Long Weekend on the Road-- Part 8-- Route 66 Meeting

Majestic Banquets is located in the old Masonic Hall where they are currently installing an elevator to provide disability access. I can tell you that the steps going up to the front door are STEEP!!


2009 HALL OF FAME


The names of the 2009 Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame inductees were announced. They were: The Crossroads Diner in Mt. Olive (wonder if it might have been a Jubelt's at one time?), The Mill on 66 in Lincoln, Staesville Penitentiary (why a prison?) in Crestwood, and the Sprague Super Service in Normal. The Tom Teague (founder and heart and sould of the organization) Ambassador Award to Lenore and John Weiss, Mr. and Mrs. Preservation in Illinois.


WEB SITE www.il66assoc.org.

The association's web site recorded 2,402 visits in March with people visiting an average of 3.31 pages and spending an average of 2 minutes 17 seconds. Referred sites accounted for 1,006 and search engine 991.

Visitors by country: US- 1,936, France- 61, UK- 47, Canada- 37, Italy- 34, Ireland- 33, Germany- 25, Spain- 21, Japan- 20, and Norway 18.

Are Americans getting more interested in 66, or did some teachers assign a Route 66 project?


TERMITE PROBLEM AT SOULSBY STATION-- Mt. Olive

One of the prime stops on Illinois' stretch of 66 is the Soulsby Station (1926-1993), the oldest station on the road. It always sold Shell gasoline. After being bypassed in 1944, Russell Soulsby began repairing TVs.

Times are bad for this relic of bygone era. The exterior was lovingly restored to its original appearance, but unfortunately, nothing was done with the interior and now termites have done considerable damage, threatening the structure.

A $10,000 matching grant has been awarded to the station to solve the problem. John Weiss was in attendance and said some of the matching funds can be raised with "in-kind work" where volunteers are accounted for $10-$15 an hour for their efforts.

I'm sure John will be putting the call out to the very active preservation group.

More Meeting to Come. --RoadDog