Regarding news in Carrollton: I just read the other day that the Chinese shipping hub plans sounds like a bust… for now and the immediate future. Given the sad state of the economy coupled with the heavy pandering from Chicago for a shipping hub there, I am in the belief that Carrollton will remain in its dormant, idle state for some years to come. Lambert’s few participating airlines once again significantly cut back a number of flights to our little town. The new runway has reached a point of extreme uselessness, wasting decades of planning, hundreds of homes and countless tons of concrete. This was already a given, though it saddens me every time I hear the news of even more flights being cut. It adds to the already great losses the expansion project has cost the area.
Regarding my work in Carrollton and this blog: For those who followed this blog, I apologize for my lengthy absence and cannot promise a regular posting schedule in the immediate future. For one thing, my physical work in the area is already done… I photographed what I could when it existed. Now that everything is idle, only the turning of the season’s colors draws me in (which is quite beautiful this year). I will hopefully in the near future post some recent fall pictures, which portray a lovely juxtaposition of landscaped beauty with an eery silence. Again, I don’t have much else to report.
I am only recently coming to grips with why a reasonable 29 year old would begin photographing her former neighborhood’s destruction in the first place. This is a subject that goes beyond simple art school inherent interest and coffeehouse-cool typography. Watching a childhood home in its destruction is not something most artists could make a thesis out of, and if they could it still would be too difficult to publicly handle.
I wouldn’t trade in the work I did for anything. I truly enjoyed photographing the houses and the time I spent wandering through Carrollton in flux between the awe of its destruction and old familiarity of the space. Even if it was not safe to do so, I was still drawn to being alone there.
Many months later, time to move on. Time to let Carrollton’s dust settle. Time to let my photos become a little stale before I revisit them with fresh eyes.
J. Desy Schoenewies
56 Houses Left 
Your post touched me because I have never felt the same since leaving Carrollton. I believe this tragedy has touched all of us who wanted to live there the rest of our lives in a way no other can. We lost our sense of belonging — our community.
I don’t know the backstory behind how your personal life fueled your “obsession”, as you call it. But I do know that 56 Houses Left is both a literary and photographic masterpiece. Maybe chronicling Carrollton’s destruction adversely affected you. But as sad and heartbreaking as it is, 56 Houses Left is an unqualified SUCCESS and an invaluable historical document of one of history’s biggest boondoggles.
Our childhood community is a thread to our personal identity. “56 Houses” is a tribute to a neighborhood of memories that lives on within every family that became apart of The Carrollton Community.
Jami- This was a gift to all of us who lived “The Wonder Years” within the community. You were driven by the energy that lingered within the light breeze, the soil, the empty homes that never matured to enjoy several generations (as most building do) … memories within the walls of every structure to tell the story of each single life that has passed through.
I’m grateful I was able to walk the desserted house one final time, to place my hand on the door I had flung open so many times as a child, to replay the memories … that is everyones midlife right — to back track and reconnect with emotions that were so innocent then, long before life became complicated for us. Your need to disconnect right now is merely the personal toll you bare for all of us who were apart of Carrollton Community. Thank you.
Cathartic for each and every reader of your blog. I am in NY City tonight, touched by your blog. It’s unbelieveable — my personal memories of a place far away, long ago, being shared by others who understand the loss.
I posted this 24 hrs ago but unsure if it went through so I am re-posting for you:
Imagine my shock as I stumbled upon your blog. I am, indeed a member of the first family who owned and occupied 12803 Primghar Dr. — of the now Lost Carrollton Community.
I commend you on the personal dedication and photographic detail as the mighty House fell November, 2007. Also, you took the time to sense that this property has lived within the hearts and memory of my family. This house, in particular, was as grande within the neighborhood as you described — Mostly due to it’s positioning at the split of Bittik Dr and Primghar, also was extremely visible from the interstate …it simply had a stately presence.
My memory floats along the sidewalks of Carrollton quite often. I see the neighborhood back in the mid to late 60’s, as my family moved on early 70’s. I can still follow the line of Christmas lights strung along nearly every roofline from the view of my bedroom window — there, where the dreams and plans for my lifetime were born…
After 40 years, I returned for a visit to Bridgeton with my Father (June 2007)… took a ride through Carrollton, specifically to walk through the neighborhood of my childhood. SHOCKING. I was not emotionally prepared for what I discovered .., better stated: For what I lost.
How strange that I felt a calling to pay a visit to the house as she was dying. Equally strange that I find your article detailing this loss November 29,2007, as I have often wondered since that June ’07 trip, if by some chance, the house full of memories within each shingle and plank, might have been spared.
The experience is likened to discovering the obituary of the fondest childhood memories I know. Having lived many places, I have never known the “community” elsewhere, that lived within Carrollton. The people were special …they were my childhood.
I would very much like to contribute to your collection of Carrollton information WHEN you find the strength to forge ahead and continue your tribute to a neighborhood community lost within the politics and greed.
Again, thank you.
I moved away from Carrollton in 1967 but always remembered it as home. It broke my heart to see the empty lots and barricaded streets when I visited 40 years later. I couldn’t understand what happened!! It was surreal to see it almost all gone…MY house was gone!
Then I found your 56 House Left website and read your words and saw your photos.. it helped my understand.
When your heart heals and the time is right, please revisit your file and let people know the story….do not let Carrollton die in vain.