John Deere Historic Site: Birthplace of the First Steel Plow

John Deere Historic Site: Birthplace of the First Steel Plow

You’re probably familiar with John Deere. The name conjures up images of bright green tractors and farm implements. Or maybe the logo of a yellow leaping deer on a green background. The huge company all began with a single, simple plow crafted by John Deere, a blacksmith. The John Deere Historic Site in Grand Detour, Illinois, tells the story of both John Deere the man and John Deere the company.

Read more

Midwest Wanderer Newsletter – August 1, 2022

Midwest Wanderer Newsletter – August 1, 2022

The Return to Casey, Illinois

We promised our granddaughter, Carmela, we’d take her on a short trip as a birthday gift. Right away she said, “I want to go to Casey.” Casey, Illinois, is home to the world’s largest—well, a dozen different things.

Read more

More Big Stuff: The Return to Casey, Illinois

More Big Stuff: The Return to Casey, Illinois

The small town of Casey, Illinois, is home to twelve of the world’s largest objects—rocking chair, wind chimes, and teeter-totter, to name a few. We wrote about the “Big Things Small Town” last year after we had passed through and had seen the attractions on and around Main Street. However, there are more “big” roadside attractions scattered through other parts of town. So, we spent the better part of a day there recently, and we took our granddaughter with us, knowing she’d love it. Here is a video of some of what Casey offers.

Read more

Midwest Wanderer Newsletter – July 15, 2022

Midwest Wanderer Newsletter – July 15, 2022

I felt guilty, sitting in a chair outside our travel trailer, squandering time. I should be doing something, but what? After a late lunch, we weren’t ready for dinner. Go for a walk? Too wiped out from a busy day. I forgot to pack reading material, and was tired of looking at my phone. Skip joined me, and we both just sat, watching the squirrels scamper up and down trees and robins bob along the ground. Then, a red-headed woodpecker swooped in and landed on a tree trunk just twenty feet or so from where we sat.

Read more