Water Tower

Every town in Illinois has at least one water tower. This one is fairly close to my subdivision.

Community

Tonight, Warrenville really outdid themselves celebrating National Night Out: "America's Night Out Against Crime." They planned for about 400 people but I think close to 1,000 attended. For kids the magic show and the "Bubble Man" were hits. Lots of local businesses gave away food and goods. Everyone got a free dinner. This was sponsored by the Police and the Parks Department.

Taxi

1949 Oxford Taxi from England. This car was found in a warehouse in January 2012 in Downers Grove, IL. The owner has been working on the body ever since and this was the first time out, for the Warrenville, IL Summer Daze car show. It hadn't been driven for 25 years and he has no idea how it got to the US. It looked about like it must have when it was used in England.

                                   Meter

PS This interesting plaque encourages passengers to give to the help the blind.

Railroad Town

Metra commuter train heads west out of West Chicago. West Chicago was the first town in Illinois founded by the railroad industry. In the early 1900's three train lines intersected there. Today the Union Pacific Railroad and the Canadian National Railroad continue to intersect in West Chicago.

Coca Cola

I found this old billboard today on the backside of a downtown building in West Chicago. It just has that long ago hometown feel.

Live Nativity

Each year the Trinity Lutheran Church of Warrenville does a live nativity. The story is narrated as church members play the roles and a choir sings appropriate carols. The live animals add to the real-ness.

A wiseman joins the shepherds and angels in worshipping Jesus.

 The angel choir sings "Glory to God in the highest."

 Shepherds watching the sheep.

A young shepherd feeds a sheep.

 Llamas were there too.

After the performance a small guest gets to sit on the donkey.

LIghts

21 November 2011*

Putting up the Christmas lights in Winfield, IL.

* Taken 21 November 2011 but not posted until 22 November 2011

Night Photos

With Daylight Saving Time disappearing over the weekend, I was driving home home in the dark and decided to experiment with some nighttime photos in downtown Winfield where there are plenty of cars and colorful neon signs. What do you think of the result?

Thanskgiving Decorations

As I drove through Winfield tonight I couldn't help but notice the Thanksgiving decorations at Winfield Flower Shoppe and Village Square Antiques. The porch is just full of flowers and antiques. Enjoy!

Clothesline

Today I saw clothes drying on the line in Milton township. Can't remember the last time I saw that. 

Wyse Farm

Just before 9 AM the Lake Shore Limited Amtrak Train bound for Chicago from Boston/NYC rolled through Archbold, Ohio my father's boyhood town. 

Just east of town, is the family farm established by my great grandfather S.S. Wyse, then owned by my grandfather Jesse Wyse, my uncle Dale Wyse and most recently by Dad's oldest brother Sparks Wyse. Dad was born in the white house on the left of the picture and moved into the brick house as a boy.

Dixville Notch

Today I went to Dixville Notch and saw The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel. It is here where the first votes in the nation are cast for the presidential election every 4 years. There are only a handful of voters in this tiny New Hampshire town and they cast their votes just after midnight on election day in the Ballot Room of this grand hotel.

The historic placard says:

Dixville Notch

"First in the Nation"

New Hampshire has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primaries since 1920. With the first presidential "beauty contest" in 1952, our citizens have personally met the candidates and by popular ballot have declared their preference for their party's nominee. Since 1960, Dixville has been the first community in the state and the country to cast its handful of votes in national elections. On election eve 100% of the eligible voters gather in the Ballot Room of the BALSAMS. At midnight polls open and a few minutes later promptly close. The results are broadcast around the world.

Back roads

This afternoon I drove around for a couple hours on back roads in Dummerston and Putney, VT where I spent my childhood. A small, old, but freshly mowed neighborhood cemetery caught my eye, and I stopped to take pictures. When I got home I googled the cemetery and found out that former Vermont Governor and long-time US Senator (1941-1975) George Aiken is buried there.

The grave stone that was most significant to me was the marker for my 3rd and 4th grade teacher Mrs. Kelsay. She died 10 years ago at the age of 87. By the time I knew her she was "getting old," almost 50! She was a kind teacher. I also remember her because she drove a ragtop Jeep to school. Seeing her headstone, brought back good memories of elementary school.

Softball

I'm back in my hometown, Dummerston, VT for a few days visiting my parents. Tonight I watched my brother play a playoff game in the local softball league. Evening games under the lights with family and friends watching is such a part of summer in a small town. Years ago, in my 20's I used to umpire these games. 

View from the Train

A glimpse of what I saw today looking out the train window in upstate New York.

 Crossing Gate

 Farm

 A large "puddle" after recent rain and a yard full of boxcars.

 The makings of a small town carnival

 An abandoned bridge

 One building of the New York State Fair

A beautiful old engine from the ADIRONDACK SCENIC RAILROAD

I & M Canal

Today I rode my bike along the Illinois & Michigan (I & M) Canal near Seneca and Marseilles, IL. I rode a 15-mile stretch of the canal from mile 62 to mile 77. In Seneca is the M J Hogan Grain Company elevator, the only remaining elevator used on the canal. In Marseilles there are two locks though these days the canal is empty in that area.

Summer Daze of Warrenville

      Aug 5 & 6 are Warrenville's summer festival. 
     http://www.warrenvilleparks.org/events/2011SummerDaze.pdf 
The Car show featured lots of cool cars. Most were antiques.
 This Jaguar 3.8 Litre was my favorite. 

View through the back vent (triangle) window.

 

National Night Out

Warrenville celebrated National Night Out with lots of fun stuff for kids. Here the Fire Department has equipment for kids to put on.

 The rigs were out for everyone to see and enjoy.

DQ

Dairy Queen is always a busy place on a hot summer evening. I'm always impressed by all the kids who work there. They serve customers pleasantly and quickly and there doesn't seem to be any goofing off. Of course I'm there when it's busy, so who knows what happens in the slow times.

Concert on the Commons

Every Wednesday in June, July and August, the Warrenville Public Library sponsors a free concert. Tonight it was Steve Beno, who specializes in concerts for kids and their families. He had the kids up front dancing and singing with him. Watch a video of Steve.