Capturing The Haunting Nostalgia Of ‘Abandoned Oregon,” Before It’s Too Late | Oregon Field Guide

[@joelmosier125]

Beautiful, unique video Honoring the Beautiful past I love this stuff ,always brings Joy to my life especially living in my Grandparents homestead house built 1950 in Upper Michigan. Thank you for sharing your video.

[@khadijagwen]

I've "road tripped" all over Oregon, moreso East of the Cascades. It's been a wonderful experience and I know some of these buildings first hand. My time is almost up. I had fun.

[@tashahines1000]

She is so very correct when she said "the people that remember these places and what happened there are fading" Thank you for this upload!!!

[@KingsMom831]

I LOVE what she’s doing! I SOOOOO appreciate this, her time and attention to detail and the fact that she is HONORING these homes, the stories they carry within their walls and the people they provided shelter to...

[@libbidy2010]

my mother had a photo of this old house on her living room wall when i was growing up. so glad to see it here in this video today.

[@ellen4956]

I restored an old house in Oregon in the 1980s-90s, and I absolutely loved it. It was the same style as the one in this where the woman was showing the photographer around; built in 1892. I miss it as if it's haunting me. I remember every detail of how it was, though the current owner turned it into 3 apartments. At least he kept the look of the place.

[@victor-th4qs]

Hello. I am a lifelong Oregon resident. My Mother, 1920 - 1997. Was a lady. Grew up in Prineville at Uncle Haps ranch, near the Crooked River. Your story, brought back memories of mom.

[@glenselenselvs]

This is to be an American, to learn from the American Experience. Thanks OPB PBS😎

[@megbee1986]

My mum grew up on a ranch near this house and said she explored this house as a little girl and looked through the old suitcase in the last bit of the video. It had old magazines in it.

[@gungunhana_01]

How is it possible to feel nostalgia in a time period I wasn’t even born in?! so interesting!

[@Ksweetpea]

Is it nostalgia, or realizing how insignificant and fleeting a human lifespan is on the grand scale of time?

[@Blackpillinduced]

​@@KsweetpeaBoth lol

[@xr6lad]

Came across this as I sit in my lounge in Melbourne, Australia. About as far from Oregon as you can get. What a wonderful story. Even more incredible the elderly woman who lived there and has a photo from the 1920's. I'm surprised she wasn't more emotional tbh. I'm sure she could see in her mind running around as a child, playing in the yard, lying in bed upstairs on a warm summer evening as the static radio played downstairs a dance band or radio play from some far flung city she thought she'd never see. And then to see the ashes. Would have been nice to have seen her reaction.

[@williamreffett5862]

As a third-generation Oregonian I can really connect with this story from my great-great-great- grandmothers stories that I used to hear as a child to even my own mothers stories of growing up with in a house with no electricity and no indoor plumbing so this video really hits home to me

[@k8ecupcakes]

Also, my family is all oregon trail Homesteaders. And in fact, on my grandmother's side. The Demaris and Birdsong families had a homestead right under Steins pillar in the ocho forest😮

[@lesahanners5057]

My hubby and I were driving back from Fossil to The Dalles, and watched that fire as it burned its away across the wheat fields, consuming all in its path. We had to drive through the choking smoke and could barely see the road to drive, and didn't know if we were going to make it through?! Seeing the wheat fields burning, and the farms going up in smoke, made me weep, for I had grown up in this country, and it was like losing a part of myself to see it burn. Thank you so much for doing what you do, recording our history. Our family came to Oregon on the Oregon Trail in 1850. My roots run deep in Oregon and Washington, and I thank you once again for capturing this. It was like a walk through another time.

[@jordy-b1d]

The Nelson house was one of my favorite places. I would go and sit and stare in the quiet. I had my senior photos taken there. It was so special.

[@MrRingo2111]

I love the history and the beauty. I enjoyed this video very much.

[@rachaelb9164]

OMG I’ve been on that Abandoned Oregon group for years. Someone took a photo of a barn not to far from my house right before the owners tore it down. I still miss that barn. Oregon has some beautiful very remote old buildings.

