The leaves here were just starting to turn yellow as I rolled up, but the fact that this barn has had a serious wardrobe malfunction caught my eye nonetheless. Sadly, I think this probably means a speedy demise once the elements start to take their toll.
Autumn can be pretty short in central North Dakota, but we have had a nice period where the trees are still adorned with various colors of leaves. Unlike the last few years, I’ve actually been able to get out and capture some of them! Hopefully I’ll have a few more shots like this one to share.
I had the opportunity to stop into a former North Dakota town, Aylmer. I suppose that’s how Southerners like my wife say “Elmer”. Anyway, there isn’t much to indicate that the town used to be there except for an old metal sign at the railroad crossing and a few deteriorating buildings.
I remember reading somewhere that this was a combination general store, blacksmith, and something else at one time. I’ve seen photos of it with the roof intact, but sadly those days are long gone. Here you can see a piece of it which the wind has carried quite a ways from the structure.
It looks like, and I think what I read backs this up, things were added onto this building as needed. It’s a shame that it’s crumbling now.
There are also a couple of other buildings within a stone’s throw, such as this house with a barn that still has patches of a brilliant blue paint. It too is suffering from a rooftop deficiency.
This was a fantastic trip. I had picked up my kids from camp in my new-used truck, which absolutely loves the back roads. For the weekend I’d clocked around 950 miles, and this was the cherry on top. At some point, although I’m busy as heck at work and with freelance stuff, I’ll have to show more from that weekend. I still have a few more photo targets I hope to visit while we still have some nice weather!
This is quite an architectural wonder. It kinda looks like a farmhouse grew up into a courthouse, in the middle of a barn. It all matches up, but looks rather odd. Do you agree?
I’m trying to refrain from posting any further comments on the tantrum south of town. Why?
Although they’re engaged in illegal activity down there and the whole thing seems to be pressure-cooking toward violence, it is presently a war being waged primarily on social media (this weekend’s violence notwithstanding). I’m not going to feed the drama.
I try to avoid friends who treat social media like their diary and act out their own personal online soap opera. Likewise with this situation.
Meanwhile, this nonsense has very real consequences. My law enforcement family and friends are subject to very real threats, stoked by online hyperbole and lies. They and their families have had to change their names on social media due to stalking and threats from the “peaceful protesters”. I’ve seen Photoshopped imagery and reckless, incendiary online accusations against authorities which even Snopes has discredited with a mocking tone. As a result of this online campaign, the possibility of further and greater violence continues to increase.
I’m convinced that this whole thing is being orchestrated by professionals who know exactly what they’re doing, and I’m not going to be a tool for it by hurling things back and forth in this arena.
Actually, you might be shy a few parts too. This truck cab and fenders are nestled into a hillside along the river, where they enjoy a fantastic view for their retirement. No sign of the rest of it. I bet it was pretty fancy in the day – that yellow is still brilliant after what appears to be a decades-long abandonment!
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