In the rural backroads of Alberta, Canada, a middle-aged man in his fifties wearing glasses can be seen wandering with a camera in hand, capturing eerie abandoned farmhouses that dot the wilderness. Joe Chowaniec, driving his Chevy Trailblazer, has been exploring decaying old houses scattered across the prairie, many of them with a history dating back over a century, narrating tales of simpler times that are slowly fading away. Over the past decade, Chowaniec, hailing from Edmonton, has driven nearly 36,000 kilometers to unveil and document the mysterious veils shrouding these dilapidated structures.
One of the grand mansions he encountered was actually a massive farmhouse built in 1915, once a unique sight to behold. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that the exterior of the first two levels was entirely made of concrete blocks, a testament to the craftsmanship of yesteryears that ensured such durability in construction, unlike modern homes.
Chowaniec noted, “The house was as straight as when it was built. My house probably won’t exist 100 years from now.”
The initial occupants of this mansion were the Goshko family, Ukrainian immigrants who took pride in constructing their dwelling. However, the interior now tells a different story, with deteriorated floors, peeling paint, and clumped dust rendering the space uninhabitable but surprisingly resilient.
Descending into the basement, Chowaniec found a large cast-iron stove and some coal stored, with cleverly utilized storage cabinets under the staircase. The house features a large living room, dining area, kitchen, a bedroom, upstairs bedrooms with large windows, and an attic accessed through a small staircase. The history of these rooms evokes a bygone era, offering a glimpse into the lives that once thrived within.
Retired from his position as Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association of Alberta, Chowaniec now runs a Facebook group called “Abandoned Alberta.” His encounters with these abandoned structures evoke nostalgia and sadness, capturing the essence of families who once called these places home, only to vanish with time.
In his photographic expeditions, Chowaniec stumbled upon another colossal structure, a “monster” house dating back to 1919, built by a Swedish immigrant family, the Andersons. The interiors revealed an artistic decoration style, with remnants of a bygone era still intact, reflecting the pride and joy the Andersons once felt in their home.
The bittersweet exploration of the Andersons’ abandoned abode stirred emotions of reminiscence and sorrow in Chowaniec, as he pieced together the past of a family forced to leave behind a legacy that stood strong against the ravages of time but eventually succumbed to neglect.
Departing from the individual narratives of households, Chowaniec also delved into the ghost towns scattered across the Alberta prairie landscape, where once bustling communities now stand silent, haunted by whispers of a vibrant past. The ghost towns were a poignant reminder of a time when life was simple yet challenging, marked by hard work and perseverance.
As he delved deeper into these remnants of a bygone era, Chowaniec’s encounters with abandoned grain elevators and dilapidated structures evoked a wave of nostalgia, prompting reflections on the lives that once thrived in these rural landscapes. Each photograph captured a piece of history, a testament to the resilience of communities long gone, resonating with a sense of loss and wonder.
The echoes of the past linger in the abandoned farmhouses and ghost towns of Alberta, serving as a visual narrative of a time when life was simpler, communities thrived, and the landscape bore witness to the struggles and triumphs of generations past. Through his lens, Chowaniec immortalizes these fading remnants, preserving the legacy of forgotten histories for generations to come.