[@jacquelyndevitte4992]

Oh my gosh. I was so taken back when she said the Nelson house had burned down. You just never know when will be the last time we will see a piece of history. Cherish it!

[@MrMavstar]

Your photos put in the hands of a home builder, could bring back the history. Rebuild as they were originally built. Square nails and all. An off road living community museum.

[@Ralphecy]

I admire you to no end I first came to photograph the Old Nelson place in 1986 a black and white taken with a 4x5 camera and was truly saddened by the loss of it by fire in 2018 our paths have crossed more than a few times Keep up the Historic work you do .

[@WJack97224]

@Shadow, so where is the Old Nelson Place or where was it?

[@RiCH_926]

I love looking at old things the smells and I can't help at my brain goes to the what. Was it like back then I? Almost can travel back I love it.

[@brianpeterson8667]

I myself am from Wisconsin, & we have quite a few old farmsteads. History is very cool thank you for documenting. I wouldn't tell locations either.

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

My ancestors arrived in Oregon in the mid 1830s and lived in many of these "abandoned" areas. I want to thank the historians and historic photographers for valuing history. We have no future without it.

[@gwengwen4535]

Amen. Wisdom comes with times full circle!

[@johnessmyer4665]

I see the architectural geology of American history. So important to document this part of irreplaceable American life before its erased completely.

[@kasslove111]

that was a lovely place

[@larrysherk]

Valuable stuff you have done. Thanks for all of it. I am a New Englander who drove through this part of Oregon once decades ago. Nostalgic, unique, lovely. Those settlers did their very best.

[@alexdill9667]

I went to one of those old local schools. I lived out on a nearby farm, I could walk home to. Loved that school. Didn't realize how great we had it until the boiler broke one winter and they moved us into the town school. Talk about culture shock!

[@paulinlasvegas]

Fascinating.............thank you for taking us back in time for a moment

[@abbieperrin5635]

I appreciate the encouragement of asking the property owners first.

[@jamesparks3504]

The woman who spoke of churning butter as a child... Imagine that, a little girl doing her part to contribute to the familys breakfast, lunch and dinner. You want food? Grow it, feed it, collect it, churn it, butcher it, make it food. She's a great contribution to this story of a lifestyle unimaginable to almost any of us.

[@bowiewaters9335]

Thank you for shooting the beauty of Oregon and sharing it with the world !💋 From Portland Oregon 🇺🇸

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

We are but a blip on the radar of time. Drive your life, don't just be a passenger.

[@Dr.Pepper001]

Well put.

[@Janet-Jupiter2025]

Very cool work you do, it's beautiful!!

[@KKS6000]

I enjoyed this video very much, thank you!

[@jasmith1867]

I enjoyed this video. But something about it makes me sad.

[@debbystacy4784]

@Stephanie Logan beautifully said. This is just how I feel about what the horrific damage people are doing to our country by rioting and destroying makes ne feel. God bless us all!🙏😞🌹💓🙏

[@burtcooper612]

@@debbystacy4784 yes,,,God bless us all...."on that day"...."in the twinkling of an eye"

[@TheBoone57]

Please do not be sad. Get up, get out, and jump around!

[@johnchedsey1306]

I can't tell you how many tens of thousands of miles I've driven all over the west seeking out abandoned houses and buildings. It's a real obsession and as this video nicely shows, a really rewarding one to capture history before it's gone forever.

[@nengthao5618]

Ahh...i see buildings and places like this eastward of OR. Always makes me wonder of the life it had before...

[@ronniepirtlejr2606]

I live in Southern Illinois. I have been saying for the last 15-20 years that I wish someone could go around and take pictures or video of the old barns built out of wood & if possible, speak with the owners & take down a little history about them. I see them sometimes painted red with white trim, other times I see them partly standing, a skeleton of what they once were. They are dissappearing fast, all across America & will be gone forever! I think they are beautiful. They are a part of America's history & helped farmers feed America. The newer pole barns we have that are made out of metal. They are nothing like the old ones. They lack character & personally. If they rust or fall down, I doubt anyone would care to give a second look! I am happy to see that there are people everywhere across America that feel the same way as I do. If someone was to write about the history of each place then place several photos by it. I think it would make a fantastic book that people would like to have & place on their coffee tables. These wood barns would be just too expensive to build nowadays. Once they're gone, they will be gone forever! You will hear people say..... "believe it or not, they used to build those out of wood & they were beautiful!"

