Along 66, July 2021: A Tale of Two Springfields

JULY 8

The old Bel-Air Motel sign in Springfield is ending up at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar in Springfield, Illinois. Yo will see it in their beer garden.

The Bel-Air Motel was built in the 1950s and had a history of troubles for many years until torn down in 2015.

Motorheads has a lot of Route 66 and automotive artifacts, including Art's Motel sign, Sonrise Donuts in Springfield and quite a few items from the old Bill Shea's in Springfield.  

A highly recommended place to visit on the south end of Springfield.

JULY 8

Springfield, Missouri, plans to reassemble one of the old Lurvey's Court cabins and turn it into a visitors center.

Lurvey's Court was long-abandoned and torn down in 2020 after being declared a danger and nuisance in2019.

The motel was constructed in 1928 by Burt and Irene Lurvey who moved the cabins from nearby Stafford, Missouri.  The cabins became extended rental units in the 1970s.

I am glad they kept one of the cabins as they were neat looking.

--RoadDog

Along 66, August 2021: Illinois Rock and Roll Museum's First Hall of Fame Class Induction Tuesday, August 31at Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre

AUGUST 18 Route 66 News Blog.

I am skipping ahead through the month of July and early August for this one because in my nooks this is a huge event and one that I would sure like to be at, but sadly, not.

This event was canceled last year because of you-know-what.

The Inaugural Class:

Buddy Guy

Chicago

Cheap Trick

REO Speedwagon

Muddy Waters

Buckinghams

Ides of March

RADIO STATIONS

WLS-AM

DEEJAYS

Dick Biondi

Larry Lujack

Confirmed onstage performers: REO Speedwagon, Ides of March,  Millennials and Jimmy Sohns of the Shadows of Knight.

This is the perfect public performance at the Rialto since the virus hit.

--RoadDog

Sometimes You Need Some Cruisin' Music-- Part 3: 'You Wear It Well'

And this comes from 49 years ago.  Has it been that long?

YOU WEAR IT WELL--  Rod Stewart

FROM THE BEGINNING-- Emerson, Lake & Palmer

ANGRY EYES--  Loggins & Messina

JOIN TOGETHER--  Who  (Now, whenever I hear a lot of Who songs, I think of a TV drama for some reason.)

SITTING--  Cat Stevens

MOONAGE DAYDREAM--  David Bowie

USE ME--  Bill Withers

SAINT DOMINIC'S PREVIEW--  Van Morrison

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING--  Chi Coltrane

SUPERSTITION--  Stevie Wonder

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Rid Me Of The Problems, Do All That You Can."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Superstition"

Sometimes You Need Some Cruisin' Music, 1972-- Part 2: 'Free Ride'

1972.  A great college year for me.

PLAYING IN THE BAND--  Bob Weir

AFTER MIDNIGHT--  J.J. Cale

LOVE ME LIKE A MAN--  Bonnie Raitt

THICK AS A BRICK-- Jethro Tull

I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU--  Al Green

FREE RIDE--  Edgar Winter Group

CONQUISTADOR (LIVE)--  Procul Harum

RESPECT YOURSELF--  Staples Singers

OLD MAN--  Neil Young

HIGHWAY STAR--  Deep Purple

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Really Don't Mind If You Sit This One Out.  My Words But A Whisper, Your Deafness A Shout."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Thick As a Brick"

Our 48th Wedding Anniversary and the Lincoln Highway-- Part 2: NIU's Newman Center and the Holiday Inn

Liz and I met at Palatine High School in 1967, dated throughout the rest of high school and then I went to Northern and she went to Harper College.  We broke up for awhile, but then got back together senior year at Northern.

We got married in DeKalb, Illinois, which is right on the Lincoln Highway, and is Illinois State Highway 38 through it but goes by he name Lincoln Highway.  

The marriage ceremony took place at Northern Illinois' Newman Center.  Father Dan Hermes married us.  It was an extremely hot day, much like yesterday and today is right now.  Fortunately the Newman Center Chapel was air conditioned.

Afterwards, we had the wedding reception at the DeKalb Holiday Inn (which is now the Red Roof Inn).  This is right on the Lincoln Highway.

So, You Might Say Our Wedding Was a Lincoln Highway Thing.  --RoadDog

Our 48th Wedding Anniversary and the 'Lincoln Crawl'-- Part 1

Yesterday, Liz and I celebrated out 48th wedding anniversary at Donovan's Reef on Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.  We had been planning on going to Galena, Illinois, where we had gone for our honeymoon in 1973.  But, with all this flareup with the virus, we canceled plans to do it.

