Tampico Illinois Post Office

ADDRESS: 113 N. Main St. Tampico, Illinois 61283

Can anyone tell me what Tampico is known for? Yep you guessed correctly if you answered Ronald Reagan’s boyhood hometown. This was an interesting stop for me.

I pulled up in front of the post office but it was busy and there were several cars out front. So I casually got out to stretch my legs and to get some close up pictures. Not too long after I was waiting around a man pulled up in a van full of stuff.

He apparently saw my tripod setup and observed me taking pictures of the building. As we were chatting he asked me if I’d like a souvenir as a reminder of Tampico. I wasn’t sure what to say or where this was going but I said sure! (Jim) whose name I found out later went to his van and pulled out a small John Deer tractor toy. As it turns out Jim cleans houses for a living and had just finished cleaning one prior to visiting the post office. He offered me the tractor and I eagerly accepted. It’s one of these cool metal tractors which I always thought were cool. Now by sure luck and being in the right place at the right time I’m given this one.

I think my face lit up and I acted like a child but I didn’t care, this thing is cool. I now have it in my front room on display. To most people its just a tractor, but to me its a symbol of the generosity of others. I’m happy to have met Jim. He also offered me several facts about Tampico, like there is a small museum in town. It was closed at the time I visited but it’s talking to the locals and meeting people like Jim that makes my job of photographing post office so much fun. Thanks Jim!!

David W. Gates Jr.