- Posted January 17, 2014 by
This iReport is part of an assignment:
Old Abandoned Tobacco Farm House with orbs inside and out
In 1998 we leased a house and 50 acres of an old tobacco farm, once said to have been over 300 acres. Much of the land had been sold off to build subdivisions. Some of the family still farmed tobacco and took it to auction in the spring. There were several lovely tobacco barns, out buildings and even the original homestead stood next door to our home. The old farm house, long abandoned by family, was used to strip the tobacco so it could be hung in the barns to dry.
In 2001 Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission SMADC offered a tobacco buy out program to all eligible tobacco farmers who were willing to give up tobacco farming permanently , agreeing to remain in agricultural production. While this was a good idea as far as limiting tobacco sales in Maryland and creating a Cigarette Restitution Fund, it was definitely a change of lifestyle and landscape.
The family we leased from decided to cooperate with the Tobacco Buy Out and grow other crops such as soybean, corn or hay. The old farm house was no longer needed.
A controlled burn by the fire department was scheduled to demolish the family homestead.
Before the scheduled burn I made one last visit into the old home. My cats delighted in hiding out and playing in the deserted building. I wanted to make sure they were not inside before the fire department came. Knowing a piece of history would be gone forever, I took my camera with me. As I entered the front door the old cliche "If only these walls could talk" came to mind. I thought of the family and the generations that had shared this home. Even the folks we leased from had grown up in the old house.
We were told the place was haunted by an 'Uncle Charles' Not sure about that but I know I always had the willies going in to check on my cats.
Today some 13 years later, we drive by the land to see a subdivision, no barns, no white farm houses and acres of beautiful corn or winter wheat. The early sixties song "Little Boxes" plays in my mind . Only these are big boxes" all made out of ticky tacky , big boxes all the same. With Metropolitan Washington DC spreading further south and the growth of Pax River Naval Base, it is sad to see so many tobacco barns and farm houses in different states of decay. Some owners have refurbished and use for other crops or have created farms for corn maze, pumpkin patch, antique shops or craft shops.
The images above were made about an hour before the firemen came to start the planned burn. I did go upstairs as well but quickly spooked and hurried back down stairs and out the door. When I got home and loaded the images to the computer I noticed all the orbs seemingly coming out of the windows and doors, then across the lawn. Maybe dust..maybe..but then maybe "Uncle Charles" not happy that the old home-place is to be no more........
stairwell from front door throught to back door
outside front of house
burning frame and double chimney
fireman looking on
photography Janie Lambert