By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

FULTON COUNTY, Ill. — While the first week of the annual Spoon River Drive is over, this weekend there is still time to get out and see some fall foliage and enjoy some of the offerings and scenes that Fulton County’s Spoon River area has.

The drive’s website at www.spoonriverdrive.org/tour-info.htm spells out just what the area has to offer: “Spoon River has carved a wide scenic valley through Fulton County as it flows from London Mills to the south and east, where it joins the Illinois River near the southeastern corner of the county. The Spoon River became nationally known from the work of Edgar Lee Masters, author of the noted Spoon River Anthology.”

The drive is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon enjoying vendor corndogs, apple dumplings and more. There is something for everyone – fall decorations or early Christmas presents, from a combination flea market/fine arts and crafts.

Some of the historic sites make this journey a destination into the past of central Illinois. Lewistown is the seat of Fulton County and also the boyhood home of Masters. The book was published in 1915 and the poems within are shared as if coming from the area’s deceased residents.

In the town cemetery there are two pillars from a former courthouse where Abraham Lincoln once gave a speech. Lewistown also offers the Rasmussen Blacksmith Shop and Museum and the Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. The nearby Dickson Mounds are famous across Illinois.

A peek into the post office in Lewistown offers the mural “Lewistown Milestones,” created by Ida York Abelman of New York, N.Y. This artist was employed during the Depression years as part of the New Deal Art Program.

The town of Smithfield offers up the museum of the American fine artist Harold Kee Welch. Born in Smithfield, his art was inspired by the Spoon River area and this prolific artist created paintings and sculptures that are in private collections all over the country.
Educated at the Chicago Art Institute, Welch filled his memorial studio with works of oils, chalks, watercolors and clay sculptures of Edgar Lee Masters, as well as self portraits.

Artist Bill Swango has his wildlife gallery situated in the Red Brick School Community Center. This old schoolhouse is alive with art and crafts during the festival and Swango’s wildlife sculptures are amazingly beautiful.

In the town of London Mills, visitors can view the miniature Statue of Liberty replica in Riverside Park. Whether studying the art, tractors on display at the Fulton County Fairgrounds or finding the right piece of furniture at a flea market, enjoy some of the sights and sounds of central Illinois this weekend. Check out the Spoon River website for detailed information and a map.