Bleak House Revisited by Chipka
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Description
My friend, Štepán has an intriguing habit of calling any sort of building a house. It’s logical in a sense, especially since English is his third language. Dutch, I think, is his second, and I suspect he learned it in the same way that he learned English—quite simply by picking it up. I thought of Štepán’s habit as I found myself stuck in a moment of boredom across the street from a scrap-yard. I’d spent the early part of the day with my father, moving dental equipment into some swanky, new office in a suburb I can scarcely remember. On the way back from that job, my father stopped at the scrap-yard for what odd pieces of metal he needed for whatever one would use odd pieces of metal for: truck repair, I think. We’d made similar stops before, and each time, he returned with rust-colored plates and odd bars of something like rebar. I’ve grown accustomed to seeing such things in their raw form and then discovering that they’ve been welded in complex patterns that speak of truck-repair on a budget.
As my father purchased his truck-fix metal, I took that opportunity to stretch my legs, smoke a cigarette, and try to capture a building that has held my attention since I first saw it upon my return to Chicago. It is—quite obviously—an abandoned apartment building, of a sort common in Chicago in the infant days of the 20th century. There are many such buildings scattered around the city and quite a large number of them stand in ill-repair on the South Side. I’d thought of my friend Štepán when I first saw this building and dubbed it “the bleak house” and in seeing it again, I thought of that distinct bit of Štepán-logic that dictates that any building (no matter what its size and purpose might be) is a house. If one were to apply Štepán-logic to downtown Chicago, then all of the skyscrapers there are simply very tall houses. I love that thought. It always makes me laugh. I also like the idea of Štepán shamelessly gawking at all of those tall houses as he walks in their collective shadow. He’s never been outside of Europe, and as he’s a native of Prague, skyscrapers aren’t exactly a part of his day-to-day experience, despite the fact that Prague boasts at least five of them—way out on the outskirts of the city. (They were built before Prague’s moratorium on skyline-ruining architecture.)
I don’t know the story behind South-Side-Chicago’s very own Bleak House, but I am intrigued by it. I’m sure there are ways to find out about it, and I’m also sure that eventually, someone will buy it and either tear it down or refurbish it. On a level it doesn’t matter to me, however; this house in its bleak and abandoned aspect lends an air of dignity to the area in which it stands. There is something haunted and haunting about it. Vacant lots surround it and so it’s easy to see from nearly every angle. In winter it looks like an evil place, ruled by tempestuous ghosts. In spring and summer it resembles something else. A house: one that resists the gang-graffiti that covers many surfaces in the area.
Every time I see it, I think of the name I’ve given it: The Bleak House and each time I do that, I think of Štepán, and what unexpected, astute, and heavily-accented observations he’d likely make. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he saw a documentary about this very building. He is addicted to documentaries, after all, which probably explains why he knows so much about some of the world’s most obscure topics. Hmmm…maybe I should send this picture to him and ask what he knows about this place. I won’t be surprised if he tells me its exact history and how many Czech families actually lived there, before eventually moving to Texas.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you're all having a great week.
Comments (26)
kgb224
Wonderful capture my friend.
NefariousDrO
That's a very cool photo. I mourn at the possibilities of such a wonderful building being neglected and rotting. It's so sad to see. Especially when I consider how much money is spent in the US building NEW buildings and laying NEW roads even as we neglect the ones we already have! We invested time, money, and effort into this at one time, is it really such a waste to simply keep it up? It is so sad to see what should be a proud matriarch reduced to something that reminds me all to much of Lavinia from that very depressing play by Shakespeare. But I digress. Superb photo, that is a fascinating building.
MagikUnicorn
Excellent this version
Roxam
Fantastic illustration and charming story. You have a marvelous father too, with his own style of ingenious artistry---so often we do not see the art and creativity through the practicality of a "thing".
beachzz
This building does have a wonderful sense of mystery about it. I love looking at them and wondering who lived there and why they're still empty. This on in particular is engrossing, sitting as it does all by itself. Stepan would be fun to walk with, listening to his take on this building. I'd love to hear him if you took him downtown, where those REALLY big houses are!!
bmac62
Štepán says house, you say apartment building and I think three story school building. Whatever it is, your easy going narrative draws me right in to speculate too. Like your saturated colors that lend an aire of mystery to the place...along with all the boarded up windows and doors. Wouldn't it be great to see what is inside? Wonder when it was last used? Wonder what clues may lay about neglected in the empty rooms. A trip to the nearest public library and a few well placed questions might yield just the info we'd like to know. Great job Chip.
