Fulton County Portrait

Fulton County is located in the state of Illinois. The largest city in Fulton County is Canton, Illinois. It is named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.[3] It was the home of famous poet/writer Edgar Lee Masters in his early days; he wrote the famous Spoon River Anthology(1915). Fulton County was home to Camp Ellis during World War II.

During a visit to his hometown, in the summer of 2015, the composer became motivated to compose a piece that celebrated his fond memories of not only Canton, but the entire county region. The beginning starts with a lovely melody that reminds Mr. Eveland of the beautiful scenery that can be seen in the rivers, creeks, and woodland areas. In the fall, people from various places travel to see the sights and sounds of the Spoon River Scenic Drive (held in Fulton County). The faster section celebrates the excitement that one would experience through the Canton Friendship Festival, Fulton County Fair, Soldiers and Sailors Reunion, as well as several other events. The slower section in the middle is a tribute to those people that were special in the life of the composer. The composition comes to an exciting finish with another reminder of great childhood memories that were experienced by Mr. Eveland.

This work is dedicated to the Ingersoll Middle School Band, conducted by Kevin Reavis. When the composer was a young boy, he attended this school when it was previously known as Canton Junior High School.