Where Nobody Lives
Presenting a most fantastic find, an old house and outbuildings, long abandoned, lonely and isolated, sitting there in a field with nothing else speaking of human habitation to be seen in any direction. And take in those stunning Alberta Badlands as a backdrop…a more picturesque setting could not be imagined. To get here it’s a good walk in through private property and with permission granted we do just that. It’s well off the beaten path and not visited often like many other abandoned places you might see online and this makes it something extra special. We’re one of a few. Come join us in exploring it. It’s nice.
This here house dates from the 1910s and has been empty nearly as long as it was lived in. Conditions down here on the flats are tough, winter in particular being extra brutal (that wind up the valley) with the family calling it home gone by the late 1950s. The building, now open to the elements and the always troublesome and mess-making pigeons dirtying up the place, well, it seems pretty solid in spite of it all. For now.
The house is rather small. There’s three rooms downstairs, plus a lean-too storage section, and one rather cramped room upstairs. It’s real cozy. The interior is empty…that is unless you count bird poo. It’s not sure if it was ever wired for electricity but it’s clear they never had plumbing. Keeping the building company are a number of collapsed log structures scattered about the property. Old metal, farm implements, hide in the grass.
Access in the old days must have been fun. There’s a most treacherous road leading up to the plains above. It would have been murder at the best of times and down right terrifying come winter. And if it rained access would be impossible – all that slippery gumbo mud. Today a high clearance 4×4 would be needed to drive in. We just walked.
All the while we explored legions of howling coyotes serenaded us. This and the occasional gust of wind was all we heard. Oh, and the click of shutters. We all got lost in the moment.
This crossed our desk some months back, the lyrics to a song that ties in well with what we hoped to convey in this post, a piece about a home, empty and abandoned much as the one seen here. Imagine our surprise when we asked for permission to use it, and got a yes, directly from the singer. This person is known for not granting requests such as this, so colour us amazed. Now there goes our chance at the lottery.
House Where Nobody Lives
By Tom Waits. From the album Mule Variations (c1999)
There’s a house on my block that’s abandoned and cold
The folks moved out of it a long time ago
And they took all their things and they never came back
It looks like it’s haunted with the windows all cracked
Everyone calls it the house
The house where nobody lives
Once it held laughter, once it held dreams
Did they throw it away, did they know what it means?
Did someone’s heart break
Or did someone do somebody wrong?
Well, the paint is all cracked, it was peeled off of the wood
The papers were stacked on the porch where I stood
And the weeds had grown up just as high as the door
There were birds in the chimney and an old chest of drawers
Looks like no one will ever come back
To the house where nobody lives
Oh, and once it held laughter, once it held dreams
Did they throw it away, did they know what it means?
Did someone’s heart break
Or did someone do somebody wrong?
So if you find someone, someone to have, someone to hold
Don’t trade it for silver, oh don’t trade it for gold
Cause I have all of life’s treasures and they’re fine and they’re good
They remind me that houses are just made of wood
What makes a house grand, oh it ain’t the roof or the doors
If there’s love in a house, it’s a palace for sure
But without love it ain’t nothin’ but a house
A house where nobody lives
But without love it ain’t nothin’ but a house
A house where nobody lives
On the same property, and oh so photogenic, a collection of vintage cars and trucks. They’re not really connected to the house, but still are worthy of inclusion in this here article. With the setting sun we were treated to an amazing show up there in the skies. Thank you Mother Nature.
There’s some four or so late 1940s/early 1950s era Fargo Trucks. These are actually rebadged Dodges sold at Plymouth Dealers here in Canada. They were also marketed else where in the world (in fact Fargo’s logo was a globe) but not in the US. Car buffs from down there must scratch their heads on seeing one. What the heck is that? It looks familiar, but what’s a Fargo? Based on our own sightings, these were a pretty popular make for farm use. The Fargo brand was introduced in Canada the mid-1930s and was discontinued in the early 1970s.
A military style Willy’s Jeep languishes in the deep grass. The license plate reads 1954. Over there a rather uncommon find, a 1920s era Nash. Now that’s a cool one! A 1958 Pontiac has a bashed in front.
An early 1950s Ford advertises a then fairly new and cutting edge feature for the era (especially for the make), an automatic transmission. Many cars then still had manuals.
The show of colour continues. Then it hits us…aren’t we blessed? What a special place, a special time and good company.
This outing we joined by two photographers we greatly admire, Coinoath Sarsfeld and Kyla Black (Google them – you won’t regret it). They’re good, I mean mind blowingly good and us hacks really aren’t worthy to carry their camera bags. Still, we’re flattered and thrilled we got an invite. Coinoath would later revisit the house some months later, after dark. Night photography is his game and he plays it well.
More remote abandonment…
Green Door Ranch.
The Howe Place.
The Stone House.
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: October, 2017.
Location: Starland County, AB.
Article references and thanks: Brian N, Tom Waits.
Team BIGDoer was on site with permission.
Man, good chance that Jeep is either military issue or an extremely early civilian version. I’d give anything to take that Fargo sitting next to the sheds home.
I believe it is ex-military. Yes, those Fargo. Nice stuff there!
So many amazing photos!
That is so nice to hear. We do it for you!
Love it!
And we love you!
Another great picture! 🌻
And thank you for the comment!
there’s some great photography in this issue. Love the old trucks.
Thank you! Agree, give me trucks any time.
Great photos!
We’re so happy to hear you like them!
What beautiful pictures,,,
Thank you and we appreciate you commenting as often as you do.
I’ve been back many times, and still have not got the night shot I want.
This trip was a great trip with great company.
You are a purist and we admire that. They’re expecting you! It’s a joy to hang with people like you.
Very nice thankyou.
You are most welcome and drop by often!
Great shots of the old place. It sure is a beautiful remote location and I had fun exploring it with you guys!
Thanks, it’s so fun to hang with interesting, humble and dedicated people who are into this stuff.
Beautiful B&W image!!
Thank you so much!
Where are these badlands?
Mostly along the Red Deer River in Alberta, with the town of Drumheller generally seen as the centre of it all.
You have nice pictures! My life has been in the Yukon and BC Now in Alberta.
Thanks! The Yukon is a place we’d love to see.
Beautiful shot Chris! What a coincidence I’m listening to Tom Waits right now!
Now that’s cool! We loved that Waits himself gave us the okay for use.
Love your work and always with permission. Stellar!
It’s how we roll. If not done right, permission and all, these old places become more threatened. We take a lot of heat for it though, from other abandoned places photographers.
Is that a Sears Mail Order House?
It looks very Catalogue House-ish, but we couldn’t find it in any old ones. Eatons was the big player in that field here back then. Still, I think you’re on to something.
Wow! Perfect light for the setting!
How far would the owners had have to go for supplies?
The light was nice! Yes, in the old days even the nearest neighbour was some distance off and town or help in an emergency, a long way away. It took special people to live here.
I always look forward to your postings.
Thanks, we so love presenting them to all you readers!
Got permission from landowner to ride down there with my friend , stunning old homestead , in a beautiful spot.
What an amazing place in an amazing setting.
Have you stayed in Wayne? Last Chance Saloon is amazing.
We’ve never been (always packed when we pass). We’ll try and check it out sometime although not on some busy weekend.
Impressive photos Chris.
Thank you. And Connie gets some credit too!
Oh wow! That would be one of my dream shoots!
It was amazing to shoot. Would so love to go back at night.
And still it stands. Epic.
Yes, a finely built place.