It's Been A Bit of a Strange Summer for Us So Far (Or, the 20.4-Mile Road Trip)

Usually by this time of the summer, we would have been on several drives along Route 66 in Illinois and even out as far as the Munger-Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, and not mention at least once out to the Mississippi River.

But, not so this year and you know why.  We're sticking close to home.  I don't care to go anywhere when I can't just do what I want to do.  Might as well just stay home and that is what we're doing.  We haven't been away overnight since early March and don't plan on doing that for the remainder of this year (and who knows how long in the future).

This was brought to mind with a jolt this past Saturday, when I drove from Spring Grove to Algonquin, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting (our first one since February).  It came to me that this was the farthest I had been away from home since early March.

I looked it up, and it was a whopping 20.4 miles.

Well, at least gasoline expenses have been negligible since March.

Gas, What Gas?

Little Old Homebody Me.  --RoadHouse

Along 66, May 2020: That Wonderful Steak 'N Shake in Springfield, Missouri, Makes the Cut

Sorry to be running so far behind on this blog, but I have been very busy on another one of my blogs.  As such, some of my blogs are closed down for awhile and others aren't getting many posts.

MAY 15--  The wonderful Steak 'm Shake restaurant in Springfield,  Missouri, has survived the corporate downsizing cut that has hit.

The chain is closing 57 stores as it has been having financial problems.  (We have one in nearby McHenry, Illinois, and I am happy to report they are still open.)  The chain is owned by Biglari Holdings.  Besides falling sales, the virus has also cut into earnings.

The Steak 'n Shake in Springfield opened in 1962 and kept its "look" and man is that impressive.  It is located at 2012 St. Louis Street and National Avenue.

The first-ever Steak 'n Shake was opened in 1934 by Gus Bell on Route 66 in Normal, Illinois, and today has/had 600 locations in the U.S., mostly in the Midwest.

The article said the original one in Normal was razed and replaced by a pizza place.  But, I've seen the building and you can see the form of a Steak 'm Shake in the structure as it exists today.  So, I am not sure it has been razed.

--RoadSoGoodToBeBackDog

The Next Time You're in Mississippi or, Confederadication Strikes Again

The next time you're in the State of Mississippi, you will notice something different.  The state flag of some 120 years is no more.  It was changed by the state legislature and signed off on by the governor.

As you know, the flag featured a Confederate Army of Northern Virginia battle flag in the union and the rest of it was the three bars on the original Confederate National Flag, the one in reality called the Stars and Bars.

Of course, with all this Confederadication (Confederate eradication) going on in the United States these days, the flag came under attack.  And, of course, like every other Confederate thing, is getting swept away.

I am of the belief that the state flag issue of Mississippi should have been up to a referendum vote across the whole state instead of a group of politicians making the decision.

This issue was put up to a vote before and the people of Mississppi voted to keep the flag as it was.

Let the People Vote!!  --RoadDog

4th of July 2020-- Part 2: Good Friends, Good Times

JULY 4, SATURDAY

Normally this would have been an extra big day for all things "fourthish" because if fell in a Saturday.  But, because of you-know-what, it wasn't.

I put up all my flags: gazebo, front porch, garage and deck.

This was not a good day, however, for at least a hundred of those voracious and sex-crazed Japanese beetles.  I am sure hoping they don't come back to the levels they were at eight years ago.  They have a couple plants they especially like so that makes it easier to find them.

Sat out FP (Front Porch) for breakfast, coffee and read a magazine.

Another hot, hot, hot day.

Went to Jewel and bought their special fried chicken deal for this week.  Eight pieces for $5.  Great deal and I would put up Jewel fried chicken against anybody's.  Then Liz and I drove over to Kelly and Kevin's place on Mineola Bay on Fox Lake and joined Barb and Glen for a relaxing afternoon of eating, drinking beer and watching the boats go by.  And, they were really out in huge numbers on this perfect boating day.

We were fortunate to have plenty of shade by using two umbrellas and their huge cottonwood tree.  And, we had "snow" in July.  That tree was releasing huge amounts of feathery white seed and each gust of breeze sent thousands descending on us.

We then went to Sunnyside for a couple more brews and home.  I sat out for a bit FP to watch the neighbors' fireworks, since the regular Spring Grove fireworks and festival where not held this year because of you-know-what.  Stayed out there until the skeeters found me whereupon I beat a hasty retreat inside.

--RoadDog

4th of July, 2020 Style-- Part 1

Nothing like a pandemic and destruction of U.S. history to put a bit of a kabosh on the 4th of July celebration this year.

