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forgotten indiana project by Christopher Crawford

I grew up in Fort Wayne, the second largest city in Indiana. All of my life I have been fascinated by the simple beauty of the rural areas of northeast Indiana that surround the city. Most of these photographs were made in Allen County but many were made in other parts of northeast Indiana such as Huntington and Whitley Counties. No other fine art photographer that I know of has worked so extensively in this area. Most claim that Indiana is boring, empty, and not worth photographing. I have never felt that way. This was my home for most of my life, and these are the places I grew up with.

210 Photographs

 

abandoned farm house in huntington county, indiana near interstate 69 in winter with snow on the ground. county road 900s.

 

Abandoned church on State Road 37 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. White wooden church in Allen County, Indiana on Maysville Road. Steps lead to the old wood doors, flanked by trees. A bell still hangs in the belfry.

 

abandoned 1946 Chevy in front of a barn and windmill on a farm in rural Allen County, Indiana on Yohne Road

 

foggy landscape with sunset in allen county, indiana on Yohne Road

 

White chicken coop barn on an Amish farm in Allen County, Indiana. Winter landscape with snow on the ground

 

old white wedding dress hanging in the attic of an abandoned farm house on Maysville Road near Fort Wayne in Allen County, Indiana. Snow covers the floor of the attic

 

tree with a sign nailed to it outside a fundamentalist church on Taylor Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Sin has an awful cost, its repent or pay!church

 

One room schoolhouse in Besancon, Indiana along old US 30 near New Haven in Allen County

 

clothesline pole shaped like a cross in front of an abandoned garage in rural allen county, indiana near besancon and new haven

 

foggy cornfield in winter with a frozen puddle in the foreground along Yohne Road in Allen County, Indiana near the National Serv-All Landfill

 

abandoned farm house on Lower Huntington Road just outside the city of fort wayne in Allen County, Indiana with rutted driveway

 

old rotting wooden rowboat in the woods covered in fall leaves in Allen County, Indiana near Fort Wayne. belonged to stephen perfect.

 

abandoned brick one room schoolhouse in allen county, indiana near the town of besancon and east of new haven. the road splits to go around the front and back of the building.

 

folding lawn chair on the front porch of an abandoned farm house in rural allen county, indiana. Pleasant Center Road

 

kitchen of an abandoned house in allen county, indiana near the fort wayne airport in winter. Cabinets and sink.

 

interior of an abandoned house on Smith Road near the Fort Wayne airport in allen county, indiana showing pipes on the wall. stovepipe

 

interior of an abandoned house on Smith Road near the Fort Wayne airport in winter looking into the bathroom. allen county, indiana

 

old wooden pier with an antique metal patio chair reflected in the water of goose lake in whitley county, indiana

 

drive in theatre screen in dekalb county indiana. Auburn-Garrett Drive-In

 

old rusty metal patio chairs in front of a large barn and small weathered wood shed on a farm in allen county, indiana

 

An abandoned white farmhouse in Huntington County, Indiana near Warren with dramatic clouds in the sky. The house is a two story house with a porch.

 

abandoned brick one room schoolhouse in allen county, indiana near the town of besancon and east of new haven. the road splits to go around the front and back of the building. foggy day in winter

 

interior of the kitchen of an abandoned farmhouse in allen county, indiana in the winter. The sink and medicine cabinet are still there, with shampoo in the cabinet and curtains on the window.

 

burned out window, saint mary's catholic church in fort wayne, indiana. The church was hit by lightning and burned down

 

flock of sheep in a field next to an old barn in rural allen county, indiana

 

concrete silo with metal steps on Yohne road in rural southwest Allen County, Indiana

 

back door of abandoned house in waynedale fort wayne, indiana. Stairs are gone so door floats above ground

 

sign along interstate 65 north of lousiville in southern indiana that says "You have a Experation Date. Trust Jesus"

 

abandoned brick schoolhouse on Smith Road in allen county, indiana in winter with snow

 

old cast iron bathtub in front of an old abandoned garage on a farm in allen county, indiana

