Famous abandoned farmhouse becomes latest victim of Oregon wildfires which have consumed 36,000 acres
- A farmhouse sitting in the Oregon countryside has been burned to the ground
- Charles E. Nelson farmhouse which had stood for decades was consumed by wildfires
- The property was arguably one of the most photographed structures in the area
A beautiful old farmhouse in the Oregon countryside has become a victim of the state’s wildfires.
The Charles E. Nelson farmhouse had sat for decades in a field in the tiny village of Dufur, east of Portland.
The building was picture-postcard perfect among golden hills with two scraggly trees either side of the structure. However, those too have also succumbed to the elements.
The Oregonian suggests the old gray abandoned house, with its steep roof and dilapidated state may well have been one of the most photographed houses in Oregon.
A picturesque farmhouse sitting in the Oregon countryside has been burned to the ground. The Charles E. Nelson farmhouse had stood for decades was consumed by wildfires
The old farmhouse appears on a number of Instagram pages and is believed to be one of the most photographed structures in the area
For almost 80 years, the Charles E. Nelson House stood abandoned and alone – and now it is gone
On Tuesday, the farmhouse fell victim to a wildfire which has burned some 36,000 acres southeast of The Dalles and forced people to evacuate for safety.
Photographer John Clement of Kennewick, Washington, has been photographing the Nelson house over the seasons since the early 1980s.
‘I took a shot from my van window thinking I would come back at some point,’ he said to the Oregonian.
He then made a point to visit the location several times each year to see how it changed throughout the year.
‘The winter was the hardest because I wanted blizzard-type conditions,’ he says. ‘I watch the weather constantly for opportunities to capture what I see in my mind’s eye.’
‘It’s sad as I was planning another summer shoot this week,’ he says, ‘but now I’ll have to make the one I have do.’
Similar tinges of sadness were echoed on Instagram where countless images of the house exist.
‘Arguably one of the most photographed houses, it’s a shame. It will be weird to see a completely blank space there, and I’m glad I was able to see the area a good amount beforehand,’ wrote one person on Instagram.
‘I’m saddened that this once beautiful home has been destroyed by fire. And I’m thankful to have seen it just in time,’ said another.
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