The Curse

As it is with many established towns and cities, there are always a few structures worthy of inspiration that you can take back to your modeling workbench. Living here in New England provides frequent opportunities to discover some great old building that would make a great structure or at the very least a part of the structure could find it's way into my modeling or into a new kit.

Other treasures include simply a nicely weathered brick wall or cobblestone street. But once a discovery like this has been made, I somehow curse these finds with my ambition, " I should get a picture of this."

Invariably I will tell myself that I've found a really interesting building, maybe it's sitting precariously on the waters edge, clapboards peeling, shingles all askew...or maybe it's an old gas station, closed years ago but completely left as it was ten or even 30 years ago. All that I ask of myself is to take a simple picture. Easy enough; if I remember to bring my camera - which I almost never have.

So my curse is one of three scenarios; the building in question is simply demolished before I can take a photo. Or, the building, with it's peeling paint and sagging walls, is fixed up and repainted or it's stripped of any details like trim and corbels and smothered in vinyl siding.

Many an awesome structure have been condemned, destroyed or disfigured and I will take the blame simply because I uttered, " I should take a picture of that."

Case in point: the Mystic River Drawbridge. If you know Mystic, CT, you know the bridge. It's paint has been peeling for a longtime, often more rust than paint covers the bridge. I've been meaning to photograph it in it's deteriorating state. For one thing, a rusty bridge makes for a nice photo subject. For another, it's got some great examples of what rust and peeling paint should look like.

The town of Mystic has been planning to rehabilitate the bridge for some time, and now that time has come. One lane has now been closed as repairs have begun. I suspect they are interested in the bridge not falling into the river. Damn them and their safety concerns. Who wants to take pictures of a clean, well maintained bridge?

I'm kidding of course, as both a driver and boater who goes over and under the bridge I'd prefer it didn't fall on my head or fall into the murky river. And since my phone takes better pictures than my point and shoot camera, that I never remember to take with me, I now have a few photos of the rusty bridge. And if I discover any old relics that look like they'd make a good structure or kit, I won't hesitate to take out the phone and snap away.