от всички естествени материали, които притежават, за да се превърнат в неприличащи на себе си изкуствени бърлоги. Всичко това води до обезобразяване на колоритните им единство и композиция, до грубо обезличаване на силуетите им и за огромно съжаление като най-необратим резултат до унищожаване на оригиналните им декорация и орнаментика, основни носители на историческата памет и аристократизъм, както и до радикалното съсипване на техните физически и естетически качества, именно благодарение на които тези жилища са толкова високо оценени. Съществува генерално неразбиране за тези проблеми и е именно така, защото на локалните манталитет и култура й липсват базови заложби и усет за финес, ориентация към същинските ценности, както и космополитния светоглед, отвореността, обвързаността и ежедневното взаимодействие със света наоколо.

Избрах този пример, защото е емблематичен. Това е сграда, на която винаги съм се възхищавала в нейното автентично състояние “преди”; дори и поолющена на места, тя е внушителна и аристократична. Видът й “сега” е обобщаващ пример за всички възможни намеси, допринесли за трагичния завършен резултат. Окото на архитекта видя следните недостатъци: некачествено изпълнение на мазилката, некачествено полагане на боята, неправилен метод на оцветяване и смяна на нюансите, лош избор на цветове, неправилно и неестетично полагане на ненужна топлоизолация в частичен вид при несанирана дограма, несъобразяване на дограмата с растера на фасадата, грубо унищожаване на орнаментиката и детайлите от полагането на топлоизолацията, промяна на фасадата чрез зазиждане на прозоречни отвори…

Нехаещ собственик

Безхаберието към личното имущество до скоро беше властващ стереотип на социално поведение. Основните проблеми тук са не само безотговорността към собствеността, но и липсата на адекватно отношение към ценността на старите сгради, както и необходимите грижи и поддръжка, с което физическото им състояние, по вина на техните собственици, застрашават безопастността на хората, освен останалите вреди и недостатъци като неестетичен външен вид, некачествена среда и влошени условия на местообитание. Старите сгради се третираха като гробници. Тези проблеми още съществуват, но отскоро в градската среда се наблюдават нови процеси на масово обновяване и саниране на старите сгради, изключително позитивна тенденция, ако, заедно с градивната амбиция, не върлуваха неграмотността и липсата на вкус.

Стиропорена мания

Това явление е уникално за нашите географски ширини; поне аз лично не познавам друго място, където старите сгради така драстично да се опаковат с тонове изкуствени материали, ненужни, а и вредни за хората и околната среда.

Ако сте горди притежатели на собственост в стара сграда с дебели тухлени стени и сте решили да я постегнете, както подобава, но не я облепите със стиропор или друг топлоизолационен материал, масата от хората ще ви изгледат в тц-ъкащо недоумение, а аз ще ви поздравя. “Браво”, защото това означава, че вие сте не само гордия собственик на престижната стара сграда с дебелите тухлени стени, а и сте човек с доволна обща култура, възпитан да използва ефективно собствения си мисловен ресурс, да проучва изчерпателно преди да вземе правилното решение и да избягва маниите на тълпата, консултирайки се с подходящите специалисти. Още по-конкретно това означава, че вие сте се срещнали с неутрален професионалист, най-вероятно архитект или стоителен инженер, представили сте особеностите на вашата собственост и сте задали краткия и ясен въпрос, “Нужна ли ми е топлоизолация?!”; след което сте получили единственият верен отговор, “Нито е необходима, нито би била полезна”.

Какво е нужно да знаете, ако:

Притежавате жилище в стара сграда тип “панелка”, задължително трябва да го санирате заедно с цялата сграда, за да постигнете оптималните топло-технически условия за комфорт на обитание. Това ще бъде един добър урок по социална етика и култура на общуване, защото ще ви се наложи да го направите заедно с вашите съседи. Ако топлоизолирате само вашето жилище, то ще продължава да изстива, както го е правило преди. Проблемът е заложен в конструкцията на вашата сграда, която има свойствата да провежда топлината сравнително бързо и, дори да се опитвате да я запазите локално, тя успешно ще се измъква през топлинните мостове, създадени от вашите неизолирани съседи. Тъй като другите съсобственици имат право да откажат, особено с аргумента за липса на средства, така обективен в нашата бедна държава, а от друга страна вие имате своето право на жизнен комфорт, за да излезе успешна формулата и да работи за всеки, санирането трябва да бъде програма, мотивирана и стимулирана от държавата.

