Along 66, October 2017: That Uranus and Jubelt's

OCTOBER 17--  A closer look at Uranus, Missouri near St. Roberts.  Famous for fudge and other stores.  Not a town, just group of stores with bars and evidently a strip club since there is an anti-pornography sign outside it.

We went to a bar there once when it had NTN-BuzzTime trivia.

OCTOBER 17--  Jubelt's Bakery and Restaurant in Litchfield, Illinois,  is 95 years old.  It started in 1922 in Mt. Olive, Illinois.  At one time they had places all over central Illinois, but now just the one.  It opened at its current site in 1982, a former Burger Chef hamburger place.  It is operated by the third generation of the family.

Right across from the Ariston and real good food.

--RoadDog

Along 66, October 2017: Elkhart, Illinois and Pacific, Missouri

These news articles are taken from the Route 66 News site.  I just take the ones that are of special interest to me.  The site has pictures and many more items as well as in depth accounts on the ones I use.

OCTOBER 10--  A new Route 66-themed mural has been unveiled in downtown Elkhart, Illinois.  We saw it in October on our 66 on 66 Cruise.  Also, I'm glad to see they are doing something with the old gas station.  Repairs are being made.  Perhaps it will be a visitors center.

OCTOBER 14--  The City of Pacific, Missouri, has closed the deal to buy the Red Cedar Inn on the east side of town for $290,000.  Plans are to turn it into a visitors  center/historical museum and genealogy center.
This is one place we never were able to visit.  It was open our first year on 66, but closed before we could get back to it.

And, just recently, the city acquired Jensen's Point.  A city committed to its 66 heritage.

OCTOBER 17--  David Clark to lead a Chicagoland tour after the Miles of Possibilities Conference in Joliet on the Saturday after it ends, October 21.

David is a very knowledgeable guy, but he sure can walk REAL fast.

--RoadDog

Congratulations to Illinois' 2017 High School Football Champions

1A   Lena-Winslow  (Lena)  (Off US-20)

2A  Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley  (Off Il-47)

3A  Immaculate Conception Catholic  (Elmhurst)

4A  Rochester   (Near Springfield and Route 66)

5A  Phillips  (Chicago)

6A  Prairie Ridge  Crystal Lake  (US-14 Northwest Highway)

7A  Batavia  (Lincoln Highway)

8A  Lincoln-Way East  Frankfort  (Lincoln Highway)

Way to Go.  --RoadDog

Northwest Highway (US-14) Wins the Rand Road-Northwest Highway Showdown

Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake won the IHSA Class 6A game and Lake Zurich High School on Rand Road (US-12) lost their 7A match, so congratulations to US-14.

Since I started the Rand Road-Northwest Highway Showdown in 2013, US-14 has won three times, tied once and lost once.

Way to Go Wolves!!  --RoadHowl

The Lincoln Highway Designated Alternate U.S. 30 in 1942

From the April 5, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

"The Lincoln Highway is again Route 30, signs designating the famous route as alternate U.S. 30 being erected during the past few days.  For years the Lincoln Highway through Illinois carried the official designation of U.S. 30.

"A few years ago, during a revamping of the highway system in the state, the number 30 was given to the former Route 71 and the Lincoln Highway was given the designation of U.S. Route 330.  A few months ago, Governor Dwight H. Green announced that he had issued an order designating the Lincoln Highway in Illinois as Alternate U.S. 30 and signs to this effect are now being erected."

Today, the Lincoln Highway Through DeKalb County is Illinois Highway 38.  Main Street of DeKalb is named Lincoln Highway.

A Road By Any Other Name.  --RoadDog

US-14 (Northwest Highway) and US-12 (Rand Road) Tied Going Into Championship Round

This weekend, the Illinois State High School Championships go into the fifth, and final round.

US-14 and US-12 are tied at one apiece.

US-14 NORTHWEST HIGHWAY

6A

Prairie Ridge

US-12 RAND ROAD

6A

Lake Zurich

And, they will be playing each other for the IHSA Class 6A  Championship in DeKalb, Illinois, at Huskie Stadium (NIU)

Great Year Guys.  --RoadDog

Lincoln Highway Wins the 2017 IHSA Showdown

The last Route 66 team, Edwardsville was eliminated last Saturday.

