We now live in a subdivision, but it is out in the county and in a beautiful area nestled between rolling hills. The area is known as Hardin Valley. We adopted this area for our homes 21 years ago. Our first cottage is located just a couple of miles away.
I don’t know the origin of the valley’s name, but it most likely is named after a long-time resident, similar to the country roads that crisscross the area. Of course, Marty is proud to mention that the old English word “hardin” means “valley of the hares.” Our former cottage and acreage proved to be a perfect habitat area for rabbits, so the name aptly fits.
Development has come slowly to Hardin Valley, but time marches on. The county’s population has expanded, and more houses are needed. It is a bit sad when we have to say goodbye to old homestead cottages, yet exciting when new homes are built.
A new little subdivision is going to be located eastward and down the big hill from us (on the other side of our woods and meandering creek). We won’t see it from our vantage point, but we will pass by when we venture out for errands. An abandoned cottage was located on the designated tract of land. As soon as the silt fences went up around the perimeter in October, I knew I had to act fast if I wanted to get any photos of the place.
It’s been several years since anybody lived there, so the house structure had fallen to a state of disrepair. Based on architectural style, it was probably built sometime in the early 1900s. The beautiful tree in the back yard was huge and grand.
The vent detail in the front of the house was damaged, but still charming.
Several old outbuildings were in the back of the property. I was always enchanted by this little garden shed, located on one side of the cottage.
The bulldozers got busy in November. It’s all history now, including the trees. And sometime in the next year or so, we’ll begin to welcome new neighbors to Hardin Valley.
huge sigh. i hate the loss of these old places.
ReplyDeleteDonna, It's good that you captured that when you did. Time marches on but I have such a fascination with old building of all kinds. I'm glad I got to see this.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's sad to me.
ReplyDeleteI always wonder what the story was behind someone leaving these old homes.
How sad that that cottage is gone and the trees too. I wonder why they take out trees in these new sub-divisions. I guess with all the equipment, roads etc. it must be done and they start from scratch. Progress. I think your discovery of the meaning of the name Hardin is interesting. There are hares in our daughter's new subdivision that was once open farm land. Their homes have been destroyed and they hop around the dirt and trucks and equipment looking for a place to live. Sad.
ReplyDeleteNew and exciting is the way to go?
ReplyDeleteI know we have to embrace progress in our growing communities but it's sad to see the old places torn down and huge homes built in their place. A prime example is the cozy cottage my parents lived in a few streets over from us which held many happy memories. After my father died and we sold it, the whole thing was bull dozed in no time for a monstrosity that doesn't fit in with the other cottages. I'm glad you could capture the modest grandeur of this place before it fell too, perhaps one day the new homeowners might like to see the home previously on their property.
ReplyDeleteFrom all the construction in our rural pocket village the last few years, many animals besides the hares have been displaced. It is sad for those of us who care.
Judith
I would have wanted to go in the place. I love houses like that. There is such history and it makes you wonder what happened.
ReplyDeleteThese kinds of scenes always make me think of the Joyce Kilmer poem, "The House With Nobody In It." Love your photos...glad you were able to do them before the demolition!
ReplyDeleteOh that makes me so sad.
ReplyDeleteit's always sad to me when old places like this have to be torn down. I drive by several run down places frequently and I like to imagine what they looked like in their younger years
ReplyDeleteHaving just gone through a similar set of circumstances I send my sympathies. You sound like you are taking it much, much better than I did... good for you! Why all the tree have to go each time this kind of thing happens still boggles my mind. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Beth P
Sad - but so nice to have captured it in photos. I always feel bad when the old must go for the new!
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
I always hate seeing old homes torn down. It's as if dreams are torn down with them.
ReplyDelete