Snapshot - Pulaski County Courthouse, 1905

Found at Shorpy Historical Photo Archive

Today's photo comes from an outside source. The courthouse is, happily, still exactly as it appears in this photo, except with a working clock in place of the blank face seen at the tower here. It's a stunning red stone building. As you may guess it is no longer the tallest thing around. And you won't be finding any horses or carts wandering around its perimeter.

Snapshot - Bricks, tracks, and river rail

Google Map

Old brick courtyard and abandoned railroad track at left; replica streetcar at right; modern condominiums and office buildings in background

Snapshot - Another ghost sign by the river

Too lazy for a Google Map. But it's right next to this one

This business, which apparently belonged to "BRANDON," now advertises mainly to a dumpster and a no-parking zone. Occasionally weird people like me come along to pay homage to the ghosts.

Exploration - Fairfield, Illinois

There's something about a city's downtown. It's the easiest way to get a snapshot of what the town is, who lives there and what values exist. I see a dead downtown as evidence of a dead, or dying town. It's also the place easiest to find visible history.

So a month or so ago we took a couple hours to walk around downtown Fairfield, Illinois. How did it measure up?

Snapshot - Ghost Sign, River Market

Google Map

Ornate brickad for a long-defunct business. The sign might have advertised to river or rail traffic; the only folks wandering this way now are joggers, hobos and tourists. Note the modern advertising on the upper left.