Bodie was named after Waterman S. Body (also Known as William S. Bodey), who discovered gold here in 1859. The change in spelling of the town's name has often been attributed to an illiterate sign painter but was a deliberate change by the citizenry to insure proper pronunciation.
By 1879 Bodie boasted a population of about ten thousand and was second to none for wickedness, badmen and "the worst climate out of doors." One little girl whose family was taking her to the remote and infamous town wrote in her diary: "Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie" and the phrase came to be know throughout the west!
Only 5% of the buildings remain from the hay days during 1880. Today it stands just as time, fire and the elements have left it. A genuine California gold mining ghost town. Designated a state historic park in 1962, it is now maintained in a state of "arrested decay." (from the guidebook)
(click to enlarge photos)
Firehouse
On the wall in the firehouse.
Sawmill
I tried really hard to get a great photo of the church but people were going in and out all day long. I know this town may look desolate but there was actually over a hundred people there. I really had to wait for some of the shots I took. This Methodist Church was erected in 1882. It had been restored and held its last service in 1932.
Finally got this one with my point and shoot.
Had it set for black and white photos.
If you look closely your will see some headstones in the background just above the roof of the house. That is the cemetery. We did walk it and it has become very overgrown since the last time we were there. There was one stone in particular that I wanted to see. I remember writing down the saying on it last time we were here.
Here it is in black and white.
Engraved at the bottom of headstone " A precious one from us has gone, A voice we loved is still; A place is vacant in our hearts, Which never can be filled"
This is one of my favorites along with one down below. I can't get either of them on canvas because they are too close and when it gets wrapped on canvas the photo gets cut off. I will be getting them enlarge on photo paper and framing them.
The backs of those two buildings.....
I have to admit that this photo made my list of favorite one!
I shared it in a collage earlier.
If you missed my other post with a few pictures from Bodie
you can read about it here:
Bodie State Historic Park is located in Bridgeport, CA
It is not in my city but it is in my state!
We visited Bodi on our vacation in July.
Joining Unknown Mami for Sundays in my City
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21 comments:
Thank you for not using collages! I love seeing the photos on their own. The thing is though: I can't even choose my favourite with so many fantastic photos happening!
What a fun place to visit!!! Great photos
You got fantastic shots! I totally want to visit there now.
anyone reading this comment, if you did NOT enlarge and look at the photos in slide view, don't miss them. these are awesome shots of a wonderful old historic place. i love each and every one... that last shot makes me want windows like that and my most favorite is the chimney shot
for some reason i did not know you live in CA... now i know
neat 'ghost town' with lots to absorb. i really like that slogan. :)
Wow what an interesting historical post. Thank you so much for sharing.
What great pictures of a cool place. And the words on that tombstone are so lovely -- obviously someone very loved!
:-)
Traci
I love all the old wooden buildings! What a great place to take pictures!!
Most of the building still look livable. I sure am glad I didn't live back then...that poor little girl wishes she hadn't.
thanks for sharing Bodie with us. Your photos are excellent. I love the old truck.
Debby, this is so fascinating to me! Since I read about Bodie, after seeing your first pic's, I am so intrigued. Love the phrase "Good bye God, I'm going to Bodie." LOL
Great photos. I remember visiting this town when I was a kid.
That looks like a really neat town to visit. I have only ever been to the Calico ghost town but it was in 8th grade so I don't really remember it. I am going to go look up where this is and if I will ever be near it to visit!
Phenomenal place, I hope it exists forever and ever.
What a beautiful and interesting place to visit! Loved all your pictures and reading what you wrote! Thanks for sharing...would sure love to see it with my own very eyes one day!
Wow! The boys would love to see a place like this. Heck I would too!!!
Love all the pictures!
I've visited Bodie a few times - and I still find it so very fascinating! I try to close my eyes and listen for the sounds of a hundred or more years ago. The stamp mill pounding away. The clamor of the saloons. The hustle and bustle of people trying to make a way in the hardships of a mining town.
Oh, if walls could talk. And I just know that the cemetery holds so many stories, too.
Loved your pictures!
I'm gonna have to go again soon!!
You took some great photos, Debby! I enjoyed looking at them.
I'm definitely going to have to make this a place to go someday. I love, love, love historic places, especially deserted places. It's so amazing to be able to stand in a place like this and imagine what life would've been like. Amazing photos!
Now when did you go here? I want to go now to see it. So many fascinating things to see and history to learn.
Sandie
I've never been to Bodie, but looking at your pictures, Debby, I definitely want to put that on our list of sites to see some day. That church was great, both the colored and black/white picture of it. Very nicely done! Looked like a great trip you had there. I too would have been drawn to that headstone in the cemetery, wondering about the deceased person, etc.
betty
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