I have posted a couple of entries in the past about the Spoon River Bridge (located in an area made famous by the Spoon River Anthology) being listed as one of the “most endangered” historic sites in Illinois.
Two weekends ago, I set out to take in the sights of the bridge and anything else interesting along the way.
Taking in the turns (and the little towns) along Highway 136
As we left Macomb and headed into Fulton County, the charmingly self-contained, yet ghost-town-y feel of one of the first little towns on the way, Table Grove, IL, was heightened by the cold wind and gray sky.
The “Antiques” shop had (for some reason) a sheet of plywood nailed above the door with the hand-stenciled words BOYCOTT SPEED LUBE. But it and most of the other stores around the small square seem to be abandoned and /or filled with loose junk, the kind of which that might be left over after a garage sale. The little store advertising “The future of TV” on its sign appears to have ceased operations decades ago, at least judging by its storefront contents. Only the bar, Rick’s Place (with its marquee outside stating “It’s mushroom time,” which the locals understand), appeared to be open and drawing customers.
See some highlights below from this mini-venture into our “forgotten” land.
(Or check out this and other Forgottonia-region shots on Flickr.)
Tags: bridges, EdgarLeeMasters, endangered, landmarks, local_history, Rural People Read Too, SpoonRiver, writers
