Tampico, Illinois

One of the great things about having speaking engagements take me on the road (aside from meeting nice people) is that it gives me repeated opportunities to prove that there really is something to learn wherever you go. Last week, I was in Tampico, a small (population just over 700) farming community in west-central Illinois. I arrived early because I’d been offered a tour of the local historical society, which occupies a couple of historic buildings on Main St.

Of the two buildings, one is converted into a museum but the old bank next door has been restored to what it was like 100 years ago. However, it was the tenants in the apartment above the bank that has made the spot something of a destination. This is where Ronald Reagan was born. Both Ronald and his older brother were actually born in this bed.

Lots of history, both of the town and of the Reagans. One of my favorite stories, of the many I heard, was about Reagan working as a lifeguard. Living at this point in nearby Dixon, on the Rock River, a teen-aged Reagan looked impressive in his lifeguard uniform. He saved 77 people from drowning during his seven years of lifeguarding. But the tale that made me chuckle was that one girl was rescued three times. Can’t help but think she enjoyed being rescued by the future movie star.

So many other stories, plus the usual fun of visiting a restored building, with antique furniture an old ice box, old irons that one heated on the stove, and so much more, plus the equipment in the bank downstairs.

Here’s the website for the museum, with a few photos, additional history, and links to other area sites—plus info useful if visiting. https://www.tampicohistoricalsociety.com/R_Reagan_Birthplace_Museum.html

If you’re in the area, especially if you have an interest in Ronald Reagan, the museum is worth a visit. And should you visit Tampico, know that the restaurant across the street, The Break Room, is a dandy option, offering hearty but surprisingly imaginative food.

Family Farm

I keep reading articles about how the family farm is a thing of the past and people don’t care about the land anymore. I figure these articles must have been written by people who live in cities, because if you get out into the countryside, at least in the Midwest, you find that this simply isn’t true. In fact, in Illinois, 96 percent of all farms are family owned. That’s roughly 70,000 farms, many of them in the same family for generations. Some of the farms are larger these days, simply because far fewer people are interested in doing the hard work of farming. But being large doesn’t mean you can’t still be all-in-the-family. To “meet” some of these farm families, you can visit “We are the 96” on this site: https://watchusgrow.org/we-are-the-96/

If you go through the videos on my blog (see link under categories), you’ll find evidence of numerous family farms from several states—because Illinois is not alone in being very family-farm-centric. At least in the Midwest, this is the norm.

I recently wrote an article for Newcity Magazine about how to reconnect with the world of farming if you happen to live in Cook County Illinois. There are links to the places mentioned in the article, should you live in the area and want to follow up. But if you don’t live in the area, perhaps it will encourage you to search and find out what is near you. Because the myth of the vanishing family farm is just that—a myth—though it could happen if we keep ignoring them. Here’s the story: https://resto.newcity.com/2023/10/04/not-just-corn-and-soybeans-the-big-food-disconnect-and-how-to-fix-it/

So do what you can to find out who is farming where you live. See if there are options for learning more. Because the problem with having everyone believing the myth of the vanishing family farm is that it makes it all that much harder to hang on to those family farms.

Return to Bishop Hill

Several years ago, on the return from a speaking trip to Iowa, I routed myself toward a town I’d read about—the Swedish settlement of Bishop Hill. This was a great idea, as Bishop Hill, a State Historic Site, is glorious. It’s also small, so easily explored—but really beautiful. Lots of historic buildings, tree-filled park, gardens, museums, shops.

That first trip, amid my exploring, I stopped for lunch at P L Johnson’s. This delightful little shop offers classic Swedish dishes, and it became my go-to place on return trips.

Because I have returned. In fact, if you’ve read my book Destination Heartland, you’ll know that Bishop Hill—and P L Johnson’s—are included in the book. Just too much history to not have it in a book on the region’s history! (And if you haven’t read my book, I figure your two options are getting my book or visiting Bishop Hill. Maybe both. Because there is a lot of very interesting history here.)

Two days ago, I was back in Bishop Hill, this time giving a presentation. Happily, agricultural history is a popular topic out here, so I’ve had the pleasure of a couple of visits through the Illinois Humanities “Road Scholars” program, in addition to my earlier visits, when I first explored the town. Of course, I had to go to P L Johnson’s. While I don’t have Swedish meatballs every time I visit I go, I did this weekend. The side salad had the option of lingonberry vinaigrette, which was my choice, and having had some wonderful soup there over the years, I couldn’t resist getting a cup of Swedish cheese soup. Yum.

But if you have an opportunity to be anywhere near Bishop Hill, I highly recommend a visit. There are B&Bs, if you want to stay a little longer. It’s a peaceful, lovely place, so a great option for a weekend away, and the wealth of history makes it a remarkable stop.