My friend Eileen and I were on our way to Cloverdale, IN to photograph flowers at Hilltop Orchids (which will get its own post later) and we passed through New Winchester along the way. There are some deserted homes there that just beg to be photographed and we were there to oblige.
This place is at the corner of highways 36 and 75. I’ve been by there several times and always wanted to stop. This was the time. That building to the left was probably a convenience store and perhaps a gas station. A house is to the right.
Buildings like this seem so much more attractive to photographers than homes presently occupied and taken care of. Perhaps part of the attraction is that lives were shaped in these places at one time and what happened to the people remains a mystery.
I find that the way I shoot, the windows remain largely opaque giving only a hint of what is inside. Technically it would not be a problem to show inside detail but this is a metaphor for me – looking through the window into the past and the past remains a mystery.
Or a mostly blank wall.
This place is out in the country.
Who slept there? Who dreamed their dreams there?
Again a wall, and opaque windows.
Who hung their coats there? I don’t know.
Spirit and Seeing 
Great shots of this old house, I love pics of old buildings and structures. I bet there’s some great history there too.
Kieran, read Christal Steele’s comment about the convenience store. I was very surprised.
I really like the second place. I want to “see” more!
Barry, I can’t believe this coincidence. We have to talk! And how I wish I had gone with you guys today! The convenience store in the 1st picture was owned by Norm’s grandpa. We spent many hours in that store. In fact, once upon a time, before we were married, Norm and I painted the place. That was probably the last time it was painted. 🙂 There is a long history to this place, and there has been some dismay in the family over its demise. It’s interesting though how many times we’ve passed it and never considered taking pictures of this little piece of history. I love all of your shots, and I’m glad to know about the orchid place. I get the best ideas from you! Hopefully I’ll soon be back out taking pictures again…..it just won’t be of any tigers!! 🙂
Christal;
I do hope you are feeling better.
Eileen Lurker and I did the trip yesterday. We would love to talk with Norm and you about this place.
I was listening to John Corigliano’s Hallucinations which has lots of quotes from other classical music and there was one little three note sequence that I knew I had heard many times but couldn’t place it and it came to me it might be from Swan of Tuonela. So I was listening to that rather mystical piece while I was reading your mail. Eerie, eh?
Barry
I lived in New Winchester as a kid back then and Larry and Norman Steele’s grandma was the switchboard operator and the 1st picture is Hobart Steele’s General Store where my grandpa got a pint of strawberry ice cream every day.
I’m glad this post brought back good memories for you William.
Great shots Barry. I’m a FB friend of Eileen’s and saw these through her post. I take pictures of old barns so I felt a connection in these house pictures.
I also like how, through your comments, you brought these deserted buildings back to life in that they once were homes for people. Good work.
Kenneth Leonard
I liked your pictures of the old house. I still live just north of New Winchester and my parents use to own a store across US 36 to the east called Leonards General Store. I have a lot of great memories of this house and of the town of New Winchester. The General store burnt down a few years ago and a new building took its place. The store that was in front of this old house has been torn down.
We lived next door to Homer Lenoard’s General store back in the day… late 1950s
I was raised in New Winchester, The old store in which you photographed, was owned by a man everyone called Hoby, My Dad some others would go up and hang out at this store and play cards. The store mainly sold candy,cigarrettes, pop that I remember. Of course I was young so I personally only went in to buy Candy and Pop. But yes if you were a guy, wanted to play cards, talk and wanted an evening out. This was there hangin out place. The store mentioned above, Leonards General Store was diagonally accross the road from this pictured one, It had several different owners to it. Last owners I personally remember before moving away was the Harmons. But the one pictured was owned by Hoby, I guess I was to young to remember a last name. But I am sure my Siblings would remember more so than I do cause they were quite a lot older than I am and some of them went to Hoby’s to play cards too. I loved my childhood in New Winchester, and family still lives where I was raised there.
Lillie,
Hi, I was raised in New Winchester too in the 70s. I remember a Lillie that I caught the bus with at the Smith house on the S/W corner of us36 & sr75. It’s been quite a long time since then!
Randy
I was one of the Smith’s in that house in the 50s 😉
Good times.
Wow. I used to live next to Leonard’s/Taylor’s/Harmon’s store in the 60’s & 70’s. I worked at the store for about 3 years until it burned down. The pictured store is on the N/W corner of US36 & SR75. I remember many a night hanging out at “Hoby’s” after playing basketball at the old school yard.
I’d give an eye tooth for some pictures of Leonard’s store. Didn’t have the foresight to take any while I worked there… When I was 5 or so my Dad would give me a nickle to buy an ice cream.
I remember Hoby walking down 36 to the store in the late afternoon with his cane-chair practically every day. Many a Euchre game was played and pop drank there as I was growing up.
If y’all have any pictures you are willing to share, please email me at jr@vlnet.us.
Back in the 60s my Dad had a big garden in town and I remember going to the house pictured there. There were a couple of older ladies (sisters perhaps) that lived there and my Dad would take them vegetables in the summer. I think one of the ladies names was Daisy and I remember my Mom telling me that there used to be a telephone switchboard there way back.
The store was owned by my Great-Grandfather, Hobart Steele. I remember going there with my Grandpa to get lunchmeat when I was a kid. Great-Granpa Steele had me convinced there was a cow in the back…he’d make “moo-ing” sounds. Scared me to death. I couldn’t have been much more than 3 or 4 at the time. Funny the things one remembers. I was googling “New Winchester” and was so pleased to see these.
I’m glad it was there for you Devon. Christal Steele saw and said ” Barry, we need to talk.” That place was an heirloom and I’m sorry that it is gone.
back in the day Granny Steele used to let us watch her use the switchboard. We lived next door between the Steele house and Home Leanard’s General Store. grandpa always got strawberry ice cream at Hobart’s store.
William Smith, I had no idea grandpa John had a sweet tooth for strawberry ice cream!
Indeed he did. With no teeth it made sense I guess. I can still see him sitting on those wire back ice cream chairs on Steele’s store porch (gone in the photo of course).