JULY 3, FRIDAY  Enjoyed the FP  (Front Porch) for breakfast, coffee and reading the Chicago Tribune (print edition) and watching young Wascally Wabbitt foraging for greenery.  One of my favorite things to do.  It was comfortable that early in the morning, but not so when I finally finished staining the deck.  The sun was merciless, temperature about 90 degrees and not even a hint of a breeze which would have made it so much more comfortable.

Did some shopping at Walgreens and Jewel, then found out about our taxes from our tax guy at H&R Block.  Between Federal and State we owe and owe and then there is the fee.    Ouch!!!

Cut the grass then went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg and were so glad to be able to go inside  as Illinois is now in Phase 4 of the pandemic.  That sitting outside on the parking lot with that merciless sun beating down on you and no breeze would not have been too good of a thing today.

A whole lot of fireworks going on around the neighborhood.  Sounded like a full-scale battle.

--RoadDog

What a Strange Summer This Has Been, What a Strange 4th of July

People often ask me why we don't go away on vacation during the summer.  Well, being retired has the bonus of being able to go places offseason when there are fewer crowds and lower prices, two things very important to Liz and myself.

Plus, why go anywhere else when you have a great summer party right here with festivals, parades, bands and parties all over the Chain of Lakes area.

Well, this season, because of you-know-what.  So much canceled.

And, no baseball.  Not even minor league or Legion ball.

I did put out my U.S. flags yesterday and will leave them up until next week.  I usually always have one flying from the garage door frame all the time.  For the first time I can remember in 28 years, our neighbors across the street put out a U.S. flag  yesterday.

This will be the first time since 1993, other than one time when I was in Rome, Italy, with my family,  when we will not be watching our village of Spring Grove, Illinois, fireworks display from the front yard of our house.  We'll sure miss it, but definitely not the skeeters who have the 4th of July highlighted on their best bitin' days.

Most fireworks around here have been canceled due to you-know-what.  But, Spring Grove and Richmond (not to be  confused with that questionable city by that name in Virginia) are having a joint fireworks display at Richardson Farm in Spring Grove which also bills itself as the world's largest corn maze.

Sad, but no parades either, but if the last several weeks and last night are any indication, we will have plenty of neighborhood fireworks.

Sorry, Doggies.  --RoadBang

Along 66, May, 2020: The Boots Court in Carthage Up for Sale

MAY 14--  Boots Court in Carthage, Missouri, officially put up for sale.  Price is $210,000 (a whole lot more reasonable than the $1 million+ price for the Blue wallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M.)

The historic and wonderfully renovated place is at 107 S. Garrison Avenue.  Co-owner Deborah Harvey says the sale comes as a result of that coronavirus thing.

Boots Court was built in 1939 by Arthur Boots (hence the name).  Clark Gable stayed there several times.  It became the Boots Motel in the 1950s

The new owners have restored the place to its 1940s appearance, including a radio in every room, sorry, no TV sets.  They bought the place in 2011 and reopened in 2012.

It is a unique place and in our early years on 66, we'd drive by it and always said we wanted to stay there some time, but no way with how run down it was and its clientele at the time.  We even once took a ride through it and with the looks we got, wished we hadn't.

We did stay there a few years ago and it was a great experience.  This is when noted folk artist Lowell Davis erected his "Welcome to Carthage sign with the cop car behind it right next to the Boots.  That was quite the experience in itself.

Plus, I always wanted to sit in one of those classic old chairs out front of the place.

Well, hoping things change and they can keep it, but if it does sell, here's hoping the new owners will continue.

Lovin' the Boots.  RoadBoot

History of Victor and Victor Township, Illinois-- Part 3

And, I bet you had never heard of Victor or Victor Township, Illinois.  I know I hadn't.  And, it's not that far from Northern Illinois University.

Ross Grove and Shabonna Grove furnish some of its people with timber, but most of them do not own no woodland.  They purchase coal from Kewanee for fuel and lumber from Michigan for fencing and building.  (What, no barb wire from DeKalb for fencing?)  The Little Creek Indian waters the township.

There is no village in the town.  (Not sure what this means.  Might mean no village in the township?)  Leland, a thriving  railroad village in La Salle County, about  one mile and a half from the south end of the town is the principal  center for trade of its people, and for its conveniences and accommodations which villages furnish.

The first school house  in the place was built in 1850, by Mr. Newton Stearns, on Section 8.  The school section was sold in 1855.

The population grew  from 355 in 1855, to 399 in 1860 to 835 in 1865.

The town or township sent 103 soldiers to the War of the Rebellion and taxed itself $10,858 to wage the war.  Four of its men died.

--RoadVic