Since I first started exploring and looking at photos of abandoned places, I wanted to visit Esther, AB. Esther is almost a ghost town and is on private land. Luckily I was with a local friend and we had permission to check it out.
Esther was established in the 1920's when the railroad came, and was named after the daughter of the postmaster. Esther never had more than a few dozen or so residents and today I think there are only a couple of people left. The railroad is long gone but the elevator lives on as the oldest surviving Alberta Wheat Pool elevator left in the province.
There is lots more to see and I would love to go back and spend more time taking photos and exploring but for now I was happy to be in Esther.
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| Nature taking over an old gas pump |
That first shot is iconic in feeling of the West. Beautiful shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks William, it definitely needs a return trip in the spring/summer!
DeleteThe black and white is a reminder of the “day.” Great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie, I just love b/w photos of these old places!
DeleteNice photos
ReplyDeleteThanks Adam!
DeleteGreat shots. But what the hell is that in the tree?
ReplyDeleteIt is the remains of a 1940's service station gas pump.
DeleteYep! Thanks Frank!
DeleteThanks, I would NEVER have even guessed that!
DeleteThese old desolate places are enticingly mysterious Jenn, mega photogenic too!
ReplyDeleteHi PDP, thanks! So many elevators are already gone, it's great to see one I haven't seen before in person.
DeleteWow! How fantastic to see this in person! I love the tall wheat barn but all your photos capture the deathly quiet of this forsaken place! Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine, a place like this should have some kind of historic status I think...but I think that of all old places lol.
DeleteThanks again Jenn. Keep up the good work. I always marvel at the buildings on the bare flat prairie, so far from anywhere, and the thought of hauling the lumber and materiel so far with a primitive truck or horse and wagon to build said buildings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Frank, it amazes me too, they were tough people those pioneers!
DeleteAnd of course the coolness of accessing an abandoned town on private land and sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteI am lucky to have met some really great people with the same interests as me.
DeleteI was going to ask too, what is that in the tree??? The photos are so lovely, that elevator shot makes it look so lonely out there! :)
ReplyDeleteHI Rain, LOL I should caption that photo eh? It's an old gas pump.
DeleteHa! Thanks for the caption, I wonder if the tree grew around it over the years!
Delete:) ahh the age old question...I think the gas pump was there first.
DeleteI love the old grain elevator!
ReplyDeleteThanks RedPat, me too! I have to see them all before they are gone.
DeleteLovely spot!
ReplyDeleteIt really it, thanks Steve! You need a shot of this elevator for the website.
DeleteWow, another cool place. Love the b&w, it works well with these desolate places you visit. I too wanted to know what was in the tree. At first I thought, no way, that can't be a phone booth. I read your comments and got the answer. It must be great to walk around these places and just click away.
ReplyDeleteHave fun exploring!
Thanks Bill, I could probably spend hours wandering around here!
DeleteThanks for the recent photos of home!!! I grew up there (literally down the road, the elevator was in the view of the kitchen window). I miss home and need to go back very soon!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I wish I had more photos. I am hoping to go back in the Spring. That would have been a wonderful view from the kitchen. :)
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