Backland Houses

Backland Houses

Check out the map Mark has started, here.

HOUSES AND STRUCTURES

photo by Court Tefft

Gay's dome

Gay's dome (photo donated from Gay)

photo by Michael Emrys

Wheatley House, August, 1977

photo donated by Maria

Chappel/Obermeyer Mansion

photo by Jim Arnold


A-Frame

photo by Court Tefft

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INSIDE THE A FRAME
 
 
  OUTSIDE THE A-FRAME
 
 
  LOOKING DOWN FROM THE A-FRAME LOFT
  l
 
  Riding on Mark's hip while he made Sunday morning breakfast in the long-hall and spending the night with Dianne in the A Frame were two of Sierra's most coveted treats. The loft in the A Frame did not have a railing and Dianne and I agreed they would always sleep on the floor. One morning after an overnight, I awoke to Dianne and Sierra giggling at the foot of my bed. Fueled by the adrenaline of a narrow escape and the juicy anticipation of confession they took turns telling me how Dianne had awakened to Sierra calmly calling her name while hanging by her fingertips on the edge of the loft,15 feet in the air . As was customary I was miffed and they were elated.
 
  Dianne and I went on to make deals about ice cream for breakfast, sugar at bedtime, body painting with indelible markers, meat, plastic toys and grown-up conversation. Sierra and Dianne went on to memorize off-color ditties, tattoo their elbows,eat M and M's by flashlight and forever join in the reverant joy of irreverance. I so love them both.
 Clare
 
  Where was this?
 
 
 
 
  Billy and Maria's house October 1972
 
 
  DOHNA'S, LATER TO BECOME KIM, SIERRA AND ROBYN'S
 
 
  DOHNA'S BEFORE THE FRONT PORCH WAS CLOSED IN FOR SIERRA'S ROOM
 
 
  Where?
 
 
  WHOSE HOUSE, DEC '74
 
 
  BILLY AND MARIA'S HOUSE SPRING 1973
 
 
  TIPI ENTRANCE, MAY '74
 
 
  KATHY'S INTERIOR
 
 
  BILLY AND MARIA'S AUG '74
 
 
  BILLY'S HOUSE, MAR '75
 
 
  COMPLETE WITH GUARD CAT
 
  MURPH'S HOUSE
 
  photos by Neil

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Kathy Bartletts cabin

photo by Patsy Dodd


Mark's Tower with Winnie

photo by Patsy


Norton entering cabin

photo by Court Tefft

Tom and I think this is the house I lived in, although we both remember it as more straight! No plywood over the window or stuff on the ground. Malcolm and Mary Jo built it.
I'd say this was one of the nicest places I ever lived. I quit smoking when I moved out there, as did many people out of respect for the land. Inside were a kitchen space and woodstove (which Rip and David McConnell lugged out for me) on the left and a bed with windows all around on the right. Behind it was (and is) a magnificent bay tree (with a hollow trunk two people could stand up inside) and below that a ravine with a noisy cascading creek, and oaks and chaparral and sage all around. In front was the sweetest meadow in the world.
There were beautiful starry nights, with a bird that would start singing after midnight, deer coughing and signaling nearby, and frequent visits by raccoons. Once before dawn I saw my cooler loping clumsily away atop a coon that had gotten it stuck over its head and body.
Tom (now my husband) often stayed with me out there. In fact, the reason we aren't in the group Land photo is because I persuaded him to stay there a little longer that morning, our very last morning on the Land.
A few weeks later, I was running toward this house through the woods when the bulldozer hit it. I heard the violent sound of wood splintering and ripping and crashing as the machine made a couple of passes, and then shoved earth over the wreckage. It was over so quickly that when I got there it was just a pile of dirt, and the dozer had moved on to the next house. I admit, I cried, even though we all knew this was coming.
That rainy winter I planted bulbs there. I still visit this place, and daffodils still come up there after a good winter. -- Rio



Baggy house



Tepee

photo by Court Tefft


BUILDING GAYS DOME, NOV '72


TREEHOUSE SILHOUETTE, NOV '73


THE DOME. AUG '74


ENTER THE DOME


DOME VIEW, AUG '74

photos by Neil
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Inside the house that Juanita built and Michael later occupied. Picture taken at sunrise.

photo by Michael Emrys

forest falcon writes: oh beauty. i could not remember how many rafters were installed. 7 ? looks like the number. the 20ml~22ml vis-queen held up for me,along with fresh cedar bats and tar every few winters. i can do a sketch of the pyrmidal side, which worked well for drying herbs, and hanging other things which was an unexpected surprise, and the dutch door. ;j