Finding Light in the Darkness

When I find an incredible location like the John B Gordon School, I can't just visit it only once.  The same goes for many of the pieces of history I've stumbled upon in my searches for decay and photo ops.  I won't write much, as I think I adequately expressed my feelings for the location best in my previous blog about it, "The End of Education".  This time, I'll simply share some of the photos I've captured in my recent visits and the few new experiences I've had the pleasure to have there.

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Last time I went, I only explored the bottom floor and the auditorium. I wanted to go upstairs, but I'd gotten kind of freaked out and decided that I should go with my gut and head out for the day.  So it had been my goal to get back there and see the second floor.  The upstairs was surprisingly much different from the downstairs in terms of feel.  I realized afterward that I took A LOT of photos in bathrooms (I didn't see any bathrooms downstairs), which is kind of odd.  But to top it off, each time I went back, I found a big teddy bear in a new location.  There was something very sad about the teddy bear.  Who's was it?  Was it loved by someone?  Maybe he belonged to a child at the school.  Maybe someone just planted him there.  Whichever way, he certainly made for some great photos... both funny and touching, depending on the day's shot.  The two above (I couldn't pick which I liked better), with him sitting on the floor of a classroom, I took for my dear friend, Jamie.  And he knows why (love you, Jamie).  I'm so glad I found it for this reason.  The following teddy bear shot... well, you'll just have to page down to see it!  

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The two below may be the last two of just classrooms before you get

bombarded with latrine photos (my sincerest apologies).  I do love these two, here, though.  Maybe it's because of the light pushing its way through the darkness, or possibly because I LOVE GRAMMAR and spelling.  What do those things have to do with these photos, you ask?  The lines on the chalkboard.  Why they make me smile is probably strange to you, but that's alright with me.

Now, time for a potty break...

And finally, the one I made you wait for.  This find brought some comedic relief to the visit.  Teddy bears need breaks too...

Aw.  Poor little guy.  

I'll probably make another trip back to the school as the seasons change and the leaves turn vibrant colors or snowflakes dance their way through the cracks in the windows, but for now, I feel really good about the bit of history I've been able to document for East Atlanta. 

Thank you to all of you who visit my page and explore right alongside me.