When I think about my hometown, I think about it’s age more often than not. Often you find younger people moving from small towns for various reasons. Those reasons can be things like school, new work, or just that they need more social interaction. It’s all to common that my hometown houses an older demographic only matched by the age of our infrastructure. Old posters, buildings and tradition still linger making me question what our history was like. I’ve spoken to people who have lived here all their lives and they claim there used to be a movie theater, music venue, and even an arcade. This peaked my interest because the locations they claimed these places used to be where in furniture stores and what is now an ice-cream shop. Another notable feature is that most houses in the older area of town have a “coal miner’s shower” in them, which is a very specific type of shower that existed for people who mined coal, when that industry was booming in the area, to clean off after a day. Many places are rich in history, covered up by time and newer business. Not only that but the places I remember as a kid like a local family video and sports store that no longer exist. Nonetheless, I find the history of old buildings interesting and love to see old places used for new reasons, it adds a touch of personality and history to any location.
Tag: Place
In the little town where I’m from, things calm down after nightfall. I find myself wondering why so much of this place’s life revolves around only a handful of locations. You visit the same diner, the same high school football field, or the same gas station if you want to see people. Everyone ends up in the same places since there aren’t many options.
The setting is a small village with even fewer chances. Businesses that aren’t well-known don’t last long, and anything new is viewed with mistrust. The routine might be comforting, but it can also seem boring. When I have nothing to do on the weekends and nowhere fresh to go, I’ve found myself wondering why things never change. Environment is important to each individual because it shapes your identity and how you view yourself. If nothing ever changes how can people grow or strive to discover new things.
I am originally from the southside of Chicago. This is a city that is always doing something. Typically known as the Windy City. Its history was marked by its beautiful transformation from a trading post to a beautiful vibrant and culturally diverse city. That is in regard to the culture we have there. In Chicago we have very diverse cultures that stay alive because everyone has a different story to tell. Every part of Chicago is filled with history. Which is why there are many art exhibits, museums, etc. The history of this city was founded on everyone having a different beginning and ultimately blending together. The multiple of historical landmarks located in our city keep the history of Chicago alive, whether that be the good or bad, it is the truth. Such as the Pullman National Monument and the DuSable Museum of African American History. These cultural institutions and landmarks showcase that everyone has a different side of history; and now have the responsibility of reminding people where it all started at.
In the middle of the city I live in, there lies a fountain. It is in a roundabout called a square, ironic, but what is it doing there? What is its history? This is something I have not known about, even after living here for most of my life in Belleville, IL. Most of the time, it usually stays off, but once in a while, it will turn on, and even at night, it will light up with a colorful glow. It was always exciting seeing the fountain run, but as I mentioned, it was a rare sight to see. The History of this fountain was to be a veteran memorial built in 1937, but the original base of the fountain was later removed and replaced by what it is currently. The original base, though, was not destroyed; it was moved over to a park in Swansea. This is where it still resides today. The fountain was always something that interested me in the area I lived in, and this is why I pondered upon what its real purpose was.
I live in Peoria Illinois which serves as a mid-sized metropolitan city with a population of over 400,000. The city has various secluded parks and natural areas, like the rugged trails of Rocky Glen Park, Robinson Park, etc. I have been to the Jubilee College State Park near Brimfield, which I didn’t really enjoy, as there is nothing much to see. Though, I think it is a great place for camping and hiking, since they have trails.
I have always wondered what it would be like to live in a city with national park, so, I did a little research on what makes a national park. First, I learned that the population of a city does not determine if it would have a national park or not. National parks require certain criteria for it to be present in a city or state. They are established based on the massive, pristine or scientifically unique landscape, which Peoria Illinois lacks. So, the city focuses more on local conservation, such as Wildlife Prairie Park and the Peoria Park District.
The closest national park to Peoria is 150 miles away and is located in Missouri. For those visiting Peoria who may not want to visit the state park, and would like something similar to a national park, they could visit the closest nature areas like Wildlife Prairie Park which feature native animals like bison, bears and wolves.
The world’s first nuclear reactor is currently buried in a forest preserve in Chicago. I stumbled upon it when I was in High School during a land-navigation competition where we had to find points in the forest using a compass and map. Through one of those runs my buddy and I saw this weird rock in the middle of nowhere with writing on it and eerily enough it said there was radioactive material buried underneath us. That made us go “WHY WOULD THAT BE HERE???”, it felt like a nuclear bomb should’ve been stored at least hundreds of miles away from any city. After reading the description and doing some light research afterwards we found out that the park was the site of University of Chicago’s nuclear reaction testing and wasn’t dangerous at the depth it was buried. I’m sure we couldn’t have been the first or the last to have their hearts drop as soon as they stop to see the funny rock with a paragraph.
St. Louis has a famous monument known as the Gateway Arch that sits in a national park formerly known as Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, but was later renamed after the Gateway Arch. The park is located near a bridge over the Mississippi River that connect Missouri to Illinois. One important question is why was the Gateway Arch build? The arch was the chosen winning design of a nationwide competition to design the memorial. Around 1933, someone envisioned that building a memorial on the riverfront would simultaneously revive the riverfront and stimulate the economy. The national park and Gateway Arch are meant to commemorate Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase and his vision for westward expansion. The Gateway Arch is an important and stunning piece of architecture that was a significant feat, taking three years to complete. Underneath the arch is a museum that covers more than 200 years’ worth of history regarding the westward expansion that the arch was built to represent.
My residence on the SIUE Edwardsville Campus for the past couple of days brought to mind how a place can greatly influence your daily routine. A recurring question I have is: “Why does life here feel so distant, in terms of its physical distance, from what students actually need?” For someone who has recently moved to this area, primarily for an International Student and is not from the area, it may seem as if everything that is relevant or vital to them, is located just beyond the campus borders.
To provide some context, Edwardsville is a small college town, primarily set up for the automobile and suburban environment. Edwardsville’s main campus is very walkable; however, the majority of the necessities in students’ daily lives (groceries, dining establishments, social areas) are situated away from the campus. Without personal vehicle access, students rely on limited forms of transportation, which may create the perception of living within a confined and repetitive lifestyle. If you were to compare the college town environment to the culture in my home country of Cyprus, where individuals do their daily activities within busy, compact spaces, it may create a sense of isolation.
Understanding the role that space and environment play in creating connection, independence, and well-being is an important consideration when thinking about how to help international college students adjust to life away from home. To better understand the college community and town of Edwardsville and how to continue to improve the experience for international students, it is important to understand how a design can create a better overall experience for all students in a college town environment.
We’re doing a lot of place-based work this semester. Reflect a little about where you live. (This can be on campus, in the local area, or wherever you’re from.) What questions does it spark? Think about the times you’ve thought “I wonder where that comes from,” “I wish this could be different,” or even “Damn it, why does that happen?” Writing for someone who’s never been to that place, your blog post should lay out 1) the question, 2) the context, and 3) why your audience should care about it. Add the tag “Place” before you publish. (150-200 words) [Reflect, 20 pts]