1926 - 1930 While Route 66 did not exist until 1926, in 1924, State Bond Issue 4 is a route that became an all weather road that connected Chicago to St Louis. The 1926 alignment of Route 66 follows SBI 4 and is the reason that Illinois was the first state to boast having Route 66 paved from end to end. There is still pavement in use today that was laid between 1922 and 1924 and is characterized by a road width of only 18' to 20'. The average speed was 25 mph. Cars shared the road with horse-drawn vehicles and tractors as they passed through the many small towns on this alignment.
1930 - 1940 Cars now have a top speed of 60 - 80 mph. Speed limits are now set by states and municipalities and the moniker "Bloody 66" is widely used. By 1936 the Chicago to St Louis portion of Route 66 is the heaviest traveled long-distance highway in the state. As a result, the road is re-routed to bypass larger, more congested communities such as Springfield and Joliet. By 1940, a maximum speed is set at 70 mph. It is during this period that picnic and rest areas are recognized as a necessary part of highway planning.
1948 - 1977 In June of 1940, as WWII rages in Europe and Asia, President Roosevelt asks for a study on the use of the nation's highways to meet defense needs. The result is the Highways for the National Defense report which identified two types of defense roads; Roads required for defense operations and roads required to improve the strategic network of defense roads. Route 66 plays a strategic role in the war effort through transportation of personnel, equipment and munitions. The next significant design occurs in 1951 and exceeds all other redesigns since 1928. The 1956 Highway Acts begins the construction of the Interstate Highway System which ultimately replaced Route 66 as the main transportation route west. Many sections of Route 66 become I-55 by the end of 1956. By 1977 the Mother Road is deemed obsolete in Illinois, as much of it had been replaced by I-55. The last sign is removed on January 17, 1977. the entire road is decommissioned on June 27, 1989.
I am so glad that people have saved and renovated so many buildings along this route and that we can still see them today. Now, on with the trip...
A stop in Bloomington was quick since it was getting to be late afternoon. We stopped by the McLean County Museum about 30 minutes before it closed. They didn't make us pay since we wouldn't get to see much. Conrad had a quick visit with Abe before we left!
This home was built in 1872 for US Supreme Court Justice David Davis. In his early days, Davis rode the circuit with Abraham Lincoln. As president, Lincoln appointed Davis to the US Supreme Court. The Davis Mansion served as a focal point for the social, cultural and political life of Bloomington. It had already closed for the day so we couldn't get past the gates.
The David Davis Mansion
The Sprague Super Service Station is a 2-story Tudor-Revival style building built in 1931. The building housed a cafe, gas station and garage on the first floor. The upstairs was the home for the owner and station attendant. The station was in business, under several owners, until 1976. There are plans to renovate this building.
Sprague Super Service Station
This really took us through a heavily, wooded area.
Funks Grove Church was built in 1864-65.
We also drove by this field of corn, ready for harvest!
McLean Depot, built in 1853, is the oldest building in town and a rare wooden depot. McLean is halfway between Chicago and St Louis.
McLean Depot
McLean Library - looks like an old school to me
Church in McLean - nice windows
Along with Pontiac, I think Atlanta, IL was one of my favorite towns. It was a Sunday so most everything was closed.
We were welcomed to town by a 19' tall Paul Bunyan statue holding a hot dog!
I really wanted to eat at the Palms Grill Cafe but we were here mid-morning and it didn't open until 11:30 since it was Sunday. So, we had to settle on just looking in the windows. The cafe opened in 1934 and was also the Greyhound bus stop. All you had to do was turn on the light above the door and the bus would stop and pick you up!
Inside the Palms Grill Cafe
This station was still open for business as a mechanic's shop.
This guy was just outside the door.
This is a field stone marker. They were concrete markers
commonly erected throughout the 1900s to designate
property lines in the rural countryside.
This clock tower next to the library houses a 1909 Seth Thomas clock. The clock originally cost $800 and was located in a cupola tower on top of the Atlanta School. The school, built in 1870, included 10 schoolrooms, a spacious recital hall and an office. The school was razed in 1979. Today, eleven "Keepers of the Clock" take turns keeping the clock in operation by hand winding it approximately 55 turns, 3 times a week. It's 36" brass bells, weighing 1,200 lbs, sounds on the hour.
Clock tower and library
Kind of in the middle of town is the J H Hawes Elevator that was built in 1903 along the Illinois Midland Railroad. It was used to store locally farmed grain before the railroad shipped it to other cities. The elevator is an example of a studded grain elevator, which uses vertical wooden studs in its walls to form its internal grain bins. The elevator operated until 1975.