There are still two Lincoln Highway teams left in the state championship playoffs:

8A

Lincoln Way East (Frankfort)

7A

Batavia

Wishing both teams good luck Saturday.

--RoadDog

The Jinx at Pine and Third Street in DeKalb in 1917

From the October 4, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The corner of Pine and Third streets in DeKalb seems to have a jinx there lately.  A week ago, some motorist came around the corner with too much speed and the result was torn up parking and a tree minus bark.  Residents did not see the car.

"Yesterday, a man on horseback was coming at a fast clip, when the horse stumbled and fell on the pavement throwing him."

Hey, Watch Your Speed at Third and Pine.  --RoadSpeed

20 Essential Road Trip Songs-- Part 2: "On the Road Again:

*  heard before  **  real good (hadn't heard before):

10.  TICKET TO RIDE--  Beatles  *

9.  CAROLINA ON MY MIND--  James Taylor  *

8.  INTERSTATE 8--   Modest Mouse

7.  ROAD TO NOWHERE--  Talking Heads  *

6.  MIDNIGHT RIDER--  Allman Brothers  *

5.  CALIFORNIA--  Tchad Blake Mix-- Phantom Planet  **

4.  NO CARS GO--  Arcade Fire

3.  RUNNING ON EMPTY--  Jackson Browne  *

2.  ON THE ROAD AGAIN--  Willie Nelson  *

1.  BORN TO RUN--  Bruce Springsteen  *

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "The Life I Love Is Making Music With My Friends."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"On the Road Again"

20 Essential Road Trip Songs-- Part 1: "Another Travelin' Song"

July 25, 2013, "20 Essential Road Songs for Your Road Trip Playlist" Rachel Haos.

Most of these songs were ones I had not heard before.  I went to You Tube to hear those.  **  Real Good song.  *  Heard Before.

20.  THE HIGH ROAD--  Broken Bells

19.  ANOTHER TRAVELIN' SONG--  Bright Eyes

18.  BIG JET PLANE--  Angus and Julia Stone

17.  CRUISE NIGHT--  John K. Samson  **

16.  DAYLIGHT--  Matt & Kim  **

15.  PASSENGER--  Iggy Pop  **

14.  WEST COAST--  Coconut Records  **

13.  HOME--  Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeros *

12.  FAST CARS--  Traci Chapman  *

11.  101--  Albert Hammond, Jr.  **  (Creepy video)

Well Worth Giving a Listen to This Whole List.  --RoadDog

2017 Rand Road (US-12) -Northwest Highway (US-14) Showdown-- Part 5

After three rounds, Northwest Highway (US-14) leads Rand Road (US-12) 2-1.

US-14  NORTHWEST HIGHWAY TEAMS:

8A

Maine South (Park Ridge)

6A

Prairie Ridge  (Crystal lake)


US-12  RAND ROAD TEAM

7A

Lake Zurich

Fourth Round This Saturday.  --RoadDog

2017 Lincoln Highway-Route 66 Showdown-- Part 7: Lincoln Highway Leads 5-1

At  the end of three weeks, the IHSA hiogh school football playoffs between the two famous roads reads Lincoln Highway 5  Route 66 1.

ROUTE 66 TEAM:

8A

Edwardsville

LINCOLN HIGHWAY TEAMS:

8A

Lincoln-Way East  (Frankfort

7A

Batavia

6A

Providence Catholic  (New Lenox)

5A

Sterling

2A

Newman Central Catholic (Sterling)

Should Be Interesting.  --RoadDog

Horses on the Run in 1917

From the March 8, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Fairdale had an exciting time Tuesday when three teams of horses ran away at one time.''The Crill team, Ben Warner's and Charles Yaeger's teams took part.

"Nothing serious resulted except damage to wagons and harnesses."

Something you don't hear much about anymore.

Watch Out for Those Runaway Horses!!  --RoadDog

Saving the Knights of the Ties in 1917

From the March 1, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"There were but four lonely knights of the ties who applied at the police station last night for a place to sleep, and were more than glad to get in out of the cold.  When the authorities found out how cold it was this morning the fellows were held over today and will not be turned loose until the weather gets warmer.

"A couple of the wandering were dressed very thinly and had they ventured out today would probably have been found later, frozen to death."

