As a lifelong resident of Forgotonia, I’ve driven through Colchester a gazillion and a half times in my life. (jealous?)
But a few weeks ago, when C-Nor (otherwise known as Chris Norton, my boyfriend) and I were taking a little trip to Argyle* for a picnic, it hit me that I now have no reason to drive through it anymore, since I can take the new 4-lane when I’m going back home to Carthage to visit the p’s.
*Chris, who is an out-a’-towner, accidentally referred to the site of our picnic as “Lake Argoyle,” which I thought was really cute and which might prompt me to re-christen it.
Anyway, when we were done with our picnic, we cruised downtown Colchester. And I, of course, had the urge to snap some photos (see all below.)
For those of you who don’t live in the area, but who might have read and loved The Bootlegger: A Story of Small-Town America (and who also happen to be reading this blog—a stretch, I realize), I thought I’d point out that there really isn’t much to “see” in terms of historical ties to that book.
You can’t, for example, get your picture taken next to a memorial where the famous rum-runner was gunned down (although you can find people [like my own grandpa] who can point to spots where they know things happened / where they know bullet holes once used to be.
And I heard a rumor recently that a house in Colchester has, like, a hidden basement compartment thing-y where the ‘legger used to hide his stuff. Cool!)
But you can get a real sense of times gone by, just by seeing the faded ads on the sides of the old brick buildings.
Colchester Hotel. Not sure this one comes with white fluffy robes…
I had thought these flags were a great detail of old small-town Americana—so faded and dirty (still hanging up after decades in a shuttered building?)Turns out, up close, they’re faux-distressed.
Heh.
Old tobacco ad.
One of my favorite landmarks along ‘old 136.’ A former place both to pray and buy antiques.(What more is there in the world?)
Chris took this one. Because he has a sick sense of humor. (Draw your own mental arrow.)Sorry.
But how could I not share?
I don’t know what’s for sale here, but I think I might like it.
I was gonna throw this pic out, since you can’t really tell it’s supposed to be a pic of the faded lettering for Lake “Arogyle.” But I just can’t bring myself to trash it, what with how that Allis Chalmers just happened to pull into the frame. Because of the new 4-lane, this might be the first Labor Day Weekend of my life that, when I travel over to Ctown to see the p’s, I won’t have to sit through inching-along traffic on 136 as the tiny town tries to handle all the traffic coming in for the giant flea market.
Will you be taking in Colchester/Lake “Argoyle”‘s biggest event this year?
What’s the best part?
Leave me a comment below.
Tags: Rural People Read Too
I started my "sale searching" early….went to lovely C-town today in search of a treasure….I love the sales, everything from cats to dirty old tired to overpriced antique crocks. ha! :)
Alison, I think our opinions of Colchester differ. However – I regretfully admit – this is only the second Flea Market I will miss. 2 years ago, we drove home in the mess bringing Charlie home from the hospital, and Matt wouldn't let me stop. This year we are gong out of town. I am a little sad about missing the lake. BUT – I avoid carnivals like the plague. (Or H1N1). AND – I have to drive by the carnival taking Ry to school. She thinks I am a terrible mom. I drove thru town at 7am this morning and there were already people stopped in the road (yeah, you don't need to pull over!)looking at crap. It is a little bittersweet leaving town on Labor Day! MZ
Oh – And we HAVE bought worms at the Worm Hole!!! (And next door is a cute little shop called Sugar And Spice. I get stuff in there for cooking. )
That tractor is NOT an Allis Chalmers! As someone who grew up on a farm with AC, you should know that. It is an INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER. I will be holding tractor-spotting lessons next Thursday.
And the people in Colchester are the strangest around. I lived there as an "outsider", so I can say that.
Tell C-Nor I always held a morbid fascination with the Jones' Mortuary sign as well.
Thanks fer readin' and postin', y'all.
Michaell– that's real dedication (that you almost tried to attend the flea market with hours-old babe in arms.)
Also, I am really embarrassed about mis-ID'ing that tractor. Damn. Thanks a lot for making me feel like a real heel, DriveBack.
Wait, that's an expression, right? A real heel?
One more thing: one of my favorite professors at WIU, a new young guy whose class I took last fall, rents (or bought?) a home in Colchester with his wife, also an English prof.
They are from the East Coast.
I wonder, a lot, about what kinds of thoughts they must be thinking when they look out their front window!