Elgin Springs House in the Springtime

Back in the wintertime, when Vermont still had snow on the ground, I stopped on the side of the road to photograph the Elgin Springs House. I’ve been fascinated by this house for over one year, so I thought I’d take the time to photograph it in the spring.

Elgin Springs House on Route 22A.

Something about this house makes me want to stare at it all day long; it is captivating. This house has been abandoned for over three decades, yet it is still standing. Metal poles are supporting the overhang of the second story and there are holes in the roof, but the house remains fairly square and upright. It is a testament to the quality of construction and the talent of the builders.

Zoom in to see the wider wood planks beneath the wood clapboards. You can also see the dentils on the soffit and the detail in the cornerboards.

And so much of the architectural details remain. Glass panes and window frames are almost all gone, likely to vandalism or Mother Nature, which immediately gives the house an aura of mystery and sadness.  Tattered curtains – once chosen and hung by a resident of the house – blow in the breeze in broken windows.

Broken shutters and tattered curtains.

The intricate screen doors hang loosely on the hinges. Few shutters remain, and those that cling to the house are broken and faded and deteriorating.

You can see the metal pole supporting the second story.

View of the front.

View of the southeast corner.

Another view of the original house (the two-story section is an addition according to the Vermont Sites & Structures Survey).

Next time I’ll use a different camera lens so I can zoom in for even closer details — like better views of the plaster and lath that you can see on the walls in a few pictures. See – the fascination? It’s ridiculous.

Outbuildings associated with the house.

How much sadder can this house get? I hate to think of it, but a few more hard winters like this one, and its future is looking grim.

Click and zoom in on all of these pictures at your leisure.

Do you know of similar, abandoned, sad houses that need to be photographed for memory? Let me know or send some pictures. Thanks!