Knights of the Ties=  Hobos

Mighty Cold in DeKalb County.  --RoadDog

The Tire Business Is Good in 1917

From the February 15, 2017, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Corey & Son who operate the tire shop at North Third Street in DeKalb have just completed the installation of new machinery for tire vulcanizing.

"The business in this line has increased by bounds and jumps with the Coreys, and they have secured services of another man in order to get the work out when wanted."

Tire Me Up Another.  --RoadDog

The Perils of Driving in 1917

From the February 15, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"A Milan farmer started out for DeKalb this morning when his car backfired and caught fire.  Deanis Garage was called and McConn and Riegard with Captain Wall of the fire station went out with fire extinguishers.

"By the time they arrived at the scene the fire was out and one wire was found to be burned and that was the extent of the damage.  The car was brought to the local garage for minor repairs."

I Don't Remember Ever Having My Car Backfire.  --RoadDog

National Cemeteries in Wisconsin and North Carolina for Veterans Day

Places to pay your respects today and any day.

From the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Wood National Cemetery--  Milwaukee

Fort Winnebago Cemetery Soldiers' Lot---  Portage

Forest Hills Cemetery Soldiers' Lot--  Madison

Forest Home Cemetery Soldiers' Lot--  Milwaukee

Fort Crawford Cemetery Soldiers' Lot--  Prairie du Chien

Mound Cemetery Soldiers' Lot--  Racine


NORTH CAROLINA

New Bern National Cemetery

Raleigh National Cemetery

Salisbury National Cemetery

Wilmington National Cemetery

I Have My Flags Up.  Thanks Veterans.  --RoadDog

November 10 in History-- Part 2: Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial Dedicated

1954--  The Iwo Jima Memorial, inspired by the famous Associated Press photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi during World War II, was dedicated by President Dwight Eisenhower in Arlington, Va..

1969--  The children's program "Sesame Street" made its debut on PBS.

1975--  The ore-hauling ship Edmund Fitzgerald and its crew of 29 vanished during a storm in Lake Superior.

1982--  The newly finished Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., was opened to its first visitors.

1989--  Workers began punching a hole in the Berlin Wall, a day after East Germany abolished its border restrictions.

A Lot Happening On This Day.  --RoadDog

November 10th in History-- Part 1: Marine Corps Organized

 From the Chicago Tribune.

1775--  The U.S. Marines were organized under authority of the Continental Congress.

1871--  Journalist-explorer Henry Stanley found missionary David Livingstone in central Africa.

1919--  The American Legion held its first national convention in Minneapolis.

1941--  Winston Churchill delivered a speech in London in which he said, "I have not become the King's First Minister to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire."

--RoadDog

2017 US-12 vs, US-14 Football Showdown-- Part 4: US-14 Leads 3-1

Going into the 3rd round, US-14 (Northwest Highway) leads US-12 (Rand Road) 3-1.

US-14 (NORTHWEST HIGHWAY) TEAMS REMAINING:

8A

Mainse South  (ParkRidge)

6A

Prairie Ridge  (Crystal Lake)

5A

Marian Central  (Woodstock)

US-12 (RAND ROAD) TEAM REMAINING

7A

Lake Zurich

Going to Be Mighty Cold This Weekend.  --RoadDog

2017 Route 66-Lincoln Highway Football Showdown-- Part 6: Lincoln Highway

Lincoln Highway leads going into the 3rd round of IHSA state high school football playoffs 9-6.

LINCOLN HIGHWAY TEAMS REMAINING:

8A

Lincoln-Way East  (Frankfort)

7A

Lincoln-Way Central  (New Lenox)
Batavia
Lincoln-Way West  (New Lenox)

6A

Providence Catholic  (New Lenox)

5A

Sterling

4A

Rochelle
Dixon

3A

Newman Central Catholic  (Sterling)

It would appear the folks in New Lenox and Sterling have Big Weekends Coming Up.  --RoadDog

2017 Route 66-Lincoln Highway Showdowm-- Part 5: Third Round

Going into the third round this weekend, Lincoln Highway has a 9-6 lead over Route 66.