We were married in DeKalb, Illinois, on August 25, 1973.  We had both just graduated from Northern Illinois University there in May,

The whole time we were going there, we often went to places (specially those of the bar sort) on the main road through town which was called the Lincoln Highway.  At the time, that name was just the name of another street.  We had no idea of its importance of it in U.S. transportation history.  Hey, it was the first American transcontinental highway and went from New York City to San Francisco.

As a matter of fact, we didn't know its importance all the way up to 2002, when we "discovered" Route 66  and the fun of driving those old roads.

During our college student years and afterwards as alumni, we often did what students referred to as the "Lincoln Crawl."  This would be to hit a lot  of bars along this Lincoln Highway street.  Many of our college bars were on Lincoln.

And, that would include such as The Uprising, Shamrock, Andy's, McCabe's, Candle Light and Sullivan's.

And, back then you didn't have to worry much about the police and DUIs.  It just wasn't done like it is today.

To Say the Least, We Sure Partied on the Lincoln Highway.  --RoadDog

Sometimes You Need Some Cruisin' Music, 1972-- Part 1: 'Me and Julio Down By the Old School Yard'

On August 21, 2021, Frank E. Lee of Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM went back to 1972, 49 years ago and played music you'd hear on WXRT.  This was WXRT's first year on the radio when it would come on at midnight on a foreign language station.  So glad to still have them.

And, of course, here is some really good cruisin' music.

BLUE SKY--  Allman Brothers Band

ME AND JULIO DOWN BY THE OLD SCHOOL YARD--  Paul Sinon

TUMBLING DICE--  Rolling Stones

FRANCINE--  ZZ Top

ROCKET MAN--  Elton John   Always reminds me of driving from the University of Georgia to NIU to see him at the Chick Evans Field House.  I drove the famous Ramblin' Wreck, a '63 Rambler my parents had bought me.  It got about 50 miles to the quart of oil.

COCONUT--  Nilsson

DO IT AGAIN--  Steely Dan

THE LION SLEPS TONIGHT--  Robert John

HI HI HI--  Paul McCartney

IT DOESN'T MATTER--  Stephen Stills

LONG DISTANCE RUNAROUND/THE FISH--  Yes

Nam That Tune (from the above songs):  "She Packed My Bags Last Night Pre-Flight."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Rocket Man"

Keep Spirit of '45 Alive-- Part 6:

August 8, 2021

Lou Rugani continued about World War II.

16 million in uniform

Ten times that worked on the home front in war industries and agricultural production.

The United States was The Arsenal of Democracy.

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This year is the 166th anniversary of "Taps."  There are only 34 notes to the song.  Yet, those 34 notes pack a bunch.  It never fails to bring me to tears.  That is just one really sad song.

We had what is called "Rolling Taps."  One bugler starts in one part of the park and then another a few seconds later, then another and another.  Man, that really gets you.

Then, a 21-gun salute by the Combined Veterans of McHenry and the release of 21 doves, who fly up, circle twice to get their bearings, then fly off to Woodstock and home.

"America the Beautiful" was sung.

Twelve years ago, the section for the World War II veterans was full.  Every year, sadly, there are fewer and fewer.

Then Bill's Little Big Band played that WW II-era music for an hour.

Sure Glad McHenry Has This Every Year.  --RoadDog

2021 Keep Spirit '45 Alive-- Part 5: The Bell and Saluting the Armed Forces

A McHenry alderman got up and spoke.  His house is on the corner across from the Veterans Park where this event was being held  They ring the bell at the house during events in the park and did so during this ceremony.  His grandfather had bought the bell at a garage sale many years ago and it was in really bad shape.  But, over time he had broken down and repaired it and also ring it every New Year's Eve to welcome the new year in.

Bill's Little Big Band then played the songs of our five armed forces:

ARMY:  "The Caissons Go Rolling Along"

NAVY:  "Anchors Aweigh"

AIR FORCE:  "Wild Blue Yonder"

COAST GUARD:  "Semper Paratus"

MARINES:  "The Marines Hymn"

Lou Rungani of WLIP AM 1050 Kenosha radio then spoke and said what came about after the war was the Baby Boomers and architecture called Mid Century Modern.  Four million babies were born in 1946, the highest birth rate ever.

Tony Bennett is 95 and a World War II veteran.

--RoadDog

2021 Keep Spirit '45 Alive-- Part 4: Korean War Veterans in Attendance

Then, Ron Bykowski read off the Korean War veterans in attendance.

