Most Endangered Illinois Route 66 Sites

Of course, all the Chicago sites could be included in a Route 66 list, but especially the Michigan Avenue Streetwall, which is the solid line of buildings fronting on Grant Park.

Springfield's Ursuline Academy, at 1400 N. 5th Street is a beautiful campus that originally was a girl's school founded after the Civil War. It is currently owned by the Benedictine University in Lisle and has been closed for awhile. It will either be reopened as a satellite college or, possibly demolished. I must admit that I have never heard of this building, but will check it out when I'm in Springfield later this month.

The Mill in Lincoln is on the list, even though a whole lot of work has been and will be done on the striking structure. Far from being angry about being on the list, Geoffrey Ladd, who is spearheading the Mill's resurgence says, "I feel it helps validate the project on a local and national level."

I am very glad to see efforts being taken to save this structure that was originally built in 1929 as a take-out sandwich joint to serve travelers along Route 66.

Saving Route 66, One Building at a Time. --RoadDog