In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Tell Us About Your Rides!

In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby Rick F. » Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:50 pm

The U.S.—and the East Coast in particular—is positively littered with old, abandoned, and mostly forgotten houses, barns, churches, cars, and other things that, in their gradual state of deterioration, can be scenic, historic, or sometimes merely poignant. On Sunday, November 8, I set off for Western Maryland and Pennsylvania to see what I could find. And, of course, there's no better vehicle than a BMW (motorcycle or car) to maximize the fun of the search.

To find old stuff, naturally, it helps to get well off the beaten path. Highway 26 runs north from Piney Grove, Maryland into Pennsylvania, providing a perfect venue of smooth, rural pavement. I followed it through such notable metropolises as Five Forks, Clearville, and Hopewell before turning off at Riddlesburg. Along the way, it provided numerous vistas such as this one, looking east into the new morning sun:
Image


Soon enough, lost and forgotten structures began to appear. This one must have been a small store in its prime.
Image


The Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church has survived the elements nicely ever since shortly after the Civil War, holding services throughout this period, I believe. (This Sunday morning, however, there was no one around to tell me where to park properly...)
Image


As the Z4 climbed into the mountains, the abandoned houses began to arrive in force. This once-proud home stood open for inspection, without even the usual "No Trespassing" sign.
Image


Visitors should be sure to watch that first step, however...
Image


This barn looked for all the world as if someone had exited the road at a high rate of speed and subsequently entered the barn the hard way.
Image


The town of Everett, PA appeared at the intersection of Highway 26 and Route 30—the famous "Lincoln Highway" of days gone by. This nifty mural commemorates the early days of motoring in Everett. The town was originally named "Bloody Run," after a creek that was the scene of a battle between settlers and American Indians in the early 1700s.
Image


Everett featured many exceptional homes, with this one being my favorite:
Image


Outside of town, there were numerous huge barns, some rather more decorative than average.
Image


It was a beautiful day, by the way, just perfect for sightseeing—or fishing, if one preferred.
Image


Did I mention the pretty vistas? This one offered a pleasant surprise in the form of the Hall's Mill Covered Bridge.
Image


Even at 11:00 am, the trees were casting long shadows. A bit mournfully, I realized that winter was coming after all, despite the pleasant weather.
Image


I quickly put that thought out of my mind, however, and continued to enjoy all the beauty around me.
Image


The tiny town of Hopewell was fascinating in its austerity. I suspect this small building used to be the train station. The tracks are long gone, replaced by a narrow roadway that was just the right width for a Z4. (Hmmm, I hope it wasn't intended to be just a biking and hiking path!)
Image


At Riddlesburg, I stopped for a picture of the (usually) mighty Juniata River. This day, however, the water level was low enough to allow a family to go exploring on the rocks.
Image


Nearby, I found the remains of a coke oven, originally owned by the Kemble Coal and Iron Company...
Image


...and an impressive pile of slag that was apparently left over after the facility ceased operations.
Image


This is about all that's left of the Rockhill Mine No. 6, once a huge coal mining operation on the outskirts of Woodvale, PA.
Image


Along Route 994, in the proverbial middle of nowhere, I encountered another lost and forgotten family farm. The farm house was still in decent shape, perhaps because of its stone structure.
Image


The outbuildings were gradually disappearing, however.
Image


Across the road, the main barn looked to be in surprisingly good shape, although the nearby shed was succumbing to nature.
Image


Inside the shed were various Implements o' Farming, all in sad shape. I guess when the folks get too old to continue, and the kids aren't interested, and no yuppies move in, then it all goes downhill pretty quickly.
Image


As I approached Huntingdon, PA, I began to notice some unusual buildings. A small, octagonal barn first got my attention. When I saw these walls and turrets, I (finally) realized that this was a Major Prison. It wasn't until after I'd taken this picture that I saw the sign with strict warnings against trespassing on this property and especially against taking pictures...
Image


Huntingdon is definitely a place that I want to return to. I only had time to stop briefly, first at the Juniata River and the old Broad Top railroad bridge...
Image
Image


