Friday, February 18, 2011

Round Robins: Door Number Three

Doors are fascinating story tellers, whether grand and glorious or hanging in ruins. All are keepers of secrets, and if you're curious - like me - it's a struggle to keep oneself from trying the handles on every one of them.

This one was irresistible:



I stumbled upon it while camping in the Adirondacks. Built into the side of a hill, it is virtually invisible until you're right in front of it.

What's inside?

Step past the smiling guardian and you find yourself in a cold, dank, earthen room perhaps six feet by six. Before you is a wall that is sprouting roots. To your left and right are circular metal tunnels, four to five feet in diameter. It is too dark to see far inside them. A camera flash reveals that the tunnels are shallow, holding only accumulated debris and a few dusty bottles of wine.

This could once have been an ice house or a wine cellar, but judging from the gatekeeper's armload of produce I think it more likely to have been a root cellar. Whatever its use, it was pure magic.

And then there are these:



The tall doors leading to the balconies are on the top floor of the S.J. Payne Building in historic Wabash Indiana. It was built by Sam Payne in 1989* (*correction - 1898) as a combination furniture store and funeral parlor. (Creepy to us, a common combo back then.) The town is still talking about the party he threw there to celebrate its completion.

Through those doors passed the rich and powerful, accomplished craftsmen, smiling newlywed shoppers, mourners and the ghosts of their dead.

Last and least, here's the entry to the barn next door:

Free Beer

It's a great old barn. But sadly, "Tomorrow" never comes.


You'll find more great doors at The Round Robins Photo Challenge.

9 comments:

Erin said...

You're right, that door is magical! I would love to find that door in my wanderings, like Mary in The Secret Garden. Great pictures!

Thyra said...

Yes it's really magical that first door. You wonder what's inside! Looks like an Old Norse god, like Thor!
Grethe ´)

Karen Funk Blocher said...

I love the first one; it's like a door to Faerie! On the second one, you don't really mean 1989, do you? The third one looks great in black and white. Well done!

Jama said...

I love that first door too! it's so beautifully carved.

Peg said...

Ooooh, that first door is enchanting. And I love old barns and houses and their doors and windows. Three great pics and stories.

Monica said...

That first door is beautiful! What a find. =) All the photos were of interest to me.

Suburban Girl said...

LOVE that first door. Where in the Adirondacks? We vacation up there frequently and I am wondering if I hiked right past it. LOL.

MyMaracas said...

Rebecca - It's at Camp Driftwood, Indian Lake, NY. Hope you find it!

Unknown said...

Love your first and last pic.