J H Hawes Elevator
Another Amtrack train zips by the elevator.
More of the grounds at the elevator
Here are a few more pictures around town.
A smiley face water tower!
The town of Lincoln, IL is the only town in the US named for Abraham Lincoln before he became president. He practiced law here from 1847 to 1859. Lincoln was asked to participate in a naming ceremony for the town. At noon on August 29, 1853, he purchased two watermelons and carried one under each arm to the public square. There he invited other leaders to join him, saying, "Now we'll christen the new town.", squeezing watermelon juice out on the ground. Legend has it that when it had been proposed to him that the town be named for him, he had advised against it, saying that in his experience, "Nothing bearing the name of Lincoln ever amounted to much."
The spot where Lincoln christened the town.
What can I say? It's a big ball of twine!!
Town of Lincoln with the courthouse in the background.
Lincoln Train Depot
These were all over town. I guess if you rode your
horse to town you could use it!
Love these hand rails to hold while stepping up!
Catchy name!!
Sadly, this church is now locked due to vandalism. It
goes by the name of Route 66 Log Chapel and Tiny Church.
The next two pictures are of city hall. Notice that funny looking thing on the roof? Look at the second picture for a close up view!
A telephone booth!!! Originally it was used to spot severe
storms. That person could then call emergency personnel.
They also used it as shelter from the wind and rain when observing
the weather. (Or maybeto change in to their Superman clothes?)
the weather. (Or maybeto change in to their Superman clothes?)
The Mill opened in 1929 as a restaurant. It was a Dutch themed building with blue trim. It featured a revolving windmill and waitresses dressed in blue and white aprons. In 1945 the new owner added a barroom and a dance hall and the building was painted barn red. It is in the process of being renovated.
The Mill
Conrad standing by the world's largest covered wagon!
It is being driven by Abe himself!!
Springfield, IL was our next stop. By now we were starting to cut out a few things we had talked about seeing since we've been gone almost 4 weeks and need to get home. It's been nice not having a deadline though. We wandered around the Capitol grounds for a little while.
Illinois State Capitol
Capitol with Route 66 sign in front
Some fancy work on the eaves
Another statue of Abraham Lincoln in front of
the Capitol
Next we went to Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Lincoln lived here from 1844 to 1861, before becoming President. The house was purchased by Lincoln and his wife, Mary, in 1844 and was the only home Lincoln ever owned. During the time he lived here, Lincoln was elected to the House of Representatives in 1846, and elected President in 1860. We toured the house and found it really interesting. Of course, you couldn't touch anything but our guide did tell us that as we went up or down the stairs to imagine Lincoln running his hand up or down the same banister.
Our group heading to the house
The front of Lincoln's house
Lincoln also slid his hand down this banister.
The Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is also here in Springfield. It takes up an entire city block. Since we could only allow about an hour to visit this, we decided it wouldn't be worth the $15 admission each. So, maybe another time we'll go back.
You can see the library across the street.
Old Union Station is now part of the complex
of buildings that together form the Presidential
Library and Museum.
Next we went to the Lincoln Tomb. It sits at the back of an ordinary looking cemetery in town. We've seen lots of pictures of this but the pictures can't show you how massive this thing is! Lincoln's wife, Mary, and 3 of their 4 sons are also buried here.
Lincoln's Tomb
A closer look
This statue sits in front of the tomb. Look how shiny
the brass nose is from people rubbing it!
There were statues like this all through the tomb.
Lincoln's burial spot
Another old gas station we saw
Look at this riding lawn mower!!
Old Regular and Ethyl gas pumps
Shea's Gas Station is once again being renovated and we couldn't get in to see it. This gas station was transformed from a working Texaco, and later Marathon, station into a world renowned museum. It contains an eclectic mix of vintage gas station memorabilia collected over the last 50 years including the original gas pumps, wooden phone booths, signs, photos, and other mementos reminiscent of old Route 66 service stations. In February 2000, the former Mahan's Station, rumored to be the oldest filling station in Illinois, was moved 21 miles to its current location within the museum compound.
Below is Mahan's Filling Station that was moved here from Middletown, IL.
We ate here at Jungle Jim's Cafe. Everyone looked at us when we walked in, wondering what we were doing there. It seems all the locals eat here and probably have their own table! Good food though!
Jungle Jim's Cafe
That's about it for right now. We're almost done but still a few more interesting things to come!
No comments:
Post a Comment