Small Towns to Visit in Ohio and Michigan - Summer 2026

The Lost Capital of Illinois

Set along the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia is one of the Midwest’s most fascinating forgotten towns — once the capital of Illinois Territory and now nearly isolated by shifting river channels and time. In this episode of Midwest Small Town, we explore the rich French colonial history, devastating floods, and resilient spirit of a community that today is home to only a handful of residents, yet holds an outsized place in Midwestern history.

The Story of the "Old Rugged Cross" - Albion Michigan

The "Old Rugged Cross" might be one of the most popular and familiar hymn's written at the turn of the century. But the unique history behind the story of the hymn - is that is deeply rooted in the Midwest - written by George Bennard, who grew the son of a coal minder in Ohio, and later Iowa - became a Christian at a Salvation Army event in Iowa, and later became a traveling preacher. The story takes Bennard to Albion, Michigan - where he begins writing the famous hymn. #Oldruggedcross #AlbionMichigan #MidwestSmalltown

Why Carnegie Libraries Matter in Your Small Town!

Carnegie Libraries! Do you have one in your small town? Are you familiar with Carnegie Libraries? A total of 2,509 Carnegie Libraries were built between 1883 and 1929 - with 1,689 built in the United States - and many of those right in the heart of Small Town America! The history is rich - and we dive into Carnegie Libraries in this episode! Drop a comment if you have one in your town - I'd love to hear about it.

5 Small Towns in South Dakota

Covering 5 Small Towns in South Dakota - Follow along as we cover 5 towns - Both East and West River in South Dakota.

Why Small Town Newspapers Matter

Interview with Newspaper and Editor Veteran, Media Specialist, Speaker and Maxwell Trainer - Randy Cauthron Randy's contact information is listed below -