Vintage America: Effingham, Illinois

I have two linen postcards featuring generic rural scenes that were selected to represent Effingham, Illinois.

Effingham, the county seat of Effingham County, is a small city (about 12,000) in south central Illinois.

It is an important crossroads for highways (I-57 and I-70) and railroads, the former Pennsylvania Raolroad and the former Illinois Central Railroad met at effingham.

The Wiki article notes that Amtrak's "City of New Orleans" still passes daily through Effingham.

Effingham, Illinois

I have grown forgetful of my own articles. Early this year, I posted a postcard story about a train trip to Effingham, Illinois.

Mother Returns to Posey in the Rain - 1926

Comments: 22

Peter Joseph Swanson Oct 6, 2009, 9:00am EDT

neato

reply to this comment

Dave Sandborg Oct 6, 2009, 9:11am EDT

Very idyllic! Once again it's perhaps evocative to me as a representation of a kind of rural, woodsy life that I only got to see little of.

I used to ride the City of New Orleans train, but only from Chicago to Champaign, scarcely the beginning of its much longer (and presumably more interesting journey). I see Effingham is a bit beyond Champaign, so I never saw it. It's at the intersection of I-57 and I-70, which makes me wonder if it's a "town of motels"-type place now.

Peter Wimsey Oct 6, 2009, 10:47pm EDT

I have always wanted to ride (even a little bit) on the City of New Orleans.

reply to this comment

Duckie 1 Oct 6, 2009, 9:58am EDT

Nice postcards, Peter... Sue * should see these postcards, I believe she lives in Effingham, or close to Effingham!

Peter Wimsey Oct 6, 2009, 10:48pm EDT

Glad you like them, Duckie.

I did not realize that any of our Gather friends lived near Effingham.

reply to this comment

Debbie G. Oct 6, 2009, 12:11pm EDT

Lovely. How do you find such cards in this wonderful condition!

Peter Wimsey Oct 6, 2009, 10:49pm EDT

These were never used postally - so there are no creases or smudges on them.

There are vintage cards at almost every flea market in America - tens of millions were printed in the years 1900-1930.

reply to this comment

Sue * Oct 6, 2009, 1:51pm EDT

Duckie sent me here, and yes...I live in Effingham. We were placed here by my husband's company 6 years ago. I'm trying to figure out where these beautiful water shots were taken, and if it is still there.

As to Dave's question about it being a "town of motels" in some way he is correct. We have lived in several small towns in Illinois, and this is the only one that is progressive, with new things being built all the time. We do have many motels and restaurants. One of our restaurants has been mentioned in Bon Appetit magazine, the Chicago Tribune and The Riverfront Times. We also have a large medical community, with some very well known surgeons living and working here.

Dave Sandborg Oct 6, 2009, 2:44pm EDT

Hmmm...that's not quite the "town of motels" image I was thinking of. Here in PA we have a city called Breezewood that's at the intersection of the Turnpike and a major southbound interstate. Probably due to political pressures, the interchange takes one through the town, which has grown into a really tacky travelers' oasis. I think it even bills itself as "Town of Motels", hence the phrase. It sounds like Effingham has avoided becoming something that strip mall-y.

Sue * Oct 6, 2009, 3:04pm EDT

No, we aren't like that. We have the normal Starbucks, Cracker Barrel, Steak and Shake exit with various Hilton, Holiday Inn, Fairfield properties. But we also have million dollar homes, nice neighborhoods and quite a bit going on for such a small town.

Peter Wimsey Oct 6, 2009, 10:52pm EDT

Sue, it's great to hear from someone in Effingham.

When I did the geotags, I noticed that there are two bodies of water near Effingham.

These linen cards are NOT photographs (the linen cards showing vintage street scenes ARE photographs.)

Some one in Effingham selected two scenes (from hundreds of stock images) that reminded them of the town.

Sue * Oct 6, 2009, 10:57pm EDT

Oh, interesting. We do have a lake here, Lake Sarah. There are some beautiful homes and a few of the old cottages from back in the day.

Peter Wimsey Oct 7, 2009, 12:16am EDT

It sounds, lovely, Sue.

reply to this comment

Mary Fagan Oct 6, 2009, 5:24pm EDT

Ah, Effingham! I drive through there twice a year on I-57, en route to Lafayette, IN. Besides the bucolic appeal of that area, I now look forward to the giant, 198-ft. cross at the Interstate intersections. Those are stunning postcards. Kinda evokes a Courier & Ives feeling, doesn't it?

Peter Wimsey Oct 6, 2009, 10:54pm EDT

I noticed the "world's largest or most ridiculous cross" in the Wiki article, Mary.

I have never understood how devout people expect to change the world by erecting giant metal crosses.

Sue * Oct 6, 2009, 11:00pm EDT

The cross was here before we were. The first time we drove through and saw it, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It is actually non-denominational, although this is a highly Catholic area. They have Easter sunrise services etc. out there. You would be amazed at how many people stop at the visitor's center and take pictures of it. We've gotten used to it. Now, we know when we see the cross we are almost home.

Janna R. Oct 6, 2009, 11:21pm EDT

Wow. That's a big-ass cross.

Mary Fagan Oct 7, 2009, 2:40pm EDT

Well, maybe it won't change the world, but it certainly is a striking landmark. It's a welcome reminder that I'm halfway to my destination.

reply to this comment

Ruth MacGill Oct 7, 2009, 6:06am EDT

Such a beautiful scene! It reminds me of the brook where I learned to swim in Connecticut, except this stream is at least twice as big. I always enjoy your postcards.

Peter Wimsey Oct 7, 2009, 7:11am EDT

Connecticut has some lovely streams and waterways - good for swimming, and for canoeing.

Nice to see you, Ruth.

reply to this comment

Mary Louise Marker Oct 16, 2009, 11:55am EDT

These are great, Peter.
I have been in Effingham - it's not too far from where we used to live.

I'm not sure what body of water is pictured on the cards.

Peter Wimsey Oct 20, 2009, 7:19am EDT

Nice to see you again, Mary Louise.

I always enjoy the comments of folks who have visited these sites.

reply to this comment

Vintage America: Effingham, Illinois

Comments: 22

Join the Conversation

You might also like

More by Peter Wimsey