The View From Here to There

"I can hardly reply to your inquiry about the manner of travelling; it must be suited to the party. Horseback is the most pleasant and expeditious; on foot the cheapest; a light waggon is eligible in some cases; in others the stage is a necessary evil."
- Morris Birkbeck, 29 November 1817

Birkbeck's assessment of travel in 1817 illustrates how our perception of the past does not always match the way contemporaries viewed the world. One product of change is nostalgia. Romantic notions of pioneer travel, for example, mask the complex reality of a lengthy overland journey.

Change is inevitable for transportation corridors. For instance, a road may be widened to accommodate increased traffic flow. Sometimes disuse and neglect leads to deterioration; other times, modes of transportation may no longer suit the needs of travelers. The railroad depot in Charleston, Illinois was the city's "contact with the outside world at the turn of the century." Notice the 'For Rent' sign which now hangs in the window (left photo). Still, the significance of older buildings can prompt local residents to restore and find new uses for structures deemed 'obsolete.' An effort is underway in Mattoon, Illinois, for example, to restore the Illinois Central Railroad depot (right photo, courtesy of Project Depot).

Although change is constant, our perception of changes is not. The decline of railroads, such as in Mattoon, can be viewed as a loss of an important part of a community. Other changes, such as the Rails to Trails program, offer new uses for railroad paths and provide recreation opportunities for residents.

To some, a new highway is a convenient way to increase the efficiency of transportation; to others, it may represent the destruction of a pristine environment. Consider the following statement by historian William B. Rhoads:

“Motorists of refinement…still had their sensibilities attacked by ugly refreshment stands and gasoline stations which seemed to sprout like weeds along American streets and highways…”

As you explore The View From Here to There, we invite you to think about the everyday corridors around you. What perceptions do you have about travel in the past? Do you agree with Rhoads' assessment of the street and highway landscape, or is Saroyan's vision of the freedom of the road appealing? How, like the town of York, do transportation corridors affect the place you live?

Transportation corridors are clues to our culture and values. What do our corridors say about central Illinois?

< Back Continue >