Ghost of Wendel
by Mike Lee
Title
Ghost of Wendel
Artist
Mike Lee
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
This 830 nanometer infrared image captures the long abandoned US Post Office in the unincorporated community of Wendel in Lassen County California. At times known by a plethora of other names (Upper Hot Springs, Schaeffer Hot Springs, Smithon, Boyd, Hot Springs Station, Purser, Antola and Caloreta.), It got its current name in 1914. Around this time Wendel became a railroad stop for the Nevada and California and Southern Pacific Railroads, which prior to that stopped in near-by Amedee. This change ultimately killed the town of Amedee. The entire Amedee town property was ultimately sold in a 1950 tax sale auction for $32.15 to the only bidders, Jack and Margaret Humphrey. By the mid-1990βs the Western Pacific Railroad, who had operated an 85 short line from Wendel to Likely in Modoc County, received permission to abandon the line and much of the town was demolished.
This post office was established in 1915 and ceased operation in 1993.
Today, not much happens in Wendel, although there are a few folks still calling the area home.
Uploaded
June 7th, 2023
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Comments (19)
Rick Davis
I sure do love this old post office! I wonder how much a stamp was back then and if they did overnight delivery! Lol L/F
Mike Lee replied:
Thank you, Rick! Believe it or not, stamps got all the way up to $.29 by the time it closed in 1993 - it stayed open far longer than it should have for the shape it was in!
Sabina Pamfili
it's hauntingly lovely actually, Mike. Ghostly and abandoned but still a wonderful photo.
Allan Van Gasbeck
Congratulations! Your outstanding artwork has been chosen as a FEATURE in the βThe Gray Scale Outdoorsβ group on Fine Art America β You are invited to post your featured image to the featured image discussion thread as a permanent place to continue to get exposure even after the image is no longer on the Home Page.
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