...and later at the ritzy part of town. Wouldn't it be great to live in a house like this?
Image


Or maybe this one, even if it appears to be a duplex. :^o
Image


Here's one of the more unusual garages I've seen. I'm guessing it was a carriage house or entry-way, sometime back in the days.
Image


As I continued north, the Greenwood Furnace State Park loomed into view. The furnace itself was in pretty good shape, although the rest of the iron-making facility was in ruins. It had operated nearly around the clock from 1834 through 1904.
Image
Image

Although visitors were welcome, the furnace was heavily guarded by several thousand ladybugs. By the time I'd walked to the furnce, there were easily 20 or 30 of them on me. Fortunately, they don't bite and are generally friendly creatures.
Image


As the sun was starting to go down, the shadows got even longer, and the light began to turn its unique, late-fall color. It all served to give the dam and spillway a dramatic appearance.
Image


Turning south, I soon found myself in Amish country again. Driving along, squinting into a low-horizon sun, it was doubly important to keep an eye out for their slow, horse-drawn buggies. Contrary to what you might expect, many of the Amish farms are major operations, as large as the one pictured here.
Image


Not every farm in the area was quite so large, however. It's just that they were all scenic and demanded a stop for a picture.
Image


The tiny town of Mapleton featured a reasonably spooky graveyard and abandoned railroad depot.
Image
Image


Although only 4:00 pm, the sun was rapidly descending, with continuing dramatic effects—this time on Aughwick Creek. But it was getting colder and I still had a long way to go.
Image


Of course, every time I resolve to press on and cover some miles, I almost immediately spot another lost and forgotten structure that just has to be photographed...
Image


...and then another one a few miles further on. It's hopeless!
Image


But the beauty was everywhere, and the urge was irresistible.
Image


I finally stopped for one more picture, as the sun was setting and the geese were leading the way south for me. It was time for me to fly home, too. (Note the Sideling Hill "notch" in the background.)
Image


The temperature had dropped to about 45 degrees by now, and I was facing a 100-mile Interstate drive back to Catonsville, MD, so I put the top back up. Or at least I tried to—it would unlatch, but it wouldn't budge otherwise. After several tries, complete with some manual boosting, I realized it was hopeless. Moreover, I couldn't remember the emergency manual process for raising the top. So, I put on my sweatshirt and leather coat, rolled the windows up, turned up the heat, turned on the seat warmer, and drove on home. It wasn't all that bad, thankfully, although little bits of paper had an annoying habit of rising up out of the cockpit in the swirling air at freeway speeds. I managed to snare most of them before they escaped, and I escaped any littering charges for the other couple.

And all in all, I felt much more comfortable than this fellow, who was merrily flying home in his ultralight aircraft, complete with strobe light, after the sun had completely set. I've always wanted to fly one of these—but not so much after dark!
Image


All told, the trip was 397 miles, took 10 hours and 40 minutes, and featured terrific motorcycle / sports car roads throughout. I was only "lost" a couple of times, and the trip will not be "forgotten" any time soon.

Rick F.
Last edited by Rick F. on Mon Sep 14, 2015 4:15 pm, edited 2 times in total.
For all my tour articles, check out rsftripreporter.net.

2020 Mercedes-Benz SL550
2013 BMW 335i convertible (sold)
2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage (sold)
2006 BMW Z4 3.0i roadster (sold)
2005 BMW R1200GS (retired)
2003 BMW F650CS (sold)
User avatar
Rick F.
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 1734
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:43 pm
Location: Catonsville, MD

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby JimVonBaden » Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:29 pm

Rick F. wrote:The U.S.—and the East Coast in particular—is positively littered with old, abandoned, and mostly forgotten houses, barns, churches, cars, and other things that, in their gradual state of deterioration, can be scenic, historic, or sometimes merely poignant. On Sunday, November 8, I set off for Western Maryland and Pennsylvania to see what I could find. And, of course, there's no better vehicle than a BMW (motorcycle or car) to maximize the fun of the search.