Corporal ___________ _________ 8th Army, Korea 1951-1952

Sgt, U.S. Army ________ ________ 7th Army, 1952-1953  Korea

Corp. Arnie Millan, 1953-1954

George Mann, Korea

I did miss some of the names.

Again, sadly, like the World War II veterans.  Not many of them.

Of course, the extreme heat today as well as the continuing COVID-19 problem could have also worked to keep the numbers down.

2021 Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive in McHenry, Illinois-- Part 3: Three World War II Veterans in Attendance

Ron Bykowski then read off a list of World War II veterans in attendance today. 

John Davis, Navy (1942-1946) in the Atlantic Theater.

Bob Martin 5th Air Force, sergeant 1945-1946

Latimer __________U.S. Army 1944-1945  He will be 100 years  old in November

Sadly, that was all for the World War II veterans.

Like I said before, the first time I went to this, there must have been twenty WW II veterans names called off.

--GreGen

2021 Spirit of '45 on McHenry, Illinois-- Part 2: Marks the Surrender of Japan, VJ Day

The event started at 5 pm with a rebroadcast of what Americans heard on the radio as Japan had finally complied with the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and surrendered unconditionally.  This decision on their part came after the two atom bombs were dropped on Japan.  They had already reached the point at which there was no way they could win, but were still ready to fight to the end.

So, VJ Day was August 14, 1945.  This set off celebrations in the United States like you wouldn't believe.

This is the 12th time the City of McHenry, Illinois, has observed the Spirit of '45.  Sadly, very few places in the United States observe it.  These days, not only is the World War II folks honored, but also the Korean War people.

Also, sadly, every year there are fewer and fewer of both groups at Veterans Park.

All events take place at and around the huge gazebo in the park.

After the posting of the colors by the Combined Veterans of McHenry, the "Star-Spangled Banner" was sung and the Pledge of Allegiance recited.  The huge U.S. flag that is normally there and hoisted on ladders by the McHenry Fire Department weren't there today because of the strong winds.

Ron Bykowski was the master of ceremonies and the real driving force behind all of this celebration.

--RoadDog

2021 Keep the Spirit of 45 Alive in McHenry, Illinois-- Part 1: Big Band Music and a Biplane Flyover

August 8,2021

After Parish Fest, I picked up Liz and we went to McHenry for the annual salute to the Greatest generation they hold there every second Sunday in the month of August.  It is on this date because it is the closest Sunday to when the Japanese surrendered to end World War II.

Last year it was held, but in a different form.  Instead of all the things going on at McHenry's Veteran Park.  Instead, four or five large flagpoles and flags were dedicated at various cemeteries in the community.

But, today, we had what we always have as far as commemoration.  

This is the 76th anniversary celebration of the end of World War II honoring veterans and the legacy of America's Greatest Generation.

Music started at 4 pm with Bill's Little Big Band (about 12 members) providing it.  They are regulars at the event and have that great Big Band/Swing Music down very well.  A  couple of the songs they played were "I Have Dreams" and "Little Brown Jug."

The ceremony itself began at 5 pm when a flyover was made by a 1941 Boeing biplane which flew over the park trailing smoke.

Then, colors were posted by the Combined Color Guard of McHenry.  (McHenry has three military service organizations:  the American Legion, VFW and the Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV)

--RoadDog

Parish Fest-- Part 2: Oompah Band, Brats, Beer and a Sundae

I go for two reasons:  great food and drink and entertainment.

Even with the fewer people attending, there was plenty of the two main reasons why I went.

Like I said before, New Odyssey Band had played there for about ten years and then another band in 2019 before the event was canceled in 2020.

Today's band was Die Musikmeister's, an oompah German band that sure looked the part and played the music.  I've seen them before and had a great time and sure did today.  I am a big fan of oom-pah music and polkas.  I don't care what they say, an accordion is a great instrument.  Why, even our old DeKalb Footstompers had an accordion.

Plus, the food.  I always get the brat which come with sauerkraut unless you request to not have it.  But, who would eat a brat without sauerkraut.  Almost sacrilegious if you ask me.  And, oh yes, mustard and onions.  Good eatin' in the neighborhood.  I washed it down with two draft beers and had a Culvers sundae for desert.

 Enjoyed talking with a couple from Johnsburg who were heading to North Chicago afterwards for a Serbian Orthodox Church festival.

