Maison

The Madeleine islands are an eleven islands archipelago in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. While most are interconnected by bridges or dams, some are isolated and far away from the main land.

The islands are known for their postcard landscapes and their kilometers of (cold) beaches. Of course, it is also for the great food and hospitality of the islanders.

Popularized by a french CBC tv show, the former Iraqi consulate in Montreal is abandoned since 1980. Built by architect Jacques Vincent, the house is sold to the Consulate of Iraq in 1979 for the amount of $ 365,000. By the way, the same house has been sold few months earlier for $ 200,000. In short, a good deal for the seller.

It was supposed to be a quiet family trip. Destination: the province of Prince Edward Island and the Madeleine islands, a small archipelago consisting of a half-dozen of islands interconnected by bridges and roads. For readers outside of Canada, these islands are located in the Gulf of St Lawrence, at the entrance of North America by the Atlantic ocean.

Located in the Eastern Townships, this loyalist manor house with its chic style reminiscent of the homes in New England. It seems abandoned for quite some time, although it is remarkably well preserved. There has been some vandalism in the rooms upstairs where thugs broke down the walls), but the site still show a large peaceful  feeling since its abandonment.

It had already been a while since I dreamed of go to this house. Not that it showed a great interest from the street, but because it was so far away from the street that I saw this beauty more misterious than the others. In short, we courted each other at the bend of a road each time that I had to pass that way.

Whenever I passed by, I thought to myself than I should go. After all, it was only ten minutes from my house. But instead of that, I had prefered to organize my rurex sessions far away, as if I held it for granted.

Jewel of Quebec's heritage, the seigniorial manor was built in 1795. Expanded several times over the years, it was used for several purposes. From 1967 to 2000 it was used as a high school and later, Quebec police organization “Sûreté du Québec” installed its offices there.

Purchased by a Montreal company in 2009, the Manor fell down quietly into a terrible state. The results today? Part of it was burned in the fall of 2012 and it has been plagued by repeated acts of vandalism.

Located in Franklin, southwest of Montreal, the story of the now abandoned Dorea Institute is told by bits and pieces. Not that its story is marked by horrors (…or maybe it is?), but it is rather difficult to find accurate information on the Internet.

Located far away, somewhere on a country road, time seems to stand still for this small house. The place is untouched by vandalism, except drawers emptied and some holes in the walls. For the rest, it's a real pleasure to find an abandoned place without any graffiti or romping excess on the furniture.

Abandoned for more modern constructions, burned or left behind to adrift once the occupants died, abandoned houses populate the countryside. Hidden under vegetation who tries to conquer its old territory, sometimes the time prevents explorers from entering into these incredible places by collapsing the foundations or by twisting the walls like old rags.

Few of them will be restored after many years left to themselves. Most of the time, years will turn them down or will be by the owners when municipal councils will be tired to see these building agonize (and visited by kids).

Built in 1924 in Roscoe, New York state, the Dundas Castle was modeled after a 15th century’s castle in Scotland, located near Edinburgh. The American version of the Dundas Castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.