The Dixie Highway in Illinois-- Part 1

The June 28th Arts & Literature section of the Chicago Tribune had a Lit Life column by Julia Keller about the new Arcadia book "The Dixie Highway in Illinois" by James R. Wright.

Three pictures accompanied the article. One of the 29-story Stevens Hotel in Chicago, boasting 3,000 rooms, which was the world's largest when built. Then there is a picture og German prisoners being marched to a Hoopestown factory to work. They lived in a camp near the Dixie Highway. These prisoners helped relieve the manpower shortage and picked vegetables and worked in canning factories.

Then, Ms. Keller made a picture taken in 1915 in Henry Scheer's News Agency in Steger, Illinois, come alive. I'll just quote from her, ""Buddy Marciariello looks like he just spun himself around on the stool...to face the camera, propping his elbows on the counter, crossing one slim leg over his knee. He's wearing a white tee shirt and light trousers. His head is tilted sideways."

"If you could step into this moment, Buddy would probably give you the once-over and say, 'How're you doin'.'"

A clerk by the name of Mildred Kuetemeyer is at the end of the counter. Perhaps they are boy and girl friend? Ms. Keller gets you to thinking.

Guess I'll have to look more closely at pictures.

"A love letter to an Illinois highway" by Julia Keller, Lit Life.

This Lady Sure Has a Way With Words.. --RoadDog