Honestly, if you are looking for “Hume Sights”, you must first understand that the town has more history than you suspect at first glance – founded in 1870 as a railway hub named after the local postmaster Hume, and since then a silent witness of the prerie development in the heart of Young America Township, Edgar County. I came by car over Interstate 57, a short detour to Landstraße 1 B, and suddenly the village lies in front of me, framed by endless corn fields that almost seem poetic if you don't think of the next harvest.
I don't understand the hype around the old railroad, but the small museum in the former railway station – a real jewel for people who like to run in dusty boxes – is the highlight for me. Right next to the town hall, which still carries the old wooden window from the 1880s, there is a tiny café stand where you get a coffee that is almost as strong as the villagers themselves.
When you arrive by train, just get out in Edgar and take the local bus that takes you to Hume – that's a bit of an adventure, but that's what makes the charm. And yes, the “Hume Sights” are not just a word game, they are a small, slightly cynical love letter to a place you should not overlook.
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The first stop of my little Odyssey was the Edgar County Historical Museum in Paris – yes, the same Paris that is not just famous for the Eiffel Tower, but for an old prison that now houses dusty artefacts. I found a yellowed newspaper article from 1918, which reports about the harvest crisis, and had to grapple because people were already complaining about “farmer crises” at the time, while today we are complaining about supply chains. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, it becomes a real problem because the museum is then part of a local art and crafts fair.
A short descent towards the north leads to the Lincoln Trail State Park, where nature presents itself in gentle hills and wide meadows – a place I like to call the lungs of Edgar County, although this sounds somewhat exaggerated. The hiking trail along the old Lincoln path is well marked, and I watched a squirrel that courageously plucked a nut from my backpack. The lake is not huge, but perfect for a few relaxing hours with a fishing stick if you like the quiet plough.
Continue to Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, one of the few places where you feel like cycling in another era. The old excavator lake I crossed on my bike was populated by ducks who looked at me as if they knew that I am not the typical tourist type here. I discovered an old mule sign replica there that reminds of the time when the water of the canal formed the backbone of the regional economy. The parking lot is generous, but on hot summer days, the grass can become quite muddy – a small price for the view of the historical sluices.
A little further south-east lies the Vermilion River State Park, a true paradise for those who love the noise of the water without being equal to the great rivers of the Middle West. I made a small picnic on a glow, while a beaver was working on a dam – a look that reminded me that life is still pulsating in a leisurely rhythm. The access to the river is free, and fishing is allowed as long as you observe the local rules that I quickly pulled out of my head, because the shield was written into something too small.
Back in Paris, the old opera house must not be missing. This Victorian jewel from the 1880s has more stories to tell than one can see in a single visit. I have seen a classical concert there, where the acoustics were so clear that one could almost hear the whisper of the conductor – a rare pleasure that I would not recommend to everyone if one was only looking for loud pop hits. The entrance area is decorated with marble columns, and the staff looks like they just had the time travel from the 19th century. century finished.
Last but not least, a short trip to the Edgar County Courthouse, an impressive red sandstone building, which overlooks the Paris skyline. I took a lead there with a very factual historian who explained that the court building has been in operation since 1891 – a proof that some things simply do not come out of fashion. The interiors are decorated with artistic wood panels, and the staircase has a sound that makes every step a small echo that almost seems poetic.
Next time you drive over the country roads to Hume, you should not miss these points – they give you a real impression of what the environment has to offer. The mix of history, nature and a bit of local character makes the Hume sights to an underestimated treasure for those who want to travel off the beaten paths.
So, next time you stumble over Highway 136 and see the sign “Hume”, don’t let the simple road fool you – that’s the gateway to my personal favorite paradise, the Hume Community Park. I've seen more barbecue evenings there than I can count, and that's not a joke: the field for baseball is small, but the atmosphere is so authentic that you can hear almost the rustling of the hay baskets when a wind blows over the stands. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturday night, there will be a real problem because then the whole village comes together for a picnic.
A short walk on (and yes, that's a bit of a walk, but that's just what hume makes you) Hume Historical Society Museum. The museum is housed in the old school building, which used to house more children than the entire village has inhabitants today. I don't quite understand the hype about high-tech exhibitions, but here, between dusty maps and a collection of old tractors, you can feel the pulse of history. Last year I accidentally found an old diary that was handwritten by a peasant from the 1920s – a real find that made me feel like entering a piece of time machine.
If you're looking for a place where you can take a short walk without leaving the house, then look at the Hume Public Library on. The library is tiny, but the staff is warm and knows everyone who has ever borrowed a book – that is almost scary. I once borrowed a book about the local flora, only to establish that the shelves betray more about the history of the village than about plants. And yes, WLAN works, but only if you connect to the “Hume-Free-WiFi” network, which is as fast as a tractor in the first gear.
Another highlight that I do not want to conceal is the Hume United Methodist Church. The building is a real relic from the 19. Century, with a stone facade that has more stories to tell than most guides. I once took part in a Sunday worship service, only to realize that the organ is more snaring than an old barn gate, but that gives the whole a certain charm. If you're lucky, you hear the echo of the community that reminds you that there is still real community.
And then there is Hume Grain Elevator, the massive silo system that watches over the fields like a silent guard. I stood there for the first time when a truck just dumped the grains, and the drone of the conveyor belts was almost hypnotic. This is one of those places that you simply need to photograph because they capture the image of “right Middle West” perfectly. I don't understand why some people prefer to look for art in metropolises if you have a piece of industrial romance here.
A small but fine secret tip is the Hume Fire Department. The building is not only a working fire department store, but also a meeting point for the villagers when the weather is too hot for the park life. I once watched a firefighter at the coffee drink, who told me that they are organising a small “Firefighter’s BBQ” every year – this is probably the only BBQ where you hear the sound of sirens in the background.
If you ask yourself what else you can see in Hume, just look at the Hume Days the annual village festival that takes place in the late summer. There is a flea market, local crafts stands and a few rides that have more charm than any rollercoaster in an amusement park. The last time I tried a homemade apple cake that was so good that I almost forgot I was here because of the sights.
All this together Hume sights to a curious mix of nostalgia, rural idyll and a pinch of underestimated humor. So, if you're driving over Illinois the next time and think you've already seen everything, then make a detour to Hume – you won't be disappointed, and maybe you'll even find a new favorite café between the Kornsilose.
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