Sepiasiren
your stuff always looks like dreamscapes and this especially -- love the treatment--the sky and ground colors this photo a surreal almost mystical air--all around just well done
whaleman
Along with Bill, I don't think it was an apartment (Why do they call them apartments when they are so close together anyway?). It may have been a school as Bill said, or perhaps a library considering the size and number of windows. You never know though, we once had a very old brick building in Edmonton that looked like a small house but it was once a technical school and later became an electrical substation with all equipment inside.
durleybeachbum
It doesn't look at all bleak in these colours! But it is very peculiar!
jmb007
superbe photo!!
helanker
Yeah. One could wonder who would build such a bleak "house" all alone on a field... and for what purpose. One could wonder. Awesome shot though. Hope your father found the right thing for his truck repairs :-)
MrsRatbag
I wonder why that one building alone remains in what was probably a whole street full of them; maybe it IS a ghost? I'll bet it looks really haunted at night when that one streetlamp in front of it is on... Great capture!
flavia49
fabulous photo and story! love your postwork!!
ShadowsNTime
Its a wonderful old place! Is that a bell tower on top? Or perhaps a widows walk? Whatever it is it brings those things to mind for me and also I visualize women scurrying about cooking and tending to daily chores. We have tons of beautiful old houses here that are just left sitting vacant for the gangs to strip and occupy and sometimes burn them down or the city takes them over and tears them down, it makes me both angry and sad...I live in a house thats over 100 years old and its falling apart because the owner just doesn't care, one day it will be on the chopping block too:-( My friend Marta Kubisova lives in Prague, she is a well known singer, actress and animal activist. If you like Czech music you should check her out.Wonderful postwork, gorgeous photo and as always very superb description.
Valentin
It looks weird, even spooky but very interesting.
lucindawind
wow the imagine is fabulous and of course your story is always entertaining
sandra46
Yes, it's a very bleak house, for sure as it is the area around it. I like the contrast between the very saturated color and the bleakness of the house and mangy lawn. We also have these bleak houses here around, and they're usually occupied by illegal immigrants.
KatesFriend
I love how green this scene is, not at all what one would expect for abandoned urban structures. Especially in a city like Chicago. In this way there is something reassuring and less cruel about this forlorn building. Of coarse, someone took care to cover up the windows and doorways, perhaps in the hope of returning to it someday. Maybe it is not entirely forgotten and unloved. The teetering old streetlight out front makes a perfect accent. Does it still work? Does the city still maintain it and the road though there is no one now to be guided by it. Maybe there is a colony of bees living there now. Bees love abandoned houses and buildings. They are quiet, protected, dry enough for their needs and good shelter for hibernation in the winter months. Of late some suspect that the disappearance of honey bees from their keepers is more due to them finding these welcoming environments where they can settle down away from humans and their industry. Places now far more common in these economic times.
auntietk
It's got such a presence, doesn't it? I hope you'll continue to shoot it off and on. It deserves a bit of documentation.
JaneEden
I just love your photography always Chip, very well captured indeed, a superb shot and postwork my friend!!! Hugs Jane xx
Alex_Antonov
Wow!
myrrhluz
Looking at this building, I thought of a children's book I read called "The Four Story Mistake". In it a house meant to be four stories, was only three with a cupola built on the top as an attempt to make up for the missing floor. The book is light and not at all bleak, but I am reminded of it not only for the little room at the top, but also for the fascination the children had with a building and it's history and the imaginative stories they made around it. Many stories could be made about this "house". Though a plain box in shape, it has such interesting windows and blank spaces. What is hidden inside the empty stare of those windows? It has a very bleak and solitary look. It sits among the trees that have grown old with it, and remembers. Excellent image and narrative. Tomorrow I'm going to New Braufels to look for a foot bridge. New Braunfels was mostly settled by Germans, but who knows, maybe some Czech families moved there too. In the hot lands of Texas maybe I'll see a house which shares memories of a family with your Bleak House in Chicago.
watapki66
Very cool shot!
groegnitram
one of these views making me feeling lost between trying to get a hold somewhere or on something and standing on an open field being without any hold. it is the solid and apparently final look in which this building appears to me. quite wonderfully seen, a beautifully thought and feeling provoking look. and thanks for dropping by at mr. nose, chip, wishing you a fine week ahead!
icerian
Wow, like in the tale. It seems to be very special house. I like it. 5+
sawade
Hi Chip, you know, from time to time I stroll through your gallery. It must not all done in a week. We have time. Today in the morning I found this picture. The strong colors. The house with the blind windows. Like a scene of Stephen King. But Bleak House. The novel of Charles Dickens. Who came alive through the newest (translated) book of Dan Simmons. A great picture, and many feelings came out, seeing this, best regards Bernd