The name "Horner Highway" was the brainchild of the Women's Horner Clubs of Sangamon County which were established to support Horner's political efforts. This was a statewide organization (outside of Chicago). A reception in June 1935 drew women from 50 Illinois counties, including representatives from 32 clubs in Sangamon County alone.
The clubs began pushing to name the highway after Horner when the section of road was paved in 1933. The new pavement opened that August in time for the Illinois State Fair. The clubs negotiated with landowners and members helped convince the state to plant thousands of trees along the road.
"That road from Walnut Street north to Illinois 124 on the far side of Cantrall, ... was landscaped very heavily by the Department of Public Works and Buildings," Henry Scheer, a former state highway maintenance engineer in 1978. "(T)hat road was a showplace for quite awhile.
Scheer credited Robert Kingery, director of the department under Horner, for what was called "a daring attempt at modern conservation practice."
--RoadPretty
No comments:
Post a Comment