UPDATE: So just yesterday I posted about the Macomb Square losing another long-time business (or possibly two). Just minutes after hitting “save,” I learned from a Facebook friend’s posting that the independently owned Ford Hopkins drug store (on the west side of the Square, known for offering “real” Cokes and having a lunch counter) has closed its doors.
I grew up on a farm in west central Illinois, where there was one stoplight in the entire county. As a newspaper reporter and award-winning columnist ("Six Degrees from Galesburg"), public-radio commentator and blogger, I've uncovered the truth behind local legends (remind me to tell you the one involving Ringo Starr's tonsils), visited ghost towns and forgotten haunts, and interviewed marginally famous celebrities who happened to be stopping through town ("Corky" from "Life Goes On," anyone?). Now, after 12 years in journalism and PR, I've moved to Davenport, Iowa, to start life with my husband and to embark on a new gig as an English instructor. I'm also working on a batch of essays about life in small-town, murderous-to-latter-day-prophet America, (see "Joseph Smith" tag below). I love to hear from people who land here. Please leave comments at the bottom of posts, or drop me a line at alison dot sixdegrees at gmail.com.
I was there that fateful day, and actually managed to talk my way inside. It was a weird scene.