Chronically Ticking and Eternally Bursting in Elgin, Illinois

Nestled deep in the heart of Illinois, a time warp surrounds the quaint town of Elgin. The town's history is sewn with incongruous tales, first being the Elgin National Watch Company, established in August of 1864. Inspired by the Waltham Watch Company in Massachusetts, a group of seven daring watchmakers discovered Elgin to be their factory. By 1867, the B.W Raymond, a full plate, 18-size watch movement, emerged – a testament to the skills of the seven youthful watchmakers. Yet, timepieces weren't Elgin's only mystery. In 1901, Howard Z. Culver, one of the watch company's founders, brought forth another enigma: the Elgin Soap Bubble Company.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons