Witch’s Castle
Elopement
Portland, Oregon
March 15, 2019
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This elopement at the Witch’s Castle
deserves a little bit of backstory. If
only for the reason that a Witch’s
castle elopement took place many
years ago. In the 1800s Danford
Balch purchased a huge piece of
land around the area that is now
Portland, while it was still being
developed.
This was well before the Witch’s Castle had even come into
existence. The area was so large that he ended up having to
hire some help to clear the land. Among the men he hired was a
man by the name of Mortimer Stump. Stump lived on this
Portland property with the Balch family. Despite the large family
of ten, Stump only had eyes for Balch’s daughter, Anna.
The two fell in love and so begins
the story of Witch’s Castle. Although Stump
did get Anna’s fathers permission, his
refusal led to their elopement.
Some say the name Witch’s Castle was
formed by high school kids partying on
this ruin near the Balch family home,
acquainting the spooky setting for a
name that matched.
The end of the couple in this story is tragic. And
something about that tragic nature fit the vibe of
these wedding portraits perfectly.
Explore more projects
I want the connection,
the vulnerability.
