Redmon sightseeing attracts me every time I pass the dusty road from the direction of Champaign, and I must confess that I donât understand the whole hype around the âsmall cityâ, but the peculiarities here are really great. Redmon, a tiny spot in the heart of Buck Township, Edgar County, was founded in 1880 as a railway barn â a bit like a forgotten chapter from a Westernroman, only that the only duels are carried out here between tractors and mules. Honestly, the story is not exactly Hollywood-worthy, but that makes the charm: a few old wooden houses that still emanate the scent of hay and fresh earth, and a town hall that looks as if it had built a baker from the neighborhood.
When you arrive by car, take Route 33 â the country roads here are wider than the interest of most tourists. I like to park at the old grain store because it's a perfect spot to watch the passing fields and at the same time to consider why I came here. And yes, the word âRedmon Sightsâ reappears here again, because I cannot stress enough how satisfying it is to just sit, to sneak a cool beer and to hear the slow ticking of the land clock. The neighbors from Edgar County are friendly as long as you don't try to harvest their cornfield â that's a no-go.
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The first stop I put to every newman's heart is the imposing Edgar County Courthouse in the neighbouring Paris â a brick structure from the 1890s, which has more stories to tell than some guides. I once sought refuge in a fierce thunderstorm and heard the echo of the old wooden stairs, which was almost as loud as the thunder outside. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole county meeting takes place in the basement.
A short detour to the south leads you to Lincoln Trail State Parkwhere you can walk between dense forests and the glistening cascade river. I have to admit, I donât understand the hype for âpure natureâ completely, but the fishing in the early morning has actually tied me from the first bite â a small pike that refused to leave the bait until I have given him a little patience.
Back near Redmon lies the Redmon Schoolhouse, a restored classroom from 1902, which today serves as a mini museum. I experienced a school lesson with a retired teacher who still labeled the old table with chalk as if it were 1920. Parking is a bit shaky, because the old field has only a small parking space, but this makes the charm right.
A little further east, almost hidden between fields, stands the Lick Creek Bridge, a historical railway bridge from the late 19th century. I once organized a picnic while a tractor went over it and sounded the sound like a metallic noise that reminded me of old Western films. The bridge is freely accessible, so simply stop, leave and enjoy the view â this is the true âopen air museumâ.
If you want a little culture, you should Paris Opera House do not miss. The building is a relic from the founding period, and I accidentally caught a local opera performance where the singer suddenly spilled a sip of water and the audience broke out in sounding laughter. This is the real life, not the staged tourist noise.
A last secret tip for those who love the Off-The-Beaten-Path: Kaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area. I spent a weekend watching birds, and was almost pulled out of the camera by a curious rower. The area is huge, so plan enough time; Parking is easy at the main entrances, but at the edgeways the terrain can be mugged when you are looking for rain.
Whether you are looking for historical architecture, quiet nature trails or an unexpected laughter in the opera house â the surroundings of Redmon offer more than just a few dusty land roads. My personal highlights show that Redmon Attractions not only are a name on a map, but also experiences that make you sweat.
I must confess that I would never have thought that a place like Redmon has something to offer to me â until I first saw the Redmon United Methodist Church a. The nave is not exactly an architectural miracle, but the crunching wooden benches and the scary but lovingly cared church windows have something unpredictable that one rarely finds in the crowded metropolises. If you happen to pass a Sunday, you can almost always watch a few locals at the Sunday coffee shop, and parking is usually a Klacks there as long as you don't miss the weekly Bingo event.
A short walk further (about 200 meters, so no reason to park the car and walk) leads you to Redmon Grain Elevator. This massive wooden shaft is what I would call the âheartâ of the city â a relic from the era when the grain was worth more than the Internet. I once met an old farmer who told me that the device is still in operation, although most young people don't even know what a grain store is. The whole thing has a certain charm, and parking right in front of the shed is practically always free, except when the annual harvest festival starts â then it becomes a real crowd.
Now that you're looking for a little rest, I suggest that Redmon Cemetery to visit. Yes, a cemetery doesn't sound like the typical tourist magnet, but here are the founders of the city, and the old gravestones tell stories you wouldn't find in any guide. I once met an old veteran who told me about the hard winters of the 1930s, while we made fun of the missing WLAN. The way there is a narrow field path that remains dry in the summer, but in the spring after rain can become a small mud pit â that is to say, pack better solid shoes.
A little more âlocal flairâ you get in Redmon Community Center. The building is a true chameleon: there is a yoga course for seniors, sometimes a rock band test room for the youthful neighbours. I once experienced an improvised Poetry-Slam event where a 78-year-old farmer ran over the âgolden timesâ of the Maisanbau â no joke, that was really great. The center has a small parking lot behind the building, which is usually empty, except when the weekly bingo attracts the city again.
If you want to sniff a bit of history, that's Redmon School That's right. The former one-room school house is today a mini-museum operated by volunteers. I found an old classbook where the names of students from the 1920s were engraved â a real look into the past. The building is located directly on the main road, so you can go without much effort; parking is always a children's game because the property is hardly used.
Another small but fine stop is that Buck Township Hall. This is not only an administrative building, but also a place where the municipality comes together to make decisions that no one understands outside the city. I have once followed a heated debate on the new garbage collection route â that was almost as exciting as a policy in Washington. The indoor parking space is small, but sufficient as long as you are not there on the first Friday of the month when the monthly meeting of all citizens takes place.
Last but not least, Redmon Volunteer Fire Department forget. The red building with the big sign is what I call the âunforgettable backboneâ of the city. I once met a firefighter who told me that in the summer they almost exclusively organize barbecue evenings because the real fire is rare. Parking is right in front of the door, and this is practically always free â unless an emergency call comes in, then of course the whole thing becomes a little chaotic.
All this together makes the Redmon Attractions to a curious mix of rustic charm and surprising liveliness. So if you plan a road trip next time and have enough of the usual tourist traps, just look over here â you will not only meet a few nice people, but also experience a bit of the real, unsightly Illinois.
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