On my very first visit to the Palouse back in 1996, I photographed this building. At the time I thought it was just another barn, but I learned many years later that it’s the last surviving building in the town of Wilcox.
That first trip to the Palouse was a solo trip. I knew two things before going: stay in Colfax and go to Steptoe Butte.
Armed only with my Delorme Gazetteer and a compass, I spent my days just driving around and finding stuff. This was before GPS and the plethora of information now on the internet.
I came across this scene in the middle of the day. The light was flat and uninteresting. I got out my compass and scoped out which direction the sun would be going down. I figured that this “barn” should get some decent late light.
I returned that evening to find that I was right and this has been one of my favorite images from the Palouse since then.
Now, every year, usually as I’m arriving and getting close to Colfax, I visit my old friend just to see how it’s doing and if it’s still standing. And occasionally I’ll photograph it again.
This year, it’s still standing. But I don’t know if it will be next year. Here are some pictures of my friend, taken roughly ten years apart.
The picture above was from a rare August visit. Yes, I braved the scorching August temperatures!
An iPhone shot from my June 2026 visit to the Palouse, 30-years since I first met my old friend.
Below are a couple of other views that better show the ravages of time.
I'll miss my friend when it finally succumbs. I'm hoping for a few more reunions before that day arrives. Who knows, perhaps it will outlive me!