[@ted5128]

I'm a farmer in sw ks they are everywhere here

[@lucky1u]

Ya, that is just scrumptious to look at, can't get enough of these. Wish I had that drive to go photograph the way you are

[@tedgamma8650]

Great to have people that appreciate the local history

[@jameschryst3765]

I live in a ghost town. I knew where there were two foundations of old stone homes. I use to take people to see these homes and others. I was unable to go to the old houses for several years. When I went back I was horrified to see that the stem walls had been torn down and the stones were scattered. I would dearly love to take people to see these treasures. I can't anymore in good conscious. Keep up the good work! Jim BCC AZ

[@SuperNoncents]

Where are you speaking of? I'd like to see them!

[@jameschryst3765]

@@SuperNoncents thats the point. People went back and metal detected them. Scattering the foundations. Do you live in BCC? Jim

[@ellenkelley6173]

Thank for sharing this with us. The only thing I would add is some history & stories of the places, but this is a beautiful piece.

[@MisterTee2010]

Brings back a lot of memories. Thank you for sharing.

[@michellepeters7541]

I wo I’ll ld soooo love there!

[@heathermcbane5971]

I would love to see you take pictures in Jewell OR, most of it is gone but some of it is still here.

[@Whocares.........]

Well done, thanks for that! I appreciate your efforts.

[@twostop6895]

old abandoned houses like this are all over the Midwest in the country

[@community1949]

It sure it beautiful out there. It's nice to see a person getting outside and appreciating older things. Get out and drive out beyond the cities and you will see our country in a whole different way.

[@rudewayz1413]

I LOVE YOUR WORK AND THE HEART YOU PUT INTO IT. I'M SURE THAT WOMAN IS GLAD YOU FOUND HER TO SPEND AND SHARE FOR THE LAST TIME THE FOND MEMORIES MADE DURING IT'S EXISTENCE. THANK-YOU FOR CAPTURING THIS BEAUTIFUL PART OF HISTORICAL OREGON BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE.

[@davidray5980]

i used to live in that town with the crush gas station in the late 1990's. Kent, Oregon.

[@WJack97224]

@David Ray, Yeah, on Hwy 97 on the east side of the Cascades. Thanks.

[@Pattysspr]

As a photographer and a lover of history, I Thoroughly enjoyed this short glimpse into the past of Oregon

[@MattCookOregon]

Great capture. Ha abandoned Oregon got a shoutout.

[@Kris-xn3ty]

Thank you so much for this history.

[@weirdshibainu]

Thanks for saving these images. I feel bad for the house being burned to the ground. Safe journey's

[@HabeasJ]

2:00 I pass that old gas station every time I drive through Oregon. Such a neat spot

[@natalyaporter5730]

That’s awesome that she is capturing them like this, but my question is why doesn’t anyone fix them up and turn them into museums? Or something else…?

[@wanderingtmp]

These properties are protected as historic places and are preserved in a method known as arrested decay. Many are on private property, and like this one, in very rural areas where there is no public transportation, interest or funding to do otherwise.

[@davec9244]

Good job ALL thank you stay safe

[@silviarodarte5711]

Great job keep it up amazing 😍❤️🙏🏻

[@rolfmoren6682]

Something very soothing watching this. I particularly liked the Nelson house, but the entire video was very nice. Thank you.

[@TonyKuehler]

I love how they were able to capture the sound of the wind so clearly just after the 6-minute mark, very nice touch to an already impressive production.

[@margaretpalmer6538]

Love this......leaves such a warm feeling.😊

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

THANKYOU. Haunting, in a nice, if wistful way. so glad someone who lived there was able to visit and share too. Oregon's lucky, that part, that old places dry and get preserved longer. In New England and on coasts, abandoned places often rot away quicker.

