I Have To Declare A Winner

The rule was that if I didn't have 11 entrants I couldn't see my way clear to holding three up for a vote. I got ten. Even with the multiples some people sent in. I got some VERY creative choices; certain "takes" on the Algonquin Indian language, outstanding historical people who OUGHT to have towns named after them (and it made it even harder to deny because one was named for a Quaker lady), and overall real work into looking at the area and thinking about the story by EVERYONE who sent me something. To the people who entered; I could easily go with anyone's entry.

But in the end the challenge wasn't up most people's alley or the blog in general is feeling the effects of my lack of participation in the quid-pro-quo of the blogohexadrationarysphere. Either way, I had to make a call. And I think, once you see it, you'll agree with my pick.

Let's walk up to the station and see what town this train brought us to...

I think the biggest thing - and I have to admit it - is that when I first saw it I fell in love with it. And I emailed the entrant and said - quite blatantly - that I hope I didn't get 11 entrants to play - and that I might just SAY I didn't because that's the kind of a cheating son of a bitch I truly am. To his credit he admonished me by saying such a thing would be immoral and certainly build some karma debts. And so I agreed. In fact I even left the door open for any last minute entrants to arrive.

Much to my surprise, and almost relief, the number of entrants stood at 10 all the way through, and I walked a little closer to the station...

And then I saw where I was, after all...


I was in Reunion, Illinois. Just a stop or two from Galena before the Chicago Great Western crossed the Mississippi. That's the town our soldier returns to.

The winning entry was presented by Sligo, who started but stopped his own blog (we thank him because he's a great big WINDBAG anyhow!) - yes the guy who graduated with me from high school back in the stone age. And he has directed me to give $25 to the Redwood Empire Food Bank.

So it is written, so it shall be done!