 

rusty metal sign on a weathered wood barn door in allen county, indiana. the sign says Indiana 1940 Weight Tax

 

windows covered in chickenwire on old white chicken coop built by the amish in allen county, indiana

 

toilet in a barn surrounded by tall weeds and trees, allen county, indiana

 

hiding place tree in fall. The tree on the campus of IPFW in fort wayne has a large opening at the bottom that looks like a cave. Indiana University - Purdue University fort wayne

 

Apple Tree and window on abandoned farmhouse in allen county indiana south of waynedale

 

boat on the beach at lake james in pokagon state park, stueben county, indiana

 

abandoned brick one room schoolhouse on barkley road allen county indiana

 

Trees on Yohne Road in a storm, allen county, indiana landscape with soybeans in the foreground

 

landscape in stueben county indiana with hills and dramatic clouds and cornfield

 

swamp in a nature preserve in Stueben County, Indiana near Fremont, indiana in steuben county. sunset sky reflected in the water

 

1946 chevrolet door handle

 

Abandoned farm house on Minnich Road, allen county, Indiana

 

Barred Door on an abandoned commercial building in the inner city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The word "Open" is painted by hand in a messy scrawl on the door behind the bars

 

basement door of abandoned farm house on washinton center road in allen county, indiana. Vines grow across the entrance and weeds cover the steps

 

metal chairs and abandoned house, till road, allen county, indiana. lillies grow next to the chairs

 

Windows on an abandoned house on Washington Center Road in rural Allen County, Indiana. There are dreamcatchers in the windows and vines covering the house.

 

inside the abandoned farmhouse on county road 900S near Warren, Indiana along interstate 69 in Huntington County

 

back door of an abandoned farmhouse on Till Road in rural northwest Allen County, Indiana in winter with snow.

 

electrical outlet with an old braided cord plugged into it with a sprayer nozzle laying on top. On the side of an abandoned farmhouse summer kitchen in rural Allen County, Indiana

 

a group of lonely trees in the middle of a field after the sun has set, with the moon visible in the sky. This is on Yohne Road in Allen County, Indiana near the National Serv-All landfill

 

abandoned Sears Roebuck department store at the Southtown Mall in Fort Wayne, Indiana shortly before the mall was demolished

 

corn scattered on a rotting log in my backyard in Indiana

 

three trees huddle together in the snow on a foggy February day along Hoagland Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana. Landscape photo of a winter fog scene

 

a lonely tree sits in a flooded cornfield on a rainy, foggy winter day along Branstrator Road in rural southwest Allen County, Indiana. Foggy winter landscape.

 

An abandoned garage surrounded by snow and fog on a winter day. Located on Monroeville Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana. A large tree stands next to the weathered garage.

 

a stand of trees is visible through the mist across a plowed cornfield in this landscape scene on a rainy and foggy February day along Branstrator Road in southwest Allen County, Indiana

 

An old brick commercial building in Hoagland, Indiana. The building houses the Hoagland Hardware and Farm Implements Store. This is the side of the building showing the whitewashed wall with a faded advertisement painted on it. A door hovers above the ground with no stairs.

 

The door in the steeple tower of an old abandoned brick church at the corner of Hoagland Road and Clayton Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana. The door is an old weathered wood panel door that is painted blue. A window with blue trim pierces the wall next to the blue door.

 

One of the large garage doors in the old abandoned brick church at the corner of Hoagland Road and Clayton Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana. The door is made of old blue painted wood siding. A green light with a large reflector hangs above the door. This is the newer addition to the side of the old church.

 

Abandoned brick church building at the corner of Hoagland Road and Clayton Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana. The church has been converted into a barn or garage. The crossroads is visible in the foreground and the church is reflected in a large puddle of water across the street. The windows are boarded up with gray metal sheeting. The sky is full of dark storm clouds and it rained right after I made the photograph.