[@5wheels521]

❤

[@chrisexplores619]

Beautiful video, documentation

[@tripperwest808]

This was a nice watch while sipping on this coffee

[@dathomestead3115]

Love this type of nostalgia. It makes my mind sore through time. Thanks! ❤

[@Swoop180]

I drive by places like this all over these United States and her sentiments at the beginning of this video nails it. Even though I drive an 18 wheeler I'll search for somewhere to park and photograph them before they're gone. I love being a paid for the freedom of the road!

[@Swoop180]

Started typing at the beginning of the video. I definitely agree with the getting the permission of the property owners but I generally photograph from the roadside.

[@michaelbrady4865]

Thanks for catching that past one last time it really sucks that the wild fire took it away for good but your pictures carry it on

[@stephenolson532]

The before an after pictures would be amazing of these ranch house's. Thank you for this video it's like time traveling 🤗🤗

[@Mike-ef7xe]

WOW ! Great job. Thanks

[@chrisexplores619]

One of the best videos ive seen, thank you

[@jameshughes455]

Love your video!!!

[@nightlightabcd]

if one drives out in the country, in any state, once can find farm steads that have been abandoned. the houses and barns are slowing fading away and often the building are gone and all that is left are groves of trees! Sad indeed!

[@mrshoashe]

I got some beautiful shots of an old building next to a trainline years ago and the place was wattle and daub construction and you do worry about whether or not anyone else even cares....this vid was so good! Cheers Seano

[@FSEVENMAN]

Good job lady keep up the good work it's awesome that you're doing this

[@Christina-dw8we]

Dream phptography career!! I see things in the same way. So nice to have a chance to visit and take photos with the lady who grew up in that house...

[@michaelwalters7333]

Wow, Very Awesome

[@KittyPurrsMistress]

Very cool.

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

There is one old building in Florida I have photographed for about 50 years. There are photos from a Kodak Instamatic, an Asai Pentax, slides, a Nikon, a digital camera, and now Cell phone photos. The old Wakasassa Store, camera technology, and I, have all aged together. Thanks for doing your part.

[@BillHosko]

W o n d e r f u l... presentation. Thank you.

[@rhondatraywick7307]

Stumbled on this video, love it, very interesting! People trash everything, it's awful! Thanks for posting!

[@DavidHuber63]

Feels like I should be seeing this in person

[@BarTGila]

I notice you have a picture here of the Howard School outside of Prineville..I used to live near there and they used to keep it up. I hope it is not falling down now.

[@nathankoroush7918]

Still there, drove passed it this fall going to our hunting spot.

[@jamesferris6131]

It may not look as rustic , but many of these abandoned houses would stay standing a lot longer if they only had a roof and /or roof repair, I was fortunate to live on a 200 acre Farm in Forest Grove, Ore. Which had several structures with historic background,( some being moved on timbers across the valley floor in the mid-1900s, but the crown jewel- The AT Smith house is near completion in restoration. Built in 1854-56 it's the 2nd oldest structure in FG & is on the national register of historic places, I believe it is open to public and is well worth checking out , happy traipsing✌️🐾👣

[@gwengwen4535]

They say to replace the chimney. It’s the spine of the house, and will drag it down in all the wrong places. So you have to Jack up the house in all the right places as you go, till everything’s done. It’s very tedious, but if you ever find an old house and want to fix it up, think about it💪🏼

[@stevemccann3976]

Sad to see. Beautiful countryside.

[@randomstuffwithporgy3879]

Funny I've seen pretty much all of these. I should get the GPS location of the ones hidden in the wheat fields.

[@johnbouwens2024]

Wowzer ...my wife and i do the same thing ... And we dont tell eathe.. we go to Washington a lot also and Idaho... We travel a lot... Love this video wish we could share like this .... We have found lots of cool places and people and rocks... Love rocks.. anyway GOD bless you in your shurch.

