Small town car shows are my favorite. Typically the people are a little bit more talkative and the cars a little bit more out type. Last weekend was a huge car weekend across the country with the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, Bonneville, Hot August Nights, and various other huge shows around the country but while some opted for the big events I headed to the small Midwestern town of Hull, Illinois. Hull is like my adopted home as I spend about four months out of the year there to help out some family with corn harvest. The town itself is a great story in perseverance, resiliency, and the best in what this country has to offer. Looking at the town you would never know it but 20 years ago this year the town of Hull, Illinois fought and lost a very hard fight with the mighty Mississippi River.

The town was flooded but great story after great story would come out of the flood. Neighbors helping neighbor and the whole town coming together to save their school from the flood waters. The town has bounced back with great poise. Another blow was dealt when the school was consolidated with another near by school and the people on the school board, almost none of them from Hull, decided to close down the school there. This would have been the end for many towns, I’ve seen in many times where I live but not for Hull. The school was sold and then turned into a bit of a community center which is now a thriving restaurant, gathering place, and even auction house at times. Not to mention the ball fields and basketball courts still get used regularly. Another great testament to the people of Hull.

Read the rest of this entry »