Greenwood

Greenwood

Rotting decorative corners make a home for birds. Just a bit of fading former glory.

My recent peregrination along the most southerly highway in British Columbia offered many delights. I am fascinated with old farms, mines and towns along the back roads I love to travel. Bittersweet feelings fill my head at times about the tremendous industry which goes into building dreams that eventually fall into decay and ruin. I marvel at how all that effort is so easily abandoned. But then that has always happened with civilization and someday our endeavours will merely be another mound to be explored by future archaeologists.

Mainstreet Greenwood, Saturday afternoon. Park anywhere.
Greenwood skyline
More skyline
It still works
What’s a Linely?
A busy moment. Gringo parked in front of liquor store under the old Sears sign. Sears: the
Amazon of the past.
A social opportunity
On a main street store door
The devil is in the details
City Hall and communal internet
Across the street
Good old growth wood
A faded dignity
The original, still-functioning fire hall appears to be a fire hazard itself
Lazier than flies on a warm tin door
Poor planning “Safety First”
There’s a newer hose truck inside… I hope
Old Spokey

This blog is a simple photo essay on the town of Greenwood. Once a bustling wealthy mining center with a smelter it is now a quiet, remote community struggling to stay alive. Photos of Greenwood are usually of its smelter and huge hideous slag piles. I chose to share a few minutes on a Saturday afternoon strolling around the main blocks of its downtown, where people lived. It typifies a lot of small North American communities stubbornly clinging to a time which was very different and is rightfully cherished. Have a look, maybe find an ice cream and get a tattoo. Then drive on.

An old store on main street was filled with ancient electric stoves, toasters and appliances. an odd and interesting collection.
Hot dog!
Flip toasters row on row
Original boxes
Signs of the times
Breakfast of Champions
Meat Draw
Look up.
You’ve always wanted a sailing ship tattooed on your…!

No child on earth was ever meant to be ordinary, and you can still see it in them, and they know it, too, but then the times get to them, and they wear out their brains learning what folks expect, and spend their strength trying to rise over those same folks.”

…Annie Dillard ‘The Living’