Big Trouble In Little Egypt
Fairfield, Illinois is a sleepy town just south of Interstate 64 in southern Illinois. It’s part of the area known as Little Egypt. It also happens to be the place where I was born and raised. Its residents are good-natured folk for the most part. Even the town’s slogan reflects this. It reads “Home of the Friendly People” I can’t disagree with that assertion.
© Nathan Pearce
© Nathan Pearce
© Nathan Pearce
Much less happy I suppose is its claim to fame. The area is most famous for a bloody gang war in the first half of the last century fueled by prohibition. My new favorite piece of local lore though is a story that has been circulating in the past few years. Some time, early in his career, Joe DiMaggio visited the town.
© Nathan Pearce
© Nathan Pearce
Some of the local boys saw Joltin’ Joe through a first floor window of the house he was staying in.
They should put that on the town sign instead.
Fairfield, Illinois
Pop. 5,500
Joe DiMaggio visited here once.
all images and text © Nathan Pearce
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