Our World - Neoga

Sunday Fergus and I went for a ramble through the countryside and decided to stop in Neoga for a cold drink

My mother was born out in the country near here and lived in town as a child.

The population as of the 2000 census was 1,854. Neoga was incorporated in 1856. The name Neoga means "deer" in the Indian language Kickapoo.

The first thing I noticed when I drove into town was the huge grain bins. Upon closer inspection I saw one of my favorite things—a train.

So, of course, I had to take another picture or 10.

The vacant building to the left was once Kern's Manufacturing. My mother worked there as a young woman and went back to work when I was a preschooler. They made bras or what was then known as brassieres. I applied and was actually hired when I still lived in Illinois. I made it 2 1/2 days. Sewing all day was not my cup of tea. The factory is still in Neoga, but it is housed in a brand new building on the western edge of town. 

This mural is on the north side of the old Kerns building. Since it included a train, I had to take a picture.

I saw these brightly colored posts along the edge of a parking lot. They were uneven, seemingly placed willy-nilly between the sidewalk and parking area. 

I was sad to see Short Furniture had gone out of business. My mom and dad always bought furniture there and when I bought my house here in Illinois, Most of my furniture came from there also. My dining room table and hutch were being unloaded when I was there looking for dining room furniture. I bought it without ever even seeing it set up. The hutch was exactly what I had been looking for and the color was perfect. 

There are 3 restaurants on the main street. I've never tried any of them, but would be interested in trying them sometime when Hubs has a weekend off.

Sorry to end on a sad note. The doctor's office on the left, with the green roof, is hard for me to look at or talk about. My mother's doctor was there. She had an appointment and was in her car in the parking lot when she passed away. I always feel sad when I see that building. Yet there is some comfort in knowing she passed away in the same town where she was born. Her life had come full circle.

Linking to Our World Tuesday