 

Soybean field next to a wheat field in southwest Allen County, Indiana on Ellison Road

 

Abandoned chicken coop in Allen County, Indiana on Aboite Center Road with fall leaves on the ground

 

lonely stream with single tree along the banks in a cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Lindenwood Cemetery

 

A wooden shed covered in vines with weathered wood siding on an abandoned farm in Allen County, Indiana. A broken window faces out from the side of the little shack.

 

old weathered wood clothespins hang on a clothesline on an abandoned farm in rural Allen County, Indiana.

 

an abandoned farmhouse on Feighner Road in rural southwest Allen County, Indiana. The slate roof is covered in lightning rods, one of which has a weathervane on it. The house is covered in asphalt shingle siding.

old rusty metal hotel chairs in a field of tall grass and clovers in allen county, Indiana

 

the house with the dress in the attic. abandoned farm house in winter near fort wayne in allen county, indiana on Maysville Road

 

door on an abandoned farm house on minnich road in Allen County, Indiana near Hoagland

 

shower door with curtains in an abandoned farm house on Maysville Road in allen County, Indiana near Fort Wayne

 

sign posted on a tree next to a fundamentalist church on Taylor Street in fort wayne, Indiana that says you are on your way to hell or heaven, proceed with caution. landscape in winter

 

Rusted metal silo in the rain on an abandoned farm on Lower Huntington Road in allen county, indiana

 

rusty old metal hotel chairs in snow next to an old white house in rural Allen County, Indiana

 

abandoned barn with metal roof in the middle of a field in ohio with storm clouds in the sky

 

entrance door of an abandoned brick one room schoolhouse on winchester road in Adams County, Indiana

 

abandoned barn on Wells County Rd 1100N in Wells County, Indiana with snow on the ground

 

two abandoned barns in winter with snow on the ground. Allen county, indiana near the fort wayne airport on Smith Road

 

interior of an abandoned house in winter looking out the back door from the kitchen. Allen County, Indiana

 

Abandoned barn in winter with basketball hoop and stairway. Allen county, Indiana

 

drive in theatre screen and parking lot in dekalb county indiana. Auburn-Garrett Drive-In

 

white plastic patio chairs leaned against an old weathered barn in allen county, indiana

 

deck chairs lined up in the snow along the shore of lake james in pokagon state park, stueben county, indiana

 

abandoned farm house with winding driveway along the Airport Expressway near fort wayne international airport in allen county, indiana

 

abandoned brick one room schoolhouse in allen county, indiana near the town of besancon and east of new haven. the road splits to go around the front and back of the building. a lone tree and road signs can be seen at the crossroads.

 

House on Ferguson Rd. Abandoned farmhouse in allen county, Indiana near fort wayne international airport. The original siding is visible under tar paper that covered it. Lightning rods are visible on the roof.

 

old metal lawn chairs or patio chairs next to old white house

 

foggy winter landscape with bare trees in rural allen county, indiana. Yohne Road near the National Serv-All landfill

 

living room in an abandoned farm house in allen county, indiana

 

weathered wood door and boarded up window on an abandoned summer kitchen in the winter. Allen county, indiana on winters road

 

old rusty metal patio chairs, in front of grandpa's old house in the rain

 

two white metal chairs on the back porch of a white farmhouse in allen county, indiana with pumpkins on the steps and picnic table

 

old gas tank from a truck next to a red barn, with an old work glove stuck on the gas tank's hoses

 

abandoned shack or toolshed in the woods allen county, indiana near fort wayne. Aboite center road in front of an old schoolhouse.

 

abandoned brick one room schoolhouse on barkley road allen county indiana

 

chairs and old mirror in abandoned barn in allen county, indiana

 

concrete silo with metal bands around it on Yohne Road in rural southwest allen county, Indiana

 

sign posted on a tree next to a fundamentalist church on Taylor Street in fort wayne, Indiana that says you are on your way to hell or heaven, proceed with caution. landscape in winter

 

window of an abandoned summer kitchen on winters road in allen county, indiana. Curtains in the window and snow on the roof

 

old sign leaned up against a shed behind the goose lake resort restaurant in whitley county, indiana. the sign says "Goose Lake Resort" and has an arrow

 

rowboat on the beach at loon lake in indiana

 

Abandoned red chickencoop barn in Allen County, Indiana on Aboite Center Road

 

cows in a field in stueben county, indiana

 

red barn in stueben county, indiana with blue sky and tall grass.

