Focusing the ridged ring on my camera lens and delicately dialing in the distance I could already feel the beads of sweat forming on my skin. The sweltering sun, already at its apex had turned the walk towards our destination into a soupy swim of heat with our rag tag group finding relief through the breeze off passing cars. *Click* *Click* *Click* Scouting the scene ahead, it appeared as though our apprehensive approach had worked well enough. A lone buzz hung in the humidity and I curiously glanced skyward to find the source of the noise, sweat mixing with saline and burning my eyes. Eventually it was time to move inside, my interest in the hovering helicopter had wavered and there was a story to uncover. I was already falling behind.


Fruit Of Labour by Bumblebee, on Flickr

Tangled in the foliage of the front yard, a frail wooden structure of peeling paint tells the story of a family who toiled in the regions rich earth, sharing the (literal) fruits of their labor with townsfolk and tourists alike. Just beyond the family’s fruit stand, a row of lumbering trees carefully camouflaged a humbling home. Bowing, the trees pay their lasting respect to the concealed. The solace of the sycamores and the breeze beneath them was short lived as I found myself ducking into the darkened underworld beneath the bungalow.

Patryk Bujak was born in 1920’s Poland, and after surviving the Second World War he found himself yearning for a place to call home. Patryk would soon find that home with his wife Zofia. Emigrating to Canada in the early 1950’s, Patryk and Zofia settled a large plot of luscious land and immediately set to work building the foundation of their field of dreams. Using their old world agricultural skills, Patryk and Zofia would go on to see success in selling the fruits of their labor.

Getting a sense for my surroundings, I could not shake the feeling of being hunted. With every cobweb I was reminded of our initial visit a few short months earlier when wild packs of wolf spiders crept around every corner. With my eyes adjusting, the blurry monochromatic basement began to take shape. Finding my feet, I carefully inched around taking stock of a cinder block cellar that once held a bounty of fruit from the acres of orchards left behind by the family. Following leading lines of orange spray paint, I found myself standing in a dimly lit corner. A lonesome window filtered the suns golden glow, cascading over a treasure trove before me. A true testament of TIME. But just beyond the lingering musk of mold and mildew I heard the muffled voices of Storytrail and CrazyCarClub above. I made my way upstairs; the timeless treasure could wait.

When Patryk wasn’t toiling in the earth, he could often be found tinkering in his basement tool shop. Surrounded by A myriad of saw blades, screwdrivers, and soldering irons Patryk would work the wood of the land. He would go on to create the crafted cabinets in his house, where Zofia would proudly display the many trinkets of her travels abroad.

Collecting Dust by Storytrail, on Flickr

Ascending the abyss, I immediately joined in on the photos being taken. Among the beeps blips and clicks of Canons and Nikons alike, I began to get the feeling that something was amiss, or should I say, missing. The kitchen, once a picture perfect scene now looked as though someone had taken anything of value. The cabinet of curiosities beside the dinner table laid barren, the cupboards left crooked, everything but the kitchen sink disheveled.


Musical Fragments by Storytrail, on Flickr

The plundering proceeded into the retro rewind living room, where ornate lamps lay smashed into the shag rug and spray painted obscenities covered every wall including the stucco ceiling. Letting out a short sigh, it was clear that the location had made its way to pickers on public forums. Everywhere the pink innards of the house poked through patchy holes, it would only be a matter of time before the elements took hold, turning the entire room into a cancerous black mass of mold.

By all indications, Patryk and Zofia shared a love for each other that spanned many decades of devotion. Living off their land they led the quaint and quiet life. They would go on to have children to whom they passed on the affinity of agriculture to and in turn have children of their own. Unfortunately at 66, Patryk would succumb to age, leaving behind Zofia to fend for the family farm. Carrying on the memory of Patryk, Zofia poured her heart and soul into their slice of heaven, ultimately bringing her spirit closer to his.


