Tuesday, October 19, 2010

I Knew It Had Seen Better Days, Part 3

The building I've been watching break open and  fall down received some help.
First there were some folks sorting through the bricks. It looked like hard work. And, this day was warm.
Then a couple of weeks later in came some bigger equipment.
For a few days this is how it stood. And, then....
the really big equipment was brought in.
It seemed strange to see the imprint of where the stairs had been.
It was a little eerie to see the layers of old paint and wallpaper. It was like being a peeping Tom and catching a glimpse of this old dwellings underthings.

I had thought they were about half done. That those tearing down the building were taking a break and any day I would see the progress of the destruction reach all the way to the building that is still occupied. But, I was mistaken. The hole where the basement had been dug out has been filled in. The area has been seeded and covered with straw.
I wonder what is going to happen next. Could they really be through?

When I first observed the cracking of the building I took this picture from the other street. I guess this is the before picture.
And this would be the after picture.
There are people living in the townhouse where the car is parked.

And, now there are cats happily roaming the ruins. I suspect they are enjoying good hunting.


I'm interested to see if there is more to this story. One of the joys I've found in urban commuting is the way the neighborhoods I travel through are constantly changing character. It is never the same from day to day.

Life is good.

4 comments:

  1. I love to watch old things being torn down. About 15 yrs ago, while we were at a cross country meet at, of all places, "RimRock", an old fraternity brother of mine was there as well and his son was running with the Shawnee Mission Northwest team.
    He said I needed to come to Lawrence after the meet was over and watch them tear down our old Frat House. I said , Huh?
    Nonetheless, we booked into town after the meet and, indeed, a rather large piece of heavy equipment was systematicly demolishing the place where I lived for 2 years. It wasn't in great shape when we lived there, and I was told it was really in bad shape when it was torn down.
    They turned it into a bit of a party with a keg of beer on the front lawn. Was an amazing day.
    Jim

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  2. Jim: Being a country kid, I've always wondered how the whole row house thing worked. St. Louis has neighborhoods that are filled with houses built side to side like these. I've been curious how this would work with there being a townhouse contigious with the these that was still occupied. It has been fasinating to watch. I have a friend doing some research to see if she can tell me when these buildings were built.

    I like to watch these old buildings being rehabed. It is amazing how some are brought back to life. I'm watching some of those as well.

    Thanks for your comment and for stopping by.

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  3. I hate it when I get all caught up in a post, start clicking on the pics...and lose my comment I just wrote! I'll try this again...

    I think it's interesting seeing all the layers peeled back. Lots of stories hidden in those walls. The stair imprints are particularly interesting. If I was the resident in the occupied portion, I'd be a little anxious!

    Great post and thanks for the update. :)

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  4. Yes, the hidden stories. The lives lived through the years--dreams, longings, disappointments, joys, sorrows, births and deaths--all hidden behind layers of grime and time. Oh well.

    Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment.
    ~K

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