ROUTE 66 TEAMS REMAINING:

8A

Edwardsville

7A

East St. Louis

6A

Sacred Heart-Griffing (Springfield)

3A

Wilmington
Williamsville
Carlinville

--RoadDog

Good Roads Movement To be Discussed in Sycamore, Illinois

March 8, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)

In the 1890s until World War I there was a combination of stories about building, naming roads and the "Good Roads Movement.  This March 28, at the Sycamore Historical Museum, Larry McClellan will discuss them.

Before the interstates and Federal highways, roads had colorful and interesting names:  The Lincoln, Dixie, Mississippi Valley Highway, Alton Way, Swastika Trail and Corn Belt Route to name a few.From 1913 on, there were 51 named highways developed in Illinois.

The talk will be at 7 p.m. at the DeKalb County Community Foundation at 475 DeKalb Avenue.  Cost is $5.

--RoadDog

Mystery Car Forces Sycamore Police Car Off Road

From the February 22, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

"Sycamore patrolman Don Ehrler lost a race with a speeding mystery car on an icy road yesterday.  Up to late yesterday afternoon state highway police had not notified Sycamore officers of locating the car or its driver.

"The mystery car crowded the Sycamore squad car off the highway west of the city and nearly caused it to crash.  Only snow saved it.

Probably Not the Best idea to Do This to a Cop.  --RoadIdiot

Along 66, October 2017: Tom, Elbow and Launching

OCTOBER 3--  Tom Petty died.  He did a cover of "Get Your Kicks on Route 66."  A great performer, despite having a bad singing voice, but somehow, his songs fit his voice very well.  I probably have 13 CDs and albums by him and this past month, we listened to his "Into the Great Wide Open" CD on our 66 on 66 Cruise.

OCTOBER 6--  Elbow Inn's main building reopened.  We visited there on October 12 and had a drink on our 66 On 66 Cruise.  You'd never know they had a flood, but we were shown how high the water had gotten from the spring floods.

OCTOBER 7--  The Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, has new owners and they plan to reopen the place in late spring 2018.  New owners are Tully Garrett and Holly Barker and they will take possession on October 16.

The place has been closed since 2010.  They plan to also have a souvenir stand and food trucks.  If I remember correctly, Holly used to live in North Carolina and worked in restaurants.  Wouldn't it be great if she started serving Carolina '
cue!!!

Good Ol' BBQ, Cole Slaw & Hush Puppies.  --RoadDog

The Problem With Horses in 1917

From the February 22, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The police department has been called on of late to take care of horses that have been left standing out in the cold weather, some of them without even a blanket.

"The hitch rails on North Second street have been used extensively of late, and residents along the thoroughfare have been compelled to complain on account of the people leaving their horses standing out so long at a time.  It is a pity that farmers do think enough of their horses to spend a dime or twenty cents and put them in a feed barn especially when the weather was such as it was last night."

Hey, Farmers!!  Take Care of Your Horses!!  --RoadHorse

A Train-Cows Accident in 1917

From the February 22, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago

"The Spring valley train was a half hour late in here yesterday morning for the reason that it ran into a herd of cattle shortly after getting started in the morning.

"Three cows were killed and it was said that others are more or less injured but none of them serious."

That's Why Trains Have Those Cow Catchers.  --RoadDog

Creepy Ghost Towns in Illinois

From the August 3, 2015, Only In Your State:  Visit These 4 Creepy Ghost Towns in Illinois At Your Own Risk"  Laura Meli.

1.  Cairo:  a living ghost town which had been in an absolute boom mode from the 1800s to 1920s.  So sad to see the town now.

2.  Shawneetown:  Now called Old Shawneetown, established 1748 by Pewoki Shownee.  It was the first cultivated land in Illinois.

3.  Benld, Maucoupin County.  A coal mining town and an object of history when it was hit by a meteorite  It is on display at Chicago's Field Museum.  And, Benld is on good old Route 66.

4.  Buda:  a small railroad town named after Buda, Hungary.

Just a Little Late for Halloween.  RoadDog

2017 Rand Road (US-12)-Northwest Highway (US-14) Showdown-- Part 3

Going into the second round of games this weekend US-14 leads US-12 by a 7-4 edge.

