In our time together, Emily and I have embarked upon many journeys along U.S. state highways. What we end up seeing along these often-neglected byways leaves us feeling sorrowful and longing for the comfort and familiarity of home. These trips often unveil the remnants of bygone eras, countless abandoned houses standing as eerie witnesses to lives once lived.

As we whizz past them at highway speeds, my overactive and curious mind can’t help but ponder about the people who once inhabited these forsaken homes. My imagination struggles to guess at the stories that have now been lost to the sands of time. These dilapidated structures are reminiscent of untold histories, hidden behind the peeling paint and crumbling walls, waiting for someone to listen.

Abandoned houses are enigmatic structures. Whether overgrown with foliage or even barely standing upright on their foundations, they draw our wonder with inexplicable magnetism. Our imaginations are captured by the eerie silence they exude, sparking further curiosity about the lives that once thrived within those walls.

These abandoned homes serve to remind us of our own mortality, old testaments to the fragility of life itself. All that we hold dear, everything we build, and everything we love, will one day be forgotten in time. They remind me how we must cherish the moments we have with our loved ones, hold tightly onto our memories, and make the most of the time we have.

Sadly, most passersby overlook these abandoned homes, especially when they’ve been vacant for many years. Clearly, these houses were once homes to families and individuals within thriving communities, each with their own unique experiences and memories. Who knows now what events caused these homes to be abandoned and forgotten? These are stories that may never be told, and I must live with this sad truth.

Perhaps, one day, civic or domestic historians will attempt to craft possible stories of the people who lived in these rotting shells of residences, reimagining their dreams, struggles, and aspirations. What conversations took place around their dinner tables? What secrets were whispered in their bedrooms? What joys and sorrows were experienced within these walls? Of course, most of these stories, at least in their truest forms, will likely remain untold, buried beneath the weight of Nature’s reclamation.

The reasons that drive people to abandon their homes are as varied as the lives they leave behind. Some may have left in search of greener pastures or better opportunities. Sadly, many others could have been forced to flee due to natural disasters or economic hardships. Most tragically, it could’ve been the death of a loved one that made the house too difficult to stay in, because of the memories constantly being relived.

Within every story that remains hidden, there’s a reservoir of human experience that could teach us invaluable lessons. Whatever the reason may be for their abandonment, it’s clear that these houses once held a significant place in someone’s life. So, it took something substantial to leave them in this state.

As the stories of these forgotten homes remain untold, they become part of an ever-growing repository of obscure history. The longer these stories remain buried, the more difficult it becomes to uncover the truth behind the lives that once filled those empty rooms. While many of their stories may be forever lost to time, it’s essential to appreciate their existence, nonetheless. This is why Emily and I photograph them, so we can honor the past and the memories of those who came before us, ensuring that their stories aren’t entirely forgotten.

~ Amelia Desertsong