Притежавате жилище в стара сграда соц-тип с тухлен зид със сечение 25 см и най-вероятно при строителството ви е била спестена топлоизолацията, задължително имате нужда от такава, но с дебелина нито повече, нито по-малко от 5 см. Същите условия важат и за некачествено изпълнено ново строителство с подобни показатели. Забравете за стиропора; този вид топлоизолация е от най-примитивен вид и на днешен етап не се препоръчва от професионалистите за изолиране на жилищни помещения, а се използва главно за запълване на фуги между съседни калканни стени и за изолация на второстепенни структури.

Притежавате жилище в стара сграда в центъра или престижен квартал на своя град с тухлен зид със сечение 38 см, за да сигнализирам, колко необходимо е да полагате топлоизолация, ще го изпиша с главни букви: КРАЙНО ИЗЛИШНО. Разбираемо, при положение, че за масивни стени от 25 см е нужна не повече от 5 см топлоизолация, за такива над 30 см тази нужда спада до минимум. Тухлата и камъкът са материали с много добри топло-технически показатели и провеждат топлината с много по-забавени темпове в сравнение с бетона и метала. Може да има различни причини, за да решите все пак допълнително да топлоизолирате подобна сграда. Например, ако сте неосведомени; ако сте хора, които не умеят да ценят парите си; ако искате да отделите определена сума с “благотворителни” цели, за да спонсорирате фирмата, която ще ви положи топлоизолацията и ако обичате да си внушавате, наличието на излишната изолация ще ви помогне да се почувствате по-топло психологически, но не и физически.

В шеговития смисъл, феноменът полагане на топлоизолация може да се разглежда и като мернило за културата на обществото. Каквото прави съседа, правя го и аз, без значение дали моята къща е от камък, а неговата – от плет. Топлоизолацията трябва да се полага само при необходимост, това е нейния единствен плюс. Дори и полагането й при нужда има достатъчно минуси. Изкуственият материал е вреден за човешкото здраве и в ущърб на околната среда; износва се твърде бързо и трябва често да се подменя, а не се рециклира; гори лесно и при пожар отделя опасни емисии, които могат да бъдат летални за живота. Топлоизолационните панели нанасят и други необратими щети, а именно при тяхното полагане се разрушават декорацията и орнаментиката на фасадите на сградите, като малкото аристократично наследство, останало ни след набезите на социалистическия кръгозор, бива доунищожено от неговите наследници, които успяват да “оглождят” една богата стара къща до “панел” и с това пораждат логичния въпрос, “Защо не са си купили такъв тогава?!”

При старите сгради с дебели зидове, язвите, които отнемат вашата топлина, се образуват главно от амортизираните покрив, дограма и мазилка. Покривът да се поправи първо е основно правило при всеки предстоящ ремонт на сграда. Без здрав покрив няма здрава сграда. При дограмата, когато тя е остаряла или некачествена, топлинните загуби от нея могат да надхвърлят 70-80% от общите такива. Можете да си направите сметката тогава, какво би означавало да инвестирате парите си в ненужна топлоизолация, вместо да ги вложите в ефективна и резултатна подмяна или саниране на дограмата. И накрая, имате дебели и здрави зидове, които са вашата отлична и достатъчна топлоизолация; за да ги поддържате в добро състояние ви остава само да ги защитите с качествена мазилка.

Бояджийски безпорядък

Изтърбушване до “панел”

Array of windows painted in red in Utrecht Domplein area.

Old Eureka Courthouse

According to a random timeline of Eureka I just found on the internet, this grand old building was destroyed in an 1954 earthquake.

And we went from that, to this:

Eureka Courthouse and Jail, present day

Please don’t misunderstand.   I think this is actually a gorgeous photo of a very ugly building… more a hodgepodge of four buildings all kinda mashed together, actually. 

One can’t help but notice the different “feel” of the old building .  And I can’t help but wonder if  the character of Eureka would be different if this historic structure was still standing today.

Different view of the old courthouse

E Street, Eureka, 1864

Sometimes old photos are just cool to look at.

Brier Hill, NY

Image (c) Amanda Chase/Twisted Lemons 2008-2009

Everyday is Wordless – See who else is Silent

Thursday 13

Thirteen Phrases a Mommy Hears Daily

1. Can I have ……?
2. No, I don’t wanna!!!
3. Mommy? Mommy? MOOOOMMMMMYYYYY?
4. He/She touched meeeeee!
5. Daddy said to ask you.
6. But I want to ______!!!
7. No.
8. I’m Hungary! I’m hungry!!!
9. He/She hit me!
10. That’s MY toy!
11. I don’t like that!
12. BuuuUUuuuutttt whyyyyyyyy??!?!
13. I’m not tired! I don’t wanna go to bed!

I’m off to college. Have a WONDERFUL day everyone!!!

X – Manda

Dog Day Afternoon, originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Taken in Portland with the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT.

(from a addair)

photography by dustin addair