1964 by Storytrail, on Flickr

Beyond the beaded makeshift curtains in the living room, I found CrazyCarClub and his wife focusing in on a three legged wonder. It reaches skywards, looking beyond the heavens. A telescopic oddity, flanked by a pair of single beds. Proudly presented behind it, a sun faded solar system poster detailing the far reaches of the final frontier sticks to the wall. Sadly the vinyl of John F. Kennedy’s presidential speeches that sat on the bed previously had since been snatched, along with a 1960’s book detailing the NASA space program from Cape Canaveral. A bookshelf once filled to the brim now watches its shelves contents carelessly strewn about the floor. I could only stand to find the irony in the missing globe, and the entitled individual who carted it off.


One Step For Man, One Giant Leap For Mankind by Bumblebee, on Flickr


Eye Spy by Bumblebee, on Flickr

Half expecting the next room to be ransacked, I tried to control my disdain for the disrespectful. Peeking in my eyes meet a familiar face, a painted print of the pope. Under my breath I ask forgiveness for my trespassing, and to my surprise the room has been spared from the savagery mere feet away. Under the Apostolic watchers gaze a lone type writer sits saturated in sun, surrounded by artifacts of its era.


Sinister by Bumblebee, on Flickr


The One Two Step by Bumblebee, on Flickr

Reading through the titles of Patryk’s book collection one could surmise that he was a well-read man who enjoyed dabbling in the arts and sciences of the time. An amateur astronomer, I can only imagine the amount of time spent peering through his telescope charting the star systems. Further titles would reveal Patryk’s affection for science, philosophy, and history. Patryk was nothing short of a successful Renaissance man excelling at everything he put his effort behind.


Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker by Bumblebee, on Flickr

With our photos taken, and our cameras slung over our shoulders, CrazyCarClub, his wife, Storytrail and I proceeded our procession back into the depths below. Choking on the stale saltiness of our sweat, we were greeted by the sweet sweeping relief of a breeze coming from our overgrown exit. Enjoying the sound of swaying branches and rustling leaves our voices reverberated around the cavernous compartment, comparing notes and observations on the abode above.


Candid Candidate by Bumblebee, on Flickr

Closing my eyes in exhaustion from the persistent pain coming from my abdomen, I stood in the doorway careless of the cobwebs now draped over me. My peace was pierced by the “cool!” coming from CrazyCarClub the next room over; I had forgotten about the aforementioned timeless treasure from earlier! Retracing my steps back into the cramped compartment, I found CrazyCarClub setting up his shot. There, from floor to ceiling stood a bookshelf unlike any other, teaming with TIME magazines. A time capsule in itself, arranged in neat stacks and carefully catalogue was every single TIME magazine from the fifties well into the turn of the century, chronologically and meticulously ordered. A litany of literacy gold, had managed to evade humans and humidity, the crisp pages of famous faces flowed freely recognizing the likes of Eisenhower, Tricky Dick, JFK, and the conflicts of the Korean War, Vietnam, and Cuban Missile Crisis. We could have spent forever thumbing through magazine after magazine but with a laundry list of places to visit, there were more stories to be told yet.

A huge thank you to a fellow explorer who wished to remain anonymous for providing background info on the previous owners. Storytrail and I couldn't be more grateful.

To those who have visited this gem please post your photos!

Incredible post as usual. You and Storytrail both put so much effort into finding the history behind each explore and I really appreciate that. It's almost as if for a brief moment, those people are brought back to life in our minds, populating the very rooms that you so meticulously document. So thank you and here's to hoping that the shelf of TIME magazines is somehow preserved.

Nicely done.

Excellent stuff - this house is a classic. I really like how you skipped the vandalism photos and gave this place a look more true to what it once was.

Posted by Bvmblebee To those who have visited this gem please post your photos!

A few close-ups from here that I liked...


