Auditorium
This was one of the first times I’d been brave enough to walk into an abandoned building to take some pictures. But I am glad I did: this place is boarded up now.
This place has an interesting history that involves millionaires, Postum, and planned communities. Wikipedia has this to say:
The rare motorist that happens to pass through the remote small town of Close City today may be unaware that, at the turn of the century, the town site was chosen as the original location of Post City, a model community and grand social experiment conceived by C. W. Post, an American breakfast cereal and foods manufacturer. In the early 1890s, Post developed a popular caffeine-free coffee substitute called Postum and later made a fortune on breakfast cereals such as Grape Nuts and Post Toasties. As Post’s wealth grew, his interests began to expand into other areas. One project that had always intrigued him was the creation of a planned community of model homes and industry. His success in the prepared foods industry provided the financial resources to make this dream a reality.
The Close City schoolhouse is two stories high; this auditorium is on the second floor. The building was in use from 1919 to 1965, when the school closed and students went to nearby Post, Texas, for school.
Close City School
Garza County, Texas
photographed 5.31.2010
Posted on November 13, 2013, in architecture, Photography and tagged 365 photo project, abandoned buildings, architecture, black and white photography, close city texas, melinda green harvey, monochrome, one day one image, photo a day, photography, post texas, texas. Bookmark the permalink. 12 Comments.
One Day | One Image 
Interesting story and great shot of dreams lost.
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Thank you, John. The auditorium seemed particularly symbolic of lost dreams, somehow.
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Smashing picture Melinda and an interesting post.
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Thanks What’s left of this town is less than 40 miles from where I’ve lived for 30 years, but I’d never even heard of it until 2010!
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I like your perspective and sepia tone on this photo. That looks like an old tin ceiling.
Amazon sell Postum, but it’s not made by Post anymore. And it ain’t cheap.
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Thanks – this was my first view of the auditorium, from the stairs.
And you’re right – Postum isn’t that affordable. But at least it sounds awful, so I don’t have to be too sad that I don’t want to spend that kind of money on it.
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This photograph evokes such memories and emotions. Thank you for sharing it.
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…and thank YOU for taking the time to comment!
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Always good to hear the back-story with shots like this. POV works well here looking up – makes for a powerful image, Melinda
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Thanks, Andy. It was an unusual first look at the room – coming up the stairs and then there it was!
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I like the PoV and processing too. This is a great picture, and so surprising to see the inside of some place on these pages, especially the second floor!
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The most surprising thing is that I was actually INSIDE this place: most of my shots of interiors were actually taken from outside, shooting through windows.
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