To find old stuff, naturally, it helps to get well off the beaten path. Highway 26 runs north from Piney Grove, Maryland into Pennsylvania, providing a perfect venue of smooth, rural pavement. I followed it through such notable metropolises as Five Forks, Clearville, and Hopewell before turning off at Riddlesburg. Along the way, it provided numerous vistas such as this one, looking east into the new morning sun:
Image



Metropolises? Metropoli? :twitching:

Man, with your skills you could easily write a book about these things. Not only pics and stories, but how to find new places and how to research what you find.

Very cool!

Jim :brow
User avatar
JimVonBaden
Smooth Motorcycle Operator
 
Posts: 17669
Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:48 pm
Location: Alexandria, VA

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby Yellowjacket » Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:44 pm

Thanks! And for making me look up the plural for metropolis. And the correct form is metropolises.
-------------------------------------
2004 BMW R1150R (Green and Black)

George Byron: "The best prophet of the future is the past."
User avatar
Yellowjacket
Just call me Moz!
 
Posts: 3499
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:38 pm
Location: Socialist Republic of PG County

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby kimokk » Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:34 pm

Suhweeeeeeeeetttt!!! :D
Last edited by kimokk on Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
IBA #49426
2017 R1200GSA
2002 GL1800A Image
User avatar
kimokk
Member
 
Posts: 123
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:49 pm
Location: Fort Belvoir

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby BKling » Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:43 pm

kimokk wrote:I don't see any image. :?:


Well did say that things were deteriorating, looks as though some have alreay faded to dust.
Bryant


In Case of Emergency - OPEN HEAD - USE BRAIN
User avatar
BKling
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 2821
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:57 pm
Location: Hamilton, VA

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby Rick F. » Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:49 pm

Sorry guys, I managed to hit the "submit" button instead of the "preview" button when I went to check that the first image address was correct. (It wasn't...)

The whole works is now posted, eagerly awaiting your review.

And thanks, Moz, for checking "metropolises." Unable to find a reference, I just guessed at this plural form.

Rick F.
For all my tour articles, check out rsftripreporter.net.

2020 Mercedes-Benz SL550
2013 BMW 335i convertible (sold)
2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage (sold)
2006 BMW Z4 3.0i roadster (sold)
2005 BMW R1200GS (retired)
2003 BMW F650CS (sold)
User avatar
Rick F.
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 1734
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:43 pm
Location: Catonsville, MD

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby Yellowjacket » Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:56 pm

Thanks Rick and the pics over the last 5-6 years. They always inspire and prompt me to go out for one more ride - like I need an excuse. :)

Kimo: Welcome back to the fold. See you on a Beemer soon.
-------------------------------------
2004 BMW R1150R (Green and Black)

George Byron: "The best prophet of the future is the past."
User avatar
Yellowjacket
Just call me Moz!
 
Posts: 3499
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:38 pm
Location: Socialist Republic of PG County

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby Unity » Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:14 pm

Rick F. wrote:Here's one of the more unusual garages I've seen. I'm guessing it was a carriage house or entry-way, sometime back in the days.
Image

I'm surprised it has a large doorway on both ends; it probably had double wooden doors to keep the weather out. The carriage house/garage at the house where I grew up was part stable, and the upstairs held hay. The open brickwork in the upstairs wall lends support to that use. Maybe the little door on the side is where hay loaded, but there's no place to rig a hay pulley. Did you look for a bigger upstairs door on the other side? Ours had a regular house-type door (with mullioned windows) under a gable that provided for a pulley. There was an opening in the upstairs floor for dropping hay down to the horse. There were two smaller doors on two walls at the rear, one for letting the horse in and out without opening the big door, the other for mucking out the stall. Our house and carriage house were in eastern Illinois, built in the 1870s.

Another fine adventure, Rick.