This was the first of my two places I went to today.  Next I went home, picked Liz up and drove to McHenry for the Keep the Spirit of 45 Alive event.

The Parish Fest takes place every second Sunday of August.

--RoadDog

Parish Fest 2021, Johnsburg, Illinois-- Part 1

This past Sunday, August 8, I attended two events in McHenry County, Illinois.  The first was the Parish Fest in Johnsburg and the other was at Veterans Park in McHenry where the annual Keep the Spirit of '45 commemoration was held.  I heard two great bands that day.

Of course, last year, Parish Fest was not held and the Spirit of '45 was quite different because of you-know-what.

Parish Fest is an annual event held by St, John's Catholic Church in Johnsburg.  I was quite surprised to see so few cars driving up to the site across from the church on the grounds of the Johnsburg Community Center.  Usually this is a well-attended event.  Perhaps it was because of the surge in the virus these days or because of the extreme heat.

But, at least we had a strong breeze which made being outside at least possible, but you really had to hold onto your items you were eating (and even your cup of beer).  Over they would go if not careful.

I always enjoy the food and music.  For many years, the New Odyssey Band played there.  The guitar player of the band was a good friend of my wife Liz when they were growing up in Chicago.  Sadly, New Odyssey has retired after some 40 years playing together.  Guess they needed a break.

--RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 9: Two Graves

When I turned on  I was very near where I kept the boat during winters.

Like I said, I was going to the Linn-Hebron Cemetery to visit two graves.  

One was the grave of Major Watson (Major really was his first name).  He is thought to be the only veteran of the American Revolution buried in McHenry County.  He also fought in the War of 1812.  He had the sad distinction of being captured by the British in both wars and  spent almost all of the War of 1812 in prison.  I have written about him a lot in my Cooter's History Thing and War of 1812 blogs.  At either site, scroll down the right side until you get to the Search This Blog line and type in his name.

The other person's grave is Elmer Charles Bigelow, who was the recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II.  He was a  Water Tender 2nd Class aboard the USS Fletcher (DD-445) when it was hit by a Japanese shell in Manila Bay.  He valiantly fought the resulting fire at risk of his life and he died the next day.

--RoadDog

Firebird Cruise on McHenry County's Pioneer Road (Scenic Road)

Yesterday, Wednesday, August 12, I took the '85 Firebird out for a cruise in between the storms.  We have certainly been having rain storms the last week, every day in fact.  But, we sure needed the rain after a three week drought.  It's been weird weather this summer.  

This is the second time we have had an extended drought followed by a week+ of lots and lots of rain.  The poor lawns have gone from brown (except over the septic field) to green to brown and now is back to green.  The weeds have done well the whole time, though.

Anyway, I went out to US-12 and took it north to Solon.  I took the wrong Solon Road and ended up on S. Solon Road when I wanted to take W. Solon Road and ended up back at W. Ringwood Road and took that over to Pioneer Road and headed north.

Pioneer Road is one of McHenry County's ten Scenic Drives and is described as 4 miles long in Richmond and McHenry townships.  It well deserves the name with farms and lots of open areas.  

However, going north, twice I had to slow down for work crews cutting up fallen trees and limbs as well as one mile long stretch with so many little branches and twigs all over it that I decided not to go back over it to the southern terminus of Pioneer Road.

The storms that came through Monday and Tuesday had high winds.  Other nearby places had tornadoes.

I took Illinois Highway 31 past Glacial Park into McHenry and, believe me, this stretch of road could also be called a McHenry County Scenic Road.

--RoadDog

Along 66, July 2021: Doc's in Girard, the Shamrock in Sullivan

These are taken from the Route 66 News site.  If you want to know the latest about what is going on along our wonderful Mother Road, this is where you'll want to visit.  There is a new article every day (and often more than one).  

I just pick the posts I'm most interested in and write and comment about them.

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JULY 1

Doc's Soda Fountain in downtown Girard, Illinois, is up for sale.  It has a turn-key restaurant and a pharmacy museum.  The Deck family opened the store in 1884 and ran it for many years before they died and it became Doc's.

Got $136,000 lying around not earning CD interest?  Iowa Realty has lots of pictures.  I must admit, I am tempted, but I was also tempted by the place below.  Talked myself out of both places.  Way too much work at my age now.

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JULY 2

A cleanup effort is scheduled for Shamrock Court in Sullivan, Missouri, from July 10 to July 11.

The motel dates to the late 1940s and has been owned by the Weiland family for nearly 70 years.

