Ruins or cellar holes can be almost as interesting as complete buildings. With a little imagination, it's possible to imagine the old dwelling and its size, given the dimensions of the foundation.
This one on Baker Island is situated in a large orchard, or what’s left of one. Plums or pears stand bare, but the different apple trees still struggle on. The dooryard still hosts a large currant bush, the rhubarb still flourishes, and a few peony stems struggle through the thick grass.
The depression is nearly filled with rotting timbers and bleached cedar shingles. Square hand-forged nails make the place look really old. Nearby, the line of a stone fence adds dimensions to the homestead.
Pipes and a boiler or hot water heater rust in the sunlight; modern nails and metal rafter joists can be seen in the roof debris. These relics are evidence that the house was used later than some of the others.
A root cellar is visible, approximately 6 x 10 feet, dug deeper than the cellar floor, and lined with stones. Here many bushels of root vegetables could be stored for the winter, safe from freezing.
There are signs that many deer live on Baker Island now. Paths are everywhere through the tall grass. They eat the cranberries, raspberries, rose bushes, and any hard wood seedling. Only the spruce escapes.
This seems to be a sleeping area for a deer family, as the grass is flattened.
