Route 173 in Illinois is one of those typical far north roads that doesn't really excite anyone that has to drive across it from one town to the next. It's one of those plain, empty vast spaces that really only connects town to town. But if you ever take this route from one end to the other, you may be suprised if you pay attention to the details. Not only will you see cool, delapitated Americana, but you'll find the town called Chemung. Yes, Chemung. At first 'hear', it does indeed sound like some sort of genital ailment or disease, but this little treasure in between Antioch and Rockford used to house on this scenice drive, a location called, Chemung Tech. A bizzarre little outpost of art and carvings that would nearly get you into a car accident as you passed by it because you were to busy wondering what exactly it was, and who the madman was that put such a wonderful distraction next to a busy highway. It's gone now, and has become a little woodworking shop. So when road tripping to take pictures, I purchased a new bird house there. Not because I wanted one, but in order to avoid being shot by the new owner while seemingly trespassing on private property. On this particular road trip,with fellow photo nerds Andy and Ania Lorenc, we got to experience more than just Chemung. The blog pic of the day was taken that same day, of a tank parked right out in front of a United Methodist Church in Capron, IL. It's a rusty, beat up old thing - but an honorable monument none the less. And almost poetic as it sits - in front of a building dedicated to peace and love. Just a reminder that those luxuries aren't a free commodity, and there is always a price to pay for them.
3 Comments
Ryan Clark
1/29/2012 12:30:48 pm
The spot you had photographed, by the tank. This is the spot exactly where my first girlfriend and I had sat the night we met. She died in a car wreck a few years ago, pulled out in front of a truck while she was on her cell phone, died almost instantly. . . Amazing that I see this spot in a photo.... I worked just outside of Chemung for three and a half years and passed all the spots you mentioned several times, the art stand remains a spot I drove by slow all the time just wanting to catch glimpses of some of the work set outside the lil stand. Just on the other side of the road a lil ways up is a small parkland on the creek there where I used to fish, a quiet place that really lets you unwind, I used to talk to an old man that fished trout out of the creek there, he was an interesting fellow,,,, I know that area well... I lived just north of there by about 5 min.. God that was years ago when my first born was young... Those were the days... Just a few thoughts that this picture had stirred... Thanks.
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Petra
1/29/2012 01:09:15 pm
Hey Ryan! Thanks for the message! What a small world when a photography of something so seemingly random could have stirred so many memories for you. I'm sorry about your loss, that's has to still be something that hurts. Good to hear from you old friend, and hope all is well.
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AuthorPetra Sith Archives
September 2012
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