A Visit with Ernie Edwards at the Pig Hip

Drove by the PIG HIP in Broadwell. I was very sad to find out that there had been a fire there in early March and this venerable Route 66 institution was destroyed. Owners Fran and Ernie Edwards fortunately were not there at the time.

I found the debris had been completely cleared off, just dirt where so many travelers had dined since the 30s. Ernie was out with a power drill and putting up small US flags along the split rail fence with little success on this very windy day. Several of the top rails had fallen off and 90-year-old Ernie was putting them back.  I quickly volunteered to help put them back and found that wasn't the easiest of tasks. They have to be balanced just so or down they go. After awhile, I got the hang of it. Ernie wasn't happy about the fact he had to pay $3 for the $1 flags because a local town had bought all the US flags they could find in the area for a celebration.

The STONES from the restaurant are piled haphazardly out by the fence and will be used in retaining walls for the resurrection of the place as a park. Ernie says he plans to purchase a historic plaque to install and put in landscaping as well as picnic tables.

They have received insurance money for the building and contents which will be used toward the park. I volunteered to bring lots of mum cuttings as well as daisies and other wildflowers.

A man has volunteered to work on the PIG HIP sign which is getting in bad shape after all these years.

I bought a PIG HIP book for $20. Fortunately, they were being stored in the house and were not destroyed.

They are looking forward to the Route 66 Association of Illinois' forthcoming motor tour in June which has the PIG HIP and Ernie's 91st birthday as a theme. He says they will have the famous PIG HIP sandwiches for the occasion. I'm not too happy about that as I have to work that weekend and it has been my great desire to get the chance of having one someday.

There is a new miniature car racing track behind the old motel and they will be having races for the tour.

Keep Eating those PIG HIPS on 66. --RoadDog