Stone Structure of Mystery

I used to live in Dubach, Louisiana, in the early 2000’s and drove to the Downsville area a lot for work on LA 151, and have passed this old concrete structure more times than I can count. I recently went back there to document it with my camera and still don’t know what it was in its heyday.

Many of the locals say it was an old house that was never fully constructed (the Turner house). Others say it was a jail, a school, and even a Civil War hospital. I’m not 100% sure what it was, but it is cool nonetheless.

It’s been there for as long as I can remember, and I have been familiar with that area most of my life.

Edit: After sharing these images on the Abandoned Louisiana Facebook page, several people commented that it was indeed a house built by the Turner Family. I had the privilege of talking to a resident of the local community (via phone) with deep ties to the area who confirmed the same.

I wanted these pictures to work so bad in black and white, but it just wasn’t meant to be (not on this outing at least). Because real documentary-style work is not shot in color, right?

No. Instead of boxing myself in a corner as one type of photographer, I think it is far more important to capture and make the work and document these places before they disappear from our landscapes forever.