 

chimney and wood shingles on roof of an abandoned farm house in huntington county, indiana near warren

 

one room school house, besancon indiana in the rain

 

light pole on an abandoned farm in rural allen county, indiana

 

sprayer nozzle hanging from a window ledge on an abandoned farmhouse in New Haven, Indiana. Weathered wood siding and window.

 

boarded up storefront on main street in fort wayne, indiana

 

summer kitchen in rural allen county in winter. The little building is propped up on blocks, hillbilly style.

 

Abandoned farm house on Minnich Road in Allen County, Indiana showing a sagging door and boarded up windows

 

window in the front of the old abandoned farmhouse near County Road 900s along interstate 69 in Huntington County, Indiana

 

old rusty metal chairs sit in tall grass by an abandoned barn under a basketball hoop

 

foggy landscape with lone tree in the middle of a cornfield in winter in allen county, indiana. Lima Road near Huntertown

 

big white barn on a farm on Bass Road in rural Allen County, Indiana with rutted driveway going past it. Lightening rods rise from the peak of the roof

 

The front door of the old abandoned farmhouse near County Road 900s along interstate 69 in Huntington County, Indiana

 

an old toothbrush stuck into the door frame of an abandoned summer kitchen behind a farmhouse in Allen county, Indiana on Pleasant Center road

 

the side of the abandoned fort wayne mirror works building on Broadway in Fort Wayne, Indiana has an old Pepsi-Cola advertisement painted across the side of it

 

the old Fort Wayne Mirror Works building on Broadway in Fort Wayne, Indiana. There is an old Pepsi-Cola advertisement painted across the side of the building next to the brick chimney. There is a clock on the front of the building over the front door. The street sign showing the corner of Broadway and Home Avenue is visible in front of the building

 

outside of the weathered wood door with a curtain in the window on the side of an abandoned summer kitchen in rural allen county, indiana

 

a stand of trees is visible through the mist across a plowed cornfield in this landscape scene on a rainy and foggy February day along Branstrator Road in southwest Allen County, Indiana

 

a lonely quonset hut used as a barn sits in the middle of a foggy field in Wells County, Indiana just south of Allen County's South County Line Road

 

An outhouse and a small shed sit side by side among a group of trees on a farm in southwest Allen County, Indiana. The outhouse and shed are veiled in heavy fog and the ground is covered in snow. A barn is visible through the haze in the background.

 

A small abandoned shack or house sits beside a tree in a snow covered field on a very foggy day in winter. Located on Monroeville Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana.

 

an old brick building in the small town of Monroeville, Indiana has a large American flag painted on the side of the building. The word United is painted above a park bench next to the flag. A row of arched windows lines the top floor of the old commercial building which houses a pizza parlor. Located on Indiana State Road 101, which is Monroeville's main street.

 

an old brick building in the small town of Monroeville, Indiana has a large American flag painted on the side of the building. The word United is painted above a park bench next to the flag. A row of arched windows lines the top floor of the old commercial building which houses a pizza parlor. Located on Indiana State Road 101, which is Monroeville's main street.

 

Abandoned brick church building at the corner of Hoagland Road and Clayton Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana. The church has been converted into a barn or garage. The crossroads is visible in the foreground and a utility pole sits in front of the tin roofed building. The windows are boarded up with gray metal sheeting. The sky is full of dark storm clouds and it rained right after I made the photograph.

 

The Quimby Village Theater on Blufton Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana sits abandoned. The sign has been removed from the marque, and the parking lot pavement is cracked and full of potholes.

 

An old wooden outhouse behind a barn in northwest Allen County, Indiana. The buildings are surrounded by tall grass. Both the barn and the outhouse have metal roofs.

