Saturday, March 2, 2013

You Tell Me


Early morning and late afternoon have the best light for photography -- those lovely slanting shadows.  

The writing class I'm teaching in Burnsville gets out at 5:30 -- and I walk outside into the rays of a sinking sun.  It glistened on the white boards of the farther building and then I noticed all the wonderful geometry of light and dark on these two buildings. 

Both buildings seem to be empty -- I wonder what their original use was. A store with a residence attached?

There must be a story here. What do you think?
 
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17 comments:

Sandra Parshall said...

Because of the window boxes and big front windows, I think the building in the foreground may have been a restaurant. And yes, a residence attached.

Merisi said...

Such lovely light, such beautifully captured buildings!

Old-fashioned business with residence, I wonder why it is empty. Is the location not right for a thriving store?

The sun is out, even in Vienna. We are crawling out of the darkest winter in 50 years. Light, finally light, again.

Stella Jones said...

I've no idea but the last pic looks like the building would make a nice tea shop.
You have an abstract mind Vicki. I have the same so I fully understand. Isn't it interesting that we all see things so differently.

Thérèse said...

Of course I am sure you will find a great story out of this place! A lonely retired soul all of a sudden revisited by its own past...

Glenda Beall said...

terrific use of light in these photos. I love them and the pictures do intrigue me.

Jean Baardsen said...

I was going to turn it into a studio/art gallery, and live next door....

Brian Miller said...

very cool...love little towns like that...the residence and shop attached, made it easier to run one...

Suz said...

oh I so agree about the light
..love dusk myself

and I think you have a lot more artist in you than you let on...
the eye..you have the eye

Deanna said...

It looks just like a bar my uncle owned in the little town of Chamois Mo. They lived in the side residence.

Wayfarin' Stranger said...

The two angles you photographed the buildings from make them look like two separate locations. Nice effect. I hate to see the decline in small towns but we have it all around us. Better roads, declining populations, and "big box" stores have killed the small towns that once were the norm.

Kath said...

Fascinating! Near home there are a couple of very old buildings, one a house and one that must have been a store where there historically was a ferry crossing. The house looks like it may be inhabited, some days, then others ...

Inger said...

Yes, I think every old building has a story. And I love sunrise and sunset pictures. You should have seen the desert sunset the other day as I drove home through the Mojave. I didn't bring a camera and I'm still mad I didn't.

Vicki Lane said...

These two building are on a street about three loong blocks from the town square. They are near what used to be a school -- perhaps a residence and a little store that sold candy and school supplies? I don't know -- will try to find someone who does.

Frances said...

Vicki, once again I thank you for these views of a place that connects with my memories.

Burnsville was once a client for which I and my big law firm employer worked.

Many times, vacant old Southern buildings are vacant because of some sort of family estate debates. Of course, I've no idea if this is true of what your excellent photographs show us in Burnsville.

Are the properties for sale?

xo

Vicki Lane said...

Frances -- not to my knowledge.

Vicki Lane said...

I got up with Lucy D. who lives nearby and this is what she could tell me:

Those buildings were for years side-by-side general stores. One was owned by the McCurry family; can't remember who owned the other. Everette Kivette, of Painting in the Mountains, owned them for years - as a gallery, and as artist residences. Some years ago, perhaps in the '90s, he sold them to a local HUD landlord, and for years, til 2012, when he bought them back, they were largely occupied by people with drug problems. One apartment is currently in use, but to my knowledge the rest of the space is empty. We (neighbors) are hoping Mr. K will explore turning them into a community coffee/wine reading room sort of space. My house around the corner was built in 1910, and I believe the stores may be of the same vintage or a little later.

Frances said...

Vicki, thank you for your additional info about these buildings and Burnsville.

I do appreciate the opportunities that your posts give me to see places that I do know a bit about, and do care a lot about.

xo