Lost & Found

On the way home from Kemptville the other day we noticed this old CP Rail caboose. It was the only car in sight, sitting on a spur just off the mainline (which is about four or five tracks’ worth). Thinking it might be worth a look, we pulled over and checked it out.

While the doors at either end of the car are boarded up, the windows are easy enough to climb through. As you might expect, it’s in pretty rough shape inside:

There are a number of cabinets in the car, one of which is pretty much torn out of the wall (left side of picture, blocking sunlight from above). Most are empty, though one (labelled “emergency blankets”) contains a rotten-looking pile of rags. Not much trash laying around — the odd candy wrapper, and a torn page from a girly magazine. Broken glass everywhere, though; looks like the tempered stuff, so it couldn’t really cut you up or anything.

Not sure what that gauge is for, maybe the pressure for the hydraulic system. On the upper deck, there are two remarkably comfortable swivel-type chairs, which afford a commanding view of the abandoned railway car’s surroundings. Seems to me like a good place to sit and imagine the hobo-life, or just watch the sunset. Plus, from up there you can climb out onto the roof…

It just so happens that somewhere along Beke Road (just off Spragues) there’s a bit of a swamp. While looking it over the other day, I noticed a strange collection of wooden contraptions laying around — could be some kind of milling or farming gear, though in the state of discovery, the implements’ purpose was hard to divine. Take a look:

Now, we appear to be relatively early in the process of reclamation (of the objects by the bog); the large spool-like artifact has been turned into an impromptu flowerpot, while the other wooden pieces are not particularly rotten. Nearby was a frame-like, wooden object. It looked older than the rest of the stuff, and hosted a nice bit of moss.

The notation on the upper part of the object reads “1801-E-80001,” and the metal plate on the lower section reads that as well. Further investigation would have been amusing, but the insects were deadly in those parts.

Also found was an old garment-bag, along with a salamander who appeared to be living inside. Now, I’ve heard of “living out of a suitcase,” but this guy’s really taking that to heart. Good to see, nature finding use for the refuse of our modern-day civilization.

Time was, Bishops Mills was home to a cheese factory (right on Kemptville Creek). There's not much left of it now, and no sign of the walls or foundation — only rusty old boilers and other cheese-making mechanical contraptions. The land's for sale, too.

After closing in early 1900s, the Bishops Mills schoolhouse was used for a while as an Orange hall. Eventually, it was sold to a private owner (who, as a matter of fact, happened to be passing by as the photo was taken).

While canoeing down Kemptivlle creek, we caught sight of some unusual objects onshore. Hopping the wire fence at the top of the bank, I took a look — the remains of an old tractor, sitting in the corner of a field. Along with it, an assortment of other junk: unidentifiable pieces of machinery, large broken windows, a mailbox, a moldy winter jacket. Back in the canoe, I realized that a closer look might have turned up the year/model of the old thing. Might be worth checking back sometime, to see if anything else has turned up.