 

road closed signs and barricades leaning against a quonset hut at a county highway garage in Allen County, Indiana. Located on Yohne Road

 

Red metal motel chair in front of an old white farm house in rural southwest Allen County, Indiana on Aboite Center Road. An old Westinghouse window air conditioner is shown on the house.

 

A barn with a wooden silo on an abandoned farm on Feighner Road in southwest Allen County, Indiana. The barn has a slate roof.

 

Quanset hut used as a barn on an abandoned farm on Feighner Road in rural Allen County, Indiana.

 

Victorian style gingerbread decorations around a window frame on a little building at an abandoned farm on Feighner Road in rural Allen County, Indiana.

 

kitchen wall in abandoned house on the northeast edge of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Someone had written BYE BYE in crayon on the wall.

 

 

 

Christopher Crawford
Fort Wayne, IN

chris@chriscrawfordphoto.com

 

chriscrawfordphoto.com
and its contents are ©2008
by Christopher Crawford

 

outside of the weathered wood door with a curtain in the window on the side of an abandoned summer kitchen in rural allen county, indiana on winters road

 

inside of the weathered wood door with a curtain in the window on the side of an abandoned summer kitchen in rural allen county, indiana on winters road

 

Old School turned into apartments in Rushville, Indiana. This is the second floor hallway looking toward the main starcase

 

Bicycles stand by the stairs in the first floor hall of an Old School turned into apartments in Rushville, Indiana

 

stairway looking down at lonely stroller on the lower floor of an old school that has been turned into apartments in rushville, indiana

 

heating oil tank next to a barn in southeast Allen County, Indiana

 

barn and silo next to an old greenhouse on Barkley Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana

 

cross shaped clothesline pole. cruciform clothesline pole in front of a barn in the snow. allen county, indiana near fort wayne

 

small cemetery in rural allen county, indiana with 19th century headstones

 

Old wooden pier with a metal hotel chair on the end on a foggy day at Goose Lake in Whitley County, Indiana

 

abandoned farm house on Lower Huntington Road just outside the city of fort wayne in Allen County, Indiana with rutted driveway

 

old rotting wooden rowboat in the woods in winter covered in snow. Allen county, indiana. Belonged to stephen perfect.

 

abandoned brick one room schoolhouse in northwest Allen County

 

abandoned farmhouse behind a cornfield in wells county, indiana in winter. hazy weather with snow on the ground. Wells County Road 1100N

 

french doors with a bullet hole in an abandoned house in rural allen county, indiana on Smith Road near the Fort Wayne Airport

 

two lonely trees and a silo on a hill on an abandoned farm on smith road near the Fort Wayne airport in allen county, indiana. winter with snowy landscape

 

bicolor cat in front of the back door of an abandoned white farmhouse in allen county, indiana

 

entrance to the Auburn-Garrett Drive-In Theatre with gate and ticket booth

 

drive in theatre screen and speaker stand in dekalb county indiana. Auburn-Garrett Drive-In

 

trees in a foggy landscape with sunset in allen county, indiana on Yohne Road

 

abandoned shack or toolshed in allen county, indiana near fort wayne. Aboite center road in front of an old schoolhouse.

 

weathered door with curtain over the window on an abandoned summer kitchen in rural allen county, indiana in winter

 

foggy landscape with lone tree in the middle of a cornfield in winter in allen county, indiana. Lima Road near Huntertown

 

Abandoned farm house, Minnich Road, allen county, Indiana

 

old rusty metal patio chairs, in front of grandpa's old house in the rain

 

doors of the Odd Fellows Hall in Dunfee, Indiana with light above door.

