A couple weeks ago when I was returning home from attending a race, I found an old house in rural Indiana and there was no way I could pass it up. My less-adventurous family members guarded the car while I walked in and found that the house was a mess. Whoever lived here last had clearly left in a hurry as all of their possessions remained, many of them strewn around the floor. The foundation has also started to crumble and is slowly bringing some of the walls along with it. There is an occupied house directly west of this one and the whole time I was here, I could hear people talking in the backyard of the other house. It's also very close a fairly busy road and sits on a decent-sized property with high grass, a few trees and an abandoned trailer in the back. I didn't check out the trailer because I didn't feel like explaining to the neighbors why I was there.
1. The front of house, clearly and thoroughly dilapidated


2. Vines have begun creeping through the front door into the living room.


3. You can see how weak the foundation is here in the dining room.


4. An old bureau remained in the dining room.


5. What remains of the kitchen.


6.


7. Some clothes still hung from the walls in a child's bedroom.


8. This complete set of do-it-yourself encyclopedias were also in the child's room.


9. The cabinets in what I believe was the master bedroom have become detached from the wall and it's only a matter of time before they come down.


10. An old toy set that looks like a predecessor to Legos.


11. A steep, narrow stairway that led only to the attic.


12. The attic was still full of boxes and bags of possessions.


13. One last look before going home.

Because of the remaining possessions and general decay of the place, this was one of the most enjoyable and interesting neglected houses that I've visited. I spent the trip home wondering what happened to the family who lived there, why all their stuff was left behind and how long it's been this way. I use this road a couple times a year so I'll probably peek back in on it next time I'm out that way.

that place just needs some love and hard work and it should be in tip-top shape in no time!

Wow, the children's clothing and books makes this melancholy as hell. I wonder what became of them? Beautiful photos and a really interesting location.

Great pics! I too often wonder why so many useful items get left behind when houses, schools, offices and other businesses become abandoned. Literally, it sometimes looks as if someone in charge walked in the place and announced, "You all have 5 minutes to clear out of here!"
At the Book Tower in Detroit, it seemed as if everything except for purses and briefcases got left behind. All of the office equipment, computers, copiers, furniture and paperwork seemed intact. Some desks even had coffee mugs out on them!
It could be that people leave the property w/ the intention of coming back 'one day' but either never get around to it or die off in due time. Sometimes it might involve an eviction that was not carried out legally. In the cases of some of the offices and schools I've explored, I think the buildings were shuttered because someone somewhere 'knew' the money would come in to reopen 'any day.' By the time they realized no money was coming, the places had long been scrapped and vandalized.
By the by, there was a house a few blocks from mine that was in a similar state as far as items being left behind. Children's toys lay scattered on the floor, the waterbed in the master bed room was still filled up and computer equipment, personal scrapbooks and furniture were simply left behind.

Beautiful pictures for a great location! To continue with the discussion, I often wonder what makes a family leave everything behind when they go. It's not like a shop or a factory going out of business. There's so much of a story and so little evidence.

That picture of the Elgo American bricks just solved a childhood mystery. Our bin of LEGOs had a few of those mixed in. My siblings and I could never figure out what they went to.

This is my kind of place...the more left behind, the better!

Thanks for posting!

cool place luv old houses.

Great pics Thanks !!!