Farming Life by Ground State Photos, on Flickr



70s Woman by Ground State Photos, on Flickr



Well Earned by Ground State Photos, on Flickr



A Testament to Age by Ground State Photos, on Flickr



Fragility Amid Chaos by Ground State Photos, on Flickr



Moments in TIME by Ground State Photos, on Flickr

Call On Me by Storytrail, on Flickr


Your Keys to Success by Storytrail, on Flickr


Personal Hygiene by Storytrail, on Flickr


Collectors by Storytrail, on Flickr


How Good a President Was He? by Storytrail, on Flickr

Here are a few before / after comparisons over the span of a few months:

BEFORE

Before Vandals by Storytrail, on Flickr

AFTER

After Vandals by Storytrail, on Flickr

BEFORE

Bookworm by Storytrail, on Flickr

AFTER

Ransacked by Storytrail, on Flickr

Well told adventure. Enjoyed the write-up. Bumblebee i really think the pic of the records on the table with the reflected colors of the trees is lovely.

Storytrail the dusty phone and keys are awesome.

GS those cans...Wow?!! Mold? or fire?

Terrific one and all

damn....

Share With Us Your Wisdom by lowkey imagedesign, on Flickr


ATOMS at your service by lowkey imagedesign, on Flickr



They carry news that must get through by lowkey imagedesign, on Flickr



Another Good Story by lowkey imagedesign, on Flickr

Great write up. I really liked how your story was mixed with the family's background and history. Looks like a great place and I really enjoy everyones' photos from there. Nice stuff!

What a amazing house, and a top notch write up!! Really enjoyed the pictures and the story. It's a shame the vandals have got to it.

Posted by Jac Steel

Thank you for the kind comments Jac, we couldn't have done it without our friends in the community. I'm glad that we could paint a picture so vividly of the people who once lived here. We can only hope that the Time magazines continue to stay preserved here.

Posted by phrenzee

Thanks for the Support!

Posted by Ground State

In all honesty I unfortunately didn't get that many photos on either visit, I was distracted by all the neat things left here. Here's to hoping I get more next time. Great photos by the way! I think the egg and the roller skates are sadly gone.

Posted by Storytrail

Great photos, I didn't even think to get before and after photos! Good save

Posted by MisUnderstood!

Thank you MisUnderstood, glad you enjoyed the write up and the photos!

Posted by l0wkey

Great shots l0wkey! Thank you for adding the photos and adding to the narrative.

Posted by puddlejumper12

Posted by TheSwanStation

Posted by cdevon

I am glad you enjoyed the write up and photos! Thank you for the support

Here's a few shots from my perspective that day, good times and a great place.

































Not sure why the pic of the magazine collection looks so grainy, maybe the site depleted the quality of my pics as they were clear before i uploaded them.

Glad to see not TOO much seems to have changed here in a year. I really wish that I'd have taken shots of some of the Time Magazines and captured some of the classic covers, they had a number of great Beatles covers, Micheal Jackson covers and some great ones from the 50'6, 60's and 70's.

Funny to see the different takes on the typewriter scene, after I shot my version of it I had totally dismantled it and placed the various items in different spots throughout the house.

Thanks to all for sharing, great work.

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Posted by Freaktography Glad to see not TOO much seems to have changed here in a year.

Actually, despite Bumblebee thinking that some of the items in my photos have gone missing, I don't think that anything has really changed here at all since the discovery in 2012. I don't think that anything has gone missing - I think it is just in different places, or in unopened cabinets. I truly feel that explorers have been very respectful with this location.

Posted by Ground State Actually, despite Bumblebee thinking that some of the items in my photos have gone missing, I don't think that anything has really changed here at all since the discovery in 2012. I don't think that anything has gone missing - I think it is just in different places, or in unopened cabinets. I truly feel that explorers have been very respectful with this location.

Well, if you look at some more recent photos the living room area has definitely been trashed a little bit - lamps knocked over, things strewn about that weren't previously. But otherwise yes, things are mostly intact which is nice to see. Glad to see the typewriter set-up and the telescope still standing.