 

mirror on an old 1946 chevrolet sedan

 

basement window in a brick ivy covered farmhouse in whitley county, indiana along county line road

 

frog shaped rock outside the hanson stone quarry in fort wayne, indiana

 

hiding place tree in fall. The tree has a large opening in the bottom that looks like a cave. located on the IPFW campus in fort wayne. indiana university - purdue university fort wayne

 

abandoned brick one room schoolhouse on barkley road allen county indiana

 

basketball hoop on an abandoned farm in rural allen county, indiana

 

crybaby bridge in southeast allen county. abandoned iron bridge over the saint marys river

 

tree in a puddle of water next to the flooded saint marys river south of fort wayne in allen county, indiana. landscape

 

door of the Odd Fellows Hall in Dunfee, Indiana

 

old barn in rural whitley county built on a hill overlooking the field. has H. Hinen written in the shingles

 

Shack in the woods in allen county, indiana on Aboite Center Road

 

Trees on Yohne Road, landscape in allen county, indiana in summer with yellow flowers

 

vines on the side of a red barn

 

red barn in stueben county, indiana with blue sky and dramatic clouds and cornfield

 

swamp in a nature preserve in Stueben County, Indiana near Fremont, Indiana in steuben county. Lone tree sticking out of the water with reflection

 

closet with hangers and an artificial plant in an abandoned farm house, New Haven, Indiana, allen county

 

Window, Abandoned House, Till road in allen County, Indiana

 

hiding place tree in winter. The tree has a large opening in the bottom that looks like a cave. located on the campus of IPFW, indiana university - purdue university fort wayne

 

basketball hoop on the side of an abandoned barn on Till Road in rural allen county indiana with snow on the ground in winter

 

broken out window in the side of the old abandoned farmhouse along interstate 69 near County Road 900S in Huntington County, Indiana near Warren.

 

old rusty shovel with vines growing up it

 

door of a white abandoned barn in rural northwest Allen County, Indiana. Photographed in winter with snow on the ground.

 

abandoned Kohl's department store at the Southtown Mall in Fort Wayne, Indiana shortly before the mall was demolished

 

a statue of the virgin mary stands in front of an old man's house in Dunfee, Indiana on the Whitley County side of county line road.

 

the old Fort Wayne Mirror Works building on Broadway in Fort Wayne, Indiana. There is an old Pepsi-Cola advertisement painted across the side of the building next to the brick chimney. There is a clock on the front of the building over the front door

 

an icy water puddle sits in the middle of a harvested corn field on a rainy, foggy winter day in allen county, Indiana along Branstrator Road

 

A line of trees stretches out into the distance on a foggy snowy February day along Hoagland Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana. Landscape photo of a winter fog scene

 

An outhouse and a small shed sit side by side among a group of trees on a farm in southwest Allen County, Indiana. The outhouse and shed are veiled in heavy fog and the ground is covered in snow. Trees are visible through the haze in the background.

 

A bulldozer sits alone in a snow covered field along Monroeville Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana. It is a very foggy day in winter.

 

An old building at the corner of South Street and Main Street in the small town of Monroeville, Indiana. This old brick storefront building is home to a pizzaria. The date on the medallion above the door in the corner of the building is 1898. The upper floor has arched windows and the lower wall has a large American flag painted on it to show the owner's patriotism.

 

One of the large garage doors in the old abandoned brick church at the corner of Hoagland Road and Clayton Road in rural southeast Allen County, Indiana. The door is made of old blue painted wood siding.

 

A narrow window on the steeple tower of an abandoned brick church at the corner of Hoagland Road and Clayton Road in southeast Allen County, Indiana. The pointed arch window is boarded up with grey metal sheeting.

 

one room brick schoolhouse in fog in Allen County, Indiana near the town of Besancon. The road splits to go around the schoolhouse. Photographed during a heavy rainstorm.

 

Wildmans Tattoo and body piercing in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Wells Street

 

red metal motel chairs on the back porch of an old farm house in rural southwest Allen County, Indiana with yellow brooms laying across them. Aboite Center Road.

 

hay bales in a field on rural Indiana farm land

 

A ceramic owl sculpture with glass mosaic sits on a wooden post next to an abandoned farmhouse on Feighner Road in rural Allen County, Indiana.

 

The side door of an abandoned farmhouse on Feighner Road in rural Allen County, Indiana. The house is covered in fake brick siding that looks like asphalt shingles. A large treet light fixture hangs above the door and an old window screen sits on the ground next to the steps.

 

An old rusty Ford pickup truck with the phrase Hillbilly Deluxe written on the tailgate in black marker ink