The units were converted to efficiency apartments but have not been inhabited for quite awhile.  The place was recently purchased by "Roaming" Rich of the Route 66 Association of Missouri.

--RoadDog

Along 66, June 2021: Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Grants and Tulsa's Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program

JUNE 26

Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $50,000 in grants to various projects

Shyview Drive-In Theater in Litchfield received $1,000.

Old Joliet Prison  $1,000

Atlanta   #1,000

Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton  $750

Elkhart   $750

Edwardsville   $500

Among them.  Money makes the places glow, you know.

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JUNE 27

Decropolis becomes the24th recipient of Tulsa's Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program.  It is located on East 11th Street, the old Route 66.

You can never have too mush neon in my estimation.  Tulsa sure knows how to push its Route 66 heritage.

--RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 8: On the Non-Road and Then to a Cemetery

THURSDAY, JULY 1

One of Hebron's big claims to fame was when its tiny high school, with 98 students, wo the 1952 Illinois State High School Basketball Tournament.  They show their pride by the backboards on the light posts and their big water tower which is painted to look like a basketball with 1952 State Champions on it.  You can see a picture of it in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

I continued west on 173 to Johnson Road and turned right to head up to the Linn-Hebron Cemetery.  I took this road many times over the last fifteen or so years as we used to keep our boat over winter at a farm on this road.  Today, this stretch of road is a pleasure to drive, but most of the years I had to drive it, even the potholes had potholes in them.

That was one really bumpy ride, I tell you.  I was always worried about the boat coming lose.

Johnson Road becomes Nichols Road once you pass Hebron Road.  You take a right on Hillside Road and go a short distance to the Linn-Hebron Cemetery.

I planned to go by two graves there.

--RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 7: Hebron, the State Champs and 'Murph'

Hebron is mostly a farm community, but a few subdivisions are now sprouting up out in those fields.   In 2010, the population was 1,216.  

A famous restaurant called Crandall's, famous for their broasted chicken, is located just north of town on Illinois Highway 47.

They are famous for having the 1952 Illinois State Basketball Championship team which was a real "Hoosiers" story where they defeated much bigger schools.  In 1952, the the Alden-Hebron High School had a total of 98 students.  They are so proud of it, the water tower is painted like a basketball with the words   "Home of the 1952 State Champions."

Three notable people from Hebron were Elmer Bigelow, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient,  George Dunne, long-time Cook County (Chicago) President of the Board of Supervisors, who upon retirement lived on a farm in Hebron.  (His son, was an actor and musician who performed under the name Murphey Dunne who played the keyboardist  on the "Blues Brothers" movie, and its sequel "Blues Brothers 2000."  He was  "Murph."

Also former Major League pitcher Howie Judson.

I Sure Loved That "Blues Brothers" Movie.  --RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 6: West of 173 to Hebron and What I Saw

 JULY 1, 2021, Thursday

I continued west on Illinois Highway 173, past many farms and fields.  I used to drive this road twice a year back when we had a boat.  I did this until just a few years ago, but, alas, we are now boatless.  Like they say, the two happiest days in a boater's life is when they get their first boat and when they sell their last boat.

We kept the boat at a farm a mile west of Hebron, Illinois.  We found this to be a great price for storage.  We paid $30 a month and it was stored inside a barn.  We ended up getting a lot of our friends overwintering there as well.

Hebron, Illinois, is a small village located where 173 crosses Illinois Highway 47, another road I have driven many times in the past.  

As I approached the intersection, I saw a tent with all sorts of flags flying at it.  As I got closer, I could see the name Buck Fiden written on a sign.  I was wondering if this was some sort of an Irish place until I saw all the Trump flags flying, then realized what it was all about.

There were several people there.  I don't know, but you should show some respect to the presidency even if you don't like the current one.

--RoadCrusin'

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 5: Illinois Highway 173

THURSDAY, JULY 1

I took US-12 to Richmond, Illinois, and encountered a big backup at the Illinois Highway 173 stoplight.  This backup is especially bad on the weekends when a lot of Illinoisians head up to Wisconsin.  I decided to backtrack a little and take the road through the downtown out to 173.

Illinois Highway 173 is also called the  was built in 1924 and runs 66 miles from Zion on Lake Michigan to Machesney Park by Rockford.  It is two lanes for most of its length and goes through fairly hilly countryside and has a lot of farms in McHenry County.  It also forms the northern border of Spring Grove.

In 2008, the whole road was officially designated  the 173rd  Airborne Brigade Highway.