--John
2002 R1150RT, Silver
Silver, the "cool and aloof" color.
(Road & Track Vol. 56, No.2, p. 19)

1971 Triumph Bonneville, Gold
Gold, the "paying the restorer" color.
(Trust me.)
User avatar
Unity
Shaman
 
Posts: 7170
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Reston VA

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby RocketMan » Sun Nov 22, 2009 10:05 am

Unity wrote:
Rick F. wrote:Here's one of the more unusual garages I've seen. I'm guessing it was a carriage house or entry-way, sometime back in the days.
Image

I'm surprised it has a large doorway on both ends; it probably had double wooden doors to keep the weather out. The carriage house/garage at the house where I grew up was part stable, and the upstairs held hay. The open brickwork in the upstairs wall lends support to that use. Maybe the little door on the side is where hay loaded, but there's no place to rig a hay pulley. Did you look for a bigger upstairs door on the other side? Ours had a regular house-type door (with mullioned windows) under a gable that provided for a pulley. There was an opening in the upstairs floor for dropping hay down to the horse. There were two smaller doors on two walls at the rear, one for letting the horse in and out without opening the big door, the other for mucking out the stall. Our house and carriage house were in eastern Illinois, built in the 1870s.

Another fine adventure, Rick.

--John


Actually having doors at both ends for a carriage house makes perfect sense, they didn't have a reverse, ya know? Ever seem someone backing up a horse drawn wagon? Looks awkward, doesn't it? Ha Ha!

RM
Fromerly MR. MonkeyButt now Mr. Breezy-Butt!
http://roadrunes.com

"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

"I think you're a NUT!"- Tina
User avatar
RocketMan
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 4578
Joined: Tue May 11, 2004 1:58 pm
Location: State of Confusion

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby RocketMan » Sun Nov 22, 2009 10:09 am

All I can say is, you're getting to be a real annoyance, Rick! [-X

Ha Ha!

very nice, as always I gotta get me that book you mentioned a few posts ago and start spending more time on byways and such!

RM

crawling back into photographic oblivion.... :lol:
Fromerly MR. MonkeyButt now Mr. Breezy-Butt!
http://roadrunes.com

"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - Daniel Patrick Moynihan

"I think you're a NUT!"- Tina
User avatar
RocketMan
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 4578
Joined: Tue May 11, 2004 1:58 pm
Location: State of Confusion

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby IAMBOB » Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:36 pm

Image

Franklin PA, I had a chance to buy an identical house for $41,000. It was in PERFECT shape, to include the old gas lines sticking out of the wall where the gas lamps usded to be. The hardwood floors were the nicest I've EVER seen. Just BEAUTIFUL.. but not yard, and I promised my kids the house in PA would have a yard.

Oh, and this was 1998 or so..


A LOT of the same type houses in that area for around the same price..
2009 R1200RT (Da Wasp)
2002 R1150RS SILVIA (sold)
2006 John Deere 2305
User avatar
IAMBOB
Board Wizard
 
Posts: 3080
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 3:28 pm
Location: Dameron MD

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby Deano » Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:44 pm

Very nice, Rick, as always. You have a knack for finding interesting shots. Like Jim said, you should think about the book thing. =D>
2007 R1200GS - "Lucky"
2004 R1150RA - REST IN PIECES
User avatar
Deano
Mildly Retarded Gubmint Worker
 
Posts: 2266
Joined: Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:37 pm
Location: Silver Spring, MD

Re: In Search of the Lost and Forgotten

Postby Graybeard » Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:29 pm

Deano wrote:Very nice, Rick, as always. You have a knack for finding interesting shots. Like Jim said, you should think about the book thing. =D>


+1

I like the 4-wheeled reports, Rick. I think you are more inclined to stop without the need for gear. We all reap those rewards!

I'll suggest again that you should post with your route.

Have you ever thought of submitting these to Backroads or Road Runner?
Larry
Germantown, MD
'06 R12RT, MD 0011 BMR
'16 S1000XR, MD 0052 BMR
User avatar
Graybeard
Board Guru
 
Posts: 887
Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 9:55 pm
Location: Gaithersburg MD


Return to Ride Stories

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 51 guests

cron