TEAMS REMAINING FOR U.S. 14 (NORTHWEST HIGHWAY

8A

Maine South (Park Ridge)
Barrington
Palatine

7A

Hersey  (Arlington Heights)

6A

Prairie Ridge  (Crystal Lake)
Cary Grove  (Cary

5A

Marian Central  (Woodstock)

TEAMS REMAINING FOR U.S. 12 (RAND ROAD)

8A

Palatine

7A

Hersey  (Arlington Heights)
Lake Zurich

4A

Richmond-Burton (Richmond)

Good Luck in Round 2.  --RoadDog

2017 Lincoln Highway-Route 66 Showdown-- Part 4: Lincoln Highway

These teams lost in the first round: Joliet West, West Aurora, Aurora Christian.

These teams remain:

8A

Lincoln-Way East  (Frankfort)
St. Charles East

7A

Lincoln-Way central  (New Lennox)
Batavia
Lincoln-Way West  (New Lennox)
Plainfield North
St. Charles North

6A

DeKalb
Providence Catholic  (New Lennox)
Marmion Academy  (Aurora)

5A

Sterling
Kaneland  (Maple Park)

4A

Rochelle
Dixon

2A

Newman Central Catholic  (Sterling)

Lincoln Highway leads Route 66 15-12.

--RoadDog

2017 Lincoln Highway-Route 66 Football Showdown-- Part 3: Route 66

These teams lost in the first round:  Joliet West, Springfield, Pontiac and Wood River.

These teams on Route 66 are entering the second round this weekend.

8A

Edwardsville

7A

Normal Community
East St. Louis
Plainfield North

6A

Hinsdale South (Darien)
Normal Community West
Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield)

5A

Chatham

4A

Althoff Catholic (Belleville)

3A

Wilmington
Williamsville
Carlinville

There are now 12 teams remaining on the Route 66 side of the slate.  Lincoln Highway still leads 15-12.  At the beginning of the first round, Lincoln Highway led 18-16.

--RoadDog

Along 66, September 2017: A Book and a Classen

SEPTEMBER 27--  Jim Hinckley has a new book "100 Things to Do On Route 66 Before You Die."  Kind of a "Bucket List."  Always good to have another new 66 book.

On our trip we added a new book to our collection, ""One Hundred and One Sights and Attractions on Illinois Route 66" by David Alan Badger where he illustrated everything with his own drawings of them.

SEPTEMBER 29--  The landowner of the Classen Circle in Oklahoma City plans to demolish the site regardless.  Sorry to hear this as the structures on it look to be interesting, though Liz and I can't remember ever driving by it.  We only went as far as Pops in Arcadia, Oklahoma on our recent trip as we cruised 66 when we were 66.

--RoadDog

Along 66, September 2017: A Fire and An Inn

SEPTEMBER 24--  Fire damaged the long-closed Paradise Motel in Tucumcari and damaged the main office building and one of the rooms.  Happily, there was no damage to its distinctive sign.

So, what's with the fires in Tucumcari?

SEPTEMBER 25-- The City of Pacific, Missouri, agrees to buy the long-closed Red Cedar Inn restaurant and plans to turn it into a museum and visitors center.  It closed abruptly in 2005 and the city tried to buy the NRHP site in 2007 and 2013.  The restaurant was built in 1932 by the Smith brothers and a bar was added ten years later.

So glad to hear this as we didn't go to it the last two years it was open and we had begun cruising Route 66, something on our list of things we wanted to do.    This is definitely a place we'll visit after it opens (but too bad we won't be able to eat there.

And, it is a neat-looking old building.  Pacific also acquired Jensen Point atop that bluff, so this is definitely a town taking care of its Route 66 heritage.

Way to Go, Pacific!  --RoadDog

Along 66: September 2017: Foreign 66 Travelers and a Sign

These are from the Route 66 News site.  I just pick the stories I'm most interested in to write about in this blog.  There are many other entries and much more information at the site.

SEPTEMBER 21--  Is Route 66 immune from the international slump?  Foreign travel in the United States is down in the first quarter of 2017, but two Route 66 landmarks that keep visitor records show stable or increased numbers.  One of them is the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac.

We ran into several foreign visitors during our last month's 66 on 66 Cruise.

SEPTEMBER 23-- Tucumcari Motel sign emerges from the ashes.  The motel was destroyed by a suspected arson, but the sign was 20 feet from the building and not damaged.  But someone carted it off, but it was recovered and the New Mexico Rt. 66 Museum has the newly restored sign.

Always good news.

--RoadDog