The 173rd was activated in 1915 and did serve during World War II, but is best known for its service in Vietnam  It was the first major U.S. Army ground group  deployed in Vietnam and served from 1965 to 1971, losing 1,533 soldiers.  Brigade members  received over 7,700 decorations and more than 6,000 Purple Hearts.

I have driven the stretch of 173 from Richmond to Hebron many times as we kept the boat at a farm in Hebron during the winter for many years.

It is two lane this whole stretch.  At one point, there is a sign for Galt Airport.

--RoadDog

First Firebird Cruise-- Part 4: About US Highway 12

Continued from July 8, 2021.

THURSDAY, JULY 1

As I mentioned, US Highway 12 (US-12) has played a big role in my life for many years.

Back in high school, the night crew at the Palatine, Illinois, Burger King would pile into cars and drive on US-12 to Wauconda, and spend the afternoon our on the beach and in the water at Honey Hill.  Liz and I used to go to many places along the 12 while we were dating, including St. George & the Dragon at Dundee Road and the Village Inn.

We'd sometimes drive US-12 all the way to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This stretch would take us right through Spring Grove, where we have lived for the last 29 years.  We always though this place was way out in the boonies and now we live there.

We also often stopped to eat at Mr. Sitka's in Richmond (near Illinois Highway 31 and US-12 (now Dilar's Restaurant).

We also drove part of US-12 when visiting her parents in Palatine and also when her mom moved to an apartment on 12 in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Like I said. US-12 has been important in my life.

Through the Chicagoland area, US Highway 12 is called Rand Road.

--RoadDog

Along 66, June 2021: Four Ways and Atom Bombs

JUNE 20

The Four Way restaurant in Cuba, Missouri, has reopened as  Weir on 66.  It is in a former Phillips 66 station.  It had reopened and operated for five years as the Four Way, but the coronavirus closed it.

Oy was built in 1932 by Paul T. Carr.  A very recognizable building so am glad it has reopened.

Four Way always made me think of that Cincy chili.

JUNE 24

California nearly used atomic bombs to help bypass Route 66.

California highway planners had considered using nearly two dozen atom bombs to level a mountain range for a new alignment of I-40.

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm kind of glad they didn't.

Blow me Away.  --RoadDog

Lincoln Logs, June 2021: News from the Lincoln Highway

JUNE 1, 2021

POPULAR SUPPERMARKET  RETURNS TO LINCOLN HIGHWAY EXPERIENCE IN UNITY

From the June 1, 2021, Trib Live by Shirley  McMarlin.

These are weekly outdoor food festivals featuring entertainment and that has already started and run through to August 25.   They are from 5 to 8 pm every Wednesday, weather permitting, and held on the grounds of the Lincoln Highway Experience grounds in Unity, Pennsylvania.

Lauren  Koker, the Lincoln Highway Experience Museum executive director says:  "This is hands-down, our most   popular event here at the museum."

It is now in its eighth season.

This year's vendors are Aromo Italiano,  Chey Dato's Table, Connections Cafe,  Grateful Smoke BBQ,  Blended & Brewd and Bella  Terra Vineyards.  Payment is by cash only.

Music for the remaining days:  Tim Bush, Deja Vu,  Gashouse Annie and Tim Roberts and Stacey Meyers.

Admission is $5 a car and picnic tables are available but fill up fast.  No pets or outside food allowed.

Sounds Like Fun On the Old Lincoln.

--RoadSup

Along 66, June 2021: Rockwood Motor Court and the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum

JUNE 13

Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield, Missouri sees an 895% increase in business from a year ago.  It is located at 2200 W. College Street (Route 66).  

It was reopened in January 2020 by Phyllis Ferguson.  It was built in 1929 and has six cabins with the trademark Ozark sandstone giraffe rock exteriors.

Of course, then came the you-know-what.  Hope the virus resurgence in Missouri is hurting her now.  I know it is keeping us out of that state.

JUNE 13

The Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet will hold its first induction class on August 31 at the Rialto Theatre.  The original one was cancelled back in 2020 because of you-know-what.

First inductees include: REO Speedwagon, Buddy Guy, Chicago, Mussy Waters, Buckinghams, Cheap Trick, WLS AM and deejays Dick Biondi and Larry Lujack.

Scheduled performers will be REO Speedwagon and Jim Sohns (of the Shadows of Knight).

The museum is in a 1920s three story building at 9 West Cass Street in downtown Joliet between the north and south bound lanes of Illinois Highway 53 (Route 66).

I sure wouldn't mind being there for that.

--RoadDog