People from as far away as Minnesota descended on Effingham Monday to await the total eclipse.
Nichola Hill of Peoria knew he was heading to Effingham with his two kids to see the total eclipse, but what he didn’t know was where they would end up until he saw The Cross at the Crossroads on Google Maps.
“I was like, that’s the perfect place to be — the significance of it as well, it’s just kind of meant to be,” he said.
The event coincided with another special occasion – his daughter Macie’s 13th birthday.
“I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I knew it was on my birthday. I really like eclipses. I think they’re pretty cool,” said Macie, who sat on a blanket with some snacks, including Sun Chips.
“Pun intended,” she said, referring to the chips.
Jean and Barry Rowe of Chicago had planned to head to Carbondale.
“That kind of got nixed once we were seeing how much traffic there was,” said Barry.
So, instead, the couple decided to view the eclipse at a destination they’ve always wanted to see – the Cross.
“We’ve gone by it many, many, many times. We always said one of these days. Well, this is the day,” said Barry.
Barry planned to photograph the Cross during the eclipse so he could paint it later.
The couple witnessed the partial eclipse on Lake Michigan in 2017 and knew they had to see the total one this year, with another not expected until 2044.
“We’ll be in our 80s then,” said Jean.
Amanda Mudlaff and Ben Burki of East Troy, Wisconsin, are already planning for the next eclipse.
“Don’t know exactly where, but we know we’ll be there,” said Burki.
“Hopefully, we’ll have children by then and can take them to it,” added Mudlaff.
The two left Saturday morning and stayed in Shelbyville before arriving at the Cross at 9:30 Monday morning. After driving around, the Cross seemed like the perfect location.
Ann Nibbe traveled from Lake City, Minnesota, to see the total eclipse, but Effingham, much less the Cross, wasn’t her first choice for viewing it.
“After the last eclipse, San Antonio, Texas, was originally where I wanted to go, and then I kept watching where the cloud cover was going to be, and this is actually the best location for it,” she said before the eclipse. “This is a great spot. It’s scenic.”
Monday was Nibbe’s third time viewing a total eclipse. She finds the experience unforgettable.
“The effect it has on the people around you. The effect it has to see the stars come out in the middle of the day and then just go away in a matter of a few seconds. It makes you feel so tiny that you’re sitting on this planet and all of this is going on around you,” she said.
Maria Pesqueira of Chicago brought her mother and aunt to the Effingham Public Library. She had been following the path of totality on NASA’s website and saw Effingham was the closest place to her to view.
“I looked up what activities were happening in Effingham, and the library came up with this activity,” she said, adding that they had driven there that morning.
Pesqueira had a table and chairs set up on the library’s lawn and was following the eclipse on her iPad.
“It’s kind of a way to be in the virtual path following it to where we’re at,” she said.
Marina Potenza, Angela Potenza and Theresa Pollum didn’t have to go far to see the eclipse at the library Monday.
“We walked,” said Angela Potenza, noting they live in Effingham.
It was the first time Marina Potenza and Theresa Pollum saw a total eclipse.
Monday’s eclipse was also the first for 10-year-old Tobias Hernandez Jr. He and his father, Tobias Sr., drove from Kankakee Monday morning.
“It was cool,” said Tobias Jr. after viewing the eclipse.
The two agreed it was worth the trip. They planned to hang out for a while before heading back.
Lucy Ortiz and her daughter, Yulian Luna Ortiz, 14, were heading back to their home in Walworth, Wisconsin, after experiencing the total eclipse on the library lawn for the first time. Yulian was fascinated by the sun’s corona.
Monday also marked the first time either of them had visited Effingham.
“We drove here today, almost five hours. We got in at 1 p.m.,” said Yulian.
The Conlon family of Chicago also visited Effingham for the first time Monday, but it wasn’t their planned destination. They were headed to Carbondale.
“We were on the road, and we said we’re not going to make it, so we pulled over here,” said Robert.
The family also hadn’t planned to travel to view the eclipse until midnight Sunday. Son Donachie had to miss high school, which, Robert said, Chicago schools encouraged, while son Patrick is in college.
Robert’s wife, Marisela, was amazed by the hospitality of the residents after the family had only one pair of eclipse glasses. The family was viewing the eclipse in downtown Effingham, and someone from one of the businesses walked over to give them three more.
“I was amazed at her kindness because we went to so many stores, and we were so frustrated,” said Marisela.
Patrick liked the energy of the city. The family decided to stay and eat at a local restaurant before having to head back. Patrick wasn’t as lucky as his brother in getting out of school.
“I have classes later today,” he said.