[@ozonethegreat6948]

What a cool lady

[@FynnOliverEmonSill]

I live in a 150 year old country school moved here in 1960’s from about 30 miles away. It was also used as a square dance hall before it was put in a cinder block full basement. Converted into a small single family 1970’s home. Now under transformation into a garden cottage home with 1800’s inspired kitchen. I’m also building a child’s fairly tale/history book on the home.

[@walterco7701]

As a girl, my brothers and sisters and I would explore through old abandoned farmhouses in my home state. There was a house here on 47 that I loved, was very sad when it finally collapsed.

[@ratgirl13]

Yes, it’s a good idea not to let other people know the locations, because although not everyone would trash it, there are some that would and ruin the space as some people have no respect for history or property.

[@valiantsfelinesmccarty6678]

Great story. I remember these when I was a kid as we would travel back home from California where our dad dragged us in his quest to improve our lot in life. I would always dream of living on one of those abandoned Farms. Many were still abandoned at that time as it was the 60s & 70s. I saw when I went again in the 90s the ones closer to the freeways in the largest cities had been bulldozed and developed. It broke my heart. They were a form of fantasy as well as history, fairy tales, you wondered of broken tales but still something a child could wonder about. My mom said many were lost during the Depression. The families moved on to a warmer climate like California. She said some while she was going to school during the war sat empty afterwards because maybe it was an elderly couple who sold out to the megacorp. They'd raised the child of their World War I son who's wife had died during the flu epidemic but their grandson went to war he didn't return. His death left the farm house with no one to care for it or love it. As the Farms were being snapped up into larger Mega corp plots the farm houses sat empty silent Testament to a time when families ran Farms. A time when you knew where your food came from & who grew it, what was sprayed on it, when it had been harvested because you were probably over there helping, whether it was in gathering the Harvest or feeding the men doing it. You might have even met your husband there like my grandmother did. They caught her in the picture the first day she ever met him he was on the threshing crew He was from a County next door & hired on for the season to make extra money. They had come to her father's Farm she was on the cooking crew. They have this picture taken of everyone there & it caught her in the picture looking at him it was love at first sight. He died just before their 60th wedding anniversary. The big farm had been sold years before but he still farmed 10 acres of alfalfa. I still dream of the ranch I had hoped to have but never got to. You could take the family off the farm but you couldn't take the farm out of the family.

[@BryanDorr]

Inspiring and heartbreaking. I appreciate the photographers who document these places for history. Sadly, the pumps at the "Orange Crush" gas station have been parted out.

[@skymeadow7762]

I'm very drawn to these places too sis 😃

[@joshuaroberts1329]

Thanks for sharing..I'm a fan of just driving with no Destination.

[@Wondertwinpowersactivate]

This was amazing!!

[@broella6493]

What a shame these buildings haven’t been preserved. Why hasn’t the Oregon Historical Society stepped up to preserve these wonderful pieces of history?

[@rawbacon]

They're just junky old houses and buildings, the country is littered with them. It's fun to romanticize them as more than they are but they're worthy of preservation.

[@Dr.Pepper001]

Oregon is too busy cow-towing to Antifa and other liberal idiots.

[@broella6493]

Raw Bacon -Yeah, you’re probably right. It’s not like they belonged to anyone famous.

[@profd65]

@@Dr.Pepper001 You're a fucking moron

[@WootTootZoot]

It takes money that a lot of people here just aren't willing to spend. Hell, look how hard it is to just get school funding passed in some counties in Oregon without a certain segment of the population pissing their pants over government spending. The house is also on private property that the land owner just tolerates people coming on his land to take pictures.

[@Leroy-nf4kg]

That first house is pure magic, would love to see it at twilight.

[@Oregontrailblazin]

Gone but never forgotten

[@MattCookOregon]

Becky funny seeing you here!

[@brianjohnson8918]

A few years back I was cleaning out a foot thick layer of crap from the old granary building on the grandparents place and found a bunch of cancelled checks from the depression era and a tin backed wood "mat" you used to put in front of your wood stove to keep the floor from getting ash or cinders on it.