Al Larson Photography

A few miles north of Jordan Valley, OR we pass by this old schoolhouse on Cow Creek. Many times I have passed by this historic building. Each year it seems to fall more in disrepair. I thought I had better take a picture of it before someone decides to demolish it.

Back in the late 1930s my brother Norton and his friend Everett Jones would play for country dances in this building. Since then, I’ve often wondered if there was a piano in this school. Norton played the piano for dances in Jordan Valley. Without a piano music was rendered with a guitar, harmonica and drums. Boom boxes and electronic music devices were unheard of in those days.

I wonder how many times we pass an old landmark and watch it fall into disrepair? Then there are folks who pass by without ever seeing it. This old barn stood at Barber just off of Warm Springs Ave. in Boise. It would be interesting to hear the stories this old barn could tell if only it could talk. Luckily I stopped by one day and took this photo. Now this barn is no more. It passed over the Great Divide this past summer. It almost breaks my heart to look at this site, bulldozed over, sadly waiting the next stage of developement.

I took the liberty to publish this photo in sephia. A tired old building needs to look old. Right?

This past Saturday I went out into the Owyhee mountains to finish maintanance on my “Bluebird Trail.” The weather was chilly and there was still a touch of snow in the shade and north slopes. Although there has been a couple weeks of freezing temperature at nights there weren’t many scenes of fall color. Toward the end of day I happened upon this small grove of aspens. The leaves were just starting to turn. I often stop by this grove during the summer. I have a nestbox located nearby and it is a nice place to stop and have lunch.  I often wonder about the person/s who may have lived in this rustic old cabin. What secrets lie in the history of this place?

It’s a good feeling to have the woodshed full to overflowing. I had some carry-over from last season but there was quite a vacant space to be filled. We had several mature dry dead trees that were harvested, split and stacked. I figure that I have enough ready wood on hand to keep me warm at least through next August.

Why is it that all this work takes place during the heat of the summer? Needless to say, a lot of it was done in the cool fore-noons or evenings.

Now I can concentrate on some of the other tasks that need to be done before Winter.

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Historical remnants of the past dot the landscape in Owyhee county. When gold was discovered in this area in the 1860s miners and prospectors rushed into the area. Nearby Silver City, in its heyday was one of the largest population centers in the Pacific northwest. Towns sprang up near the mines. There was Silver City, Fairview, Ruby City, Dewey, DeLamar, and Wagontown. With the exception of Silver City these towns have all but faded away. A person may still visit the old cemeterys which are cared for by the local historical society. One may find pieces of old machinery discarded in the past. There are few if any old buildings left. The cabin in this photo still stands near the old town site of DeLamar.

It’s hard for me to pass up a picturesque old building without taking a photo of it.. Here is the Ola Community Church with its adjacent cemetery. The church sets on a rise south of the village of Ola, Gem county, Idaho. A couple years ago repairs were made to the old building and a new coat of paint was applied. The church is still used for religious functions. The cemetery in the background is well kept.