2024 06 16

Warlord. Chicago, Illinois. March, 2024. © Clayton Hauck

My Illinois tour yesterday was interesting, although admittedly I’m not sure I made many outstanding images. More noteworthy for me was visiting many small towns I’d never previously been to. Lockport, Elwood, Wilmington, Gardner, Dwight, Odell, Pontiac, Forrest, Chatsworth. One after another, these towns are remarkable in the sense of their history. Built long ago in a different time, during a rush of growth and immigration, these places are largely abandoned and forgotten these days. I can only hope these towns will again fill up with people to be reborn and revitalized; their beautiful old architecture preserved and restored to its original glory.

To do this, of course, you need people. Still, these days more people are leaving Illinois than they are coming to it, so this dream of a rebirth will have to wait.

One major problem in attracting new people is there’s nothing to do in most of these towns, aside from maybe a bar or two where the record player scratches as you enter the door. Being in the big city, we’re spoiled with options and choices. We can eat food from any country in the world or visit a bar with any vibe we’re in the mood for.

-Clayton