I mentioned before how I’m interested in documenting, specifically on film, older structures in the Saginaw area that likely won’t stand much longer. I’m interested in documenting the decline of an area that had been so vibrant. The decline is no one person’s fault, and definitely not ‘deserved’, but it is rather unique in this, and many other countries. Where cities usually grow and expand, the one I live in has been shrinking and some say re-ruralizing for some time. Anyways, The House of Oak was torn down between 5-30-09 and 6-1-09. Good thing I got a shot of it before it was razed:
It was such a unique structure, built by a brick maker completely out of bricks. I imagine that’s part of what led to it’s destruction. There were visible signs on the outside of the house that all was not well structurally, and I’m sure that would have cost a mint to repair. Add on that the owners originally paid $500k for it and it’s oddly positioned on a busy intersect and knocking it down sort of makes sense. Still, I would have liked to see the inside. If you’re interested in following the business side of Saginaw’s reduction in size, check out Saginaw for Sale.
