Flint Photos: Travels to Vehicle City 2

My first batch of random travel photos from three years of research and reporting trips to Flint got mixed reviews. One viewer called them "odd and grotesque," while another complained that they were "ruin porn" that failed to capture some of the positive aspects of my hometown. So our team of highly paid photo archivists at Flint Expatriates went to work and came up with another batch of photos that won't ruin your weekend. (There's a bonus nostalgia shot of three Flintoids at their 8th grade graduation from St. Mary's in 1980.) It's a reminder that, despite all its problems, Flint is still a friendly, welcoming place filled with people who haven't given up.

Flint Video: Goodbye, Central High

Goodbye, Central High from Dude! (ironic) Productions on Vimeo.

For more material on the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009, go here.

Goodbye, Central High: Class of 1938

One in a series of videos shot at the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009.

Goodbye, Central High

One in a series of videos shot at the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009.

Goodbye, Central High: Class of 1940

One in a series of videos shot at the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009.

Goodbye, Central High: Class of 1982

One in a series of videos shot at the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009.

Goodbye, Central High

One in a series of videos shot at the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009.

Goodbye, Central High: Class of 1961

One in a series of videos shot at the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009.

Goodbye, Central High: Class of 1965 and 1968

One in a series of videos shot at the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009.

Goodbye, Central High: Class of 1963 and 1964

One in a series of videos shot at the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009.

Goodbye, Central High: Class of 2006 and 2007

One in a series of videos shot at the Flint Central High School farewell gathering on June 12, 2009.

Goodbye, Central High: Climbing the Tower

My mom, Pat McFarlane Young, graduated from Central in 1948, so I went to the farewell gathering as her unofficial envoy. She loved Central and has many stories about the friends she made there. She often talks about how fun it was to use the spiral staircase in the tower to deliver items to various rooms for teachers. One enterprising Central graduate managed to find an open door at the base of the tower during the event, and a band of hearty adventurers started the long climb to the top. It was pitch black inside and the walls were crumbling, but we were a determined crew using cellphones and camera flashes to find the way. Things were even dicier when people descending passed those ascending on the narrow stairs. The view from the top was worth the effort.

Goodbye, Central High: Farewell Gathering

A collection of photos taken at Flint Central High School's farewell gathering
on June 12, 2009.