Fried Chicken at Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook

DELL RHEA'S CHICKEN BASKET

645 Joliet Road (I-55 & Route 83)

Willowbrook, Illinois

Fried chicken lovers have been going to this venerable spot since it first opened its doors to Route 66 travelers in the early 1940sThis restaurant is a part of the Route 66 Hall of Fame and has been serving its chicken, cocktails and farmhouse recipes in a traditional supper club setting for more than 60 years.

Originally it was founded as part of a gas station.

Today's fried chicken is made the same way as it was in the heyday of Route 66.  And, they have other home-style classics like corn fritters, baby back ribs, homemade mashed potatoes and an all-you-can-eat salad bar.

It is a throw-back restaurant and located just 25 minutes from downtown Chicago.

You can find out why they boast:  "Get Your Chicks on Route 66."

They also have a daily lunch buffet for $17.99 (which, of course, includes that chicken stiff).

Salivating All the Way.  --RoadHungry

About That First Hundred Miles of Route 66 in Illinois

From same source as last three posts.

The First Hundred Miles is a comprehensive tourism brand, linking the communities between Chicago and Pontiac in Illinois.  At TheFirstHundredMiles.com, you'll find feature articles dedicated to noteworthy attractions, lists of fan favorite restaurants, inspiring photo galleries and comprehensive business listings.  

You'll also find convenient maps and pre-built road-trip iteneraries, directing you to popular boutique shops, sprawling nature preserves and delicious dining destinations.

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MY OBSERVATIONS

Downtown Chicago, the beginning point of Route 66 in Illinois has its attractions, including the Sears Tower (I don't call it by the other name), Union Station and, of course, Lou Mitchell's.  However, from there it goes through a rather dangerous area and suburban sprawl has really wiped out most of the rest of it until you get to Joliet.

--RoadHundred

Cross Country Great American Road Trip This Week and Next-- Part 3: Red Carpet Corridor Festval

Whether you're looking to chart a cross-country trip from Chicago to Santa Monica,or simply experienece a unique getaway that's close to home, the First Hundred Miles of Route 66 is the best place to start your journey.

This famed trek takes you off the interstate and encourages you to explore the communities that line the Mother Road.  From the hustle and bustle of Chicago's awe-inspiring Magnificent Mile to the picturesque farmland of Central Illinois. 

The First Hundred Miles of the original two-lane blacktop is lined with throwback diners, fascinating museums and some of the most popular photo ops you'll find along the entire route.

And, remember, May 6 and 7, just a couple weeks away, the stretch between Joliet and Bloomington-Normal is having their  annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival.  Every town has events going on.  

Lots of Fun.  --RoadRed

Music to Go Cruisin' in 1974: 'Another Park, Another Sunday'

From Bob Stroud's April 13, 2023, Ten at Ten on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, The Drive, Classic Rock.  These were all songs from 1974.  That's 49 years ago to you and me.

CALL ON ME--  Chicago

ROCK AND ROLL HOOCHIE COO--  Rick Derringer

PRETZEL LOGIC--  Steely Dan

ANOTHER PARK, ANOTHER SUNDAY--  Doobie Brothers

OL' 55--  Eagles

BRIDGE OF SIGHS--  Robin Trower

MOVIN' ON--  Bad Company

STAR BABY--  Guess Who

COME MONDAY--  Jimmy Buffett

COME AND GET YOUR LOVE--  Redbone

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Headin' Out to San Francisco For the Labor Day Weekend Show."  Answer below.  --Road'74

"Come Monday"

Route 66's Quirkiest and Most Wonderful Attractions State by State: Illinois

From Stacker.

ILLINOIS

Grant Park (Chicago)

Pontiac (Mural City)  (Old Log Cabin)

Springfield  (Lauterbach Giant)

Staunton  (Henry's Rabbit Ranch)

Collinsville  (World's Largest Catsup Bottle)

Madison  (Chain of Rocks Bridge)

Who Says There Is Nothing to See in Illinois?  --RoadIll

Chicago's Pullman National Monument-- Part 4: Labor Strife

In 1893, an economic depression led George Pullman to decrease factory workers' wages.  But, he didn't lower the rent they paid him to live in his company town.

The worlers felt like their robber baron was passing on the cost of the recession to them.  In May 1894, the workers went on strike.

The American Railway Union, led by Eugene Debs, came in to represent the factory workers and called for a nationwide boyctt of Pullman railcars.  That summer more than 18,000 Pullman workers walked off the job and were joined by over 200,000 railway workers nationwide.

Almost all of the railroads out of Chicago -- the rail hub of North America -- were shut down.

Said Gabriel Winant, a history professor at the University of Chicago, "The real historical significance of (the strike) is the very early effort at industrial unionism" -- an organizing method in which all workers at an industry are represented by the same union, rather than by disparate craft unions.

--RoadStrike

Chicago's Pullman Monument-- Part 2

This weekend will be a neighborhood-wide Labor Day celebration.  Visitors can take part in free tours of the visitors center and the historic Hotel Florence.  The Illinois Labor History Society will host walking tours of the neighborhood.

On Monday, the National A. Philip Randolph Pulman Porter Museum will open for its Urban Renaissance event, a commemorationof the Great Migration complete with live music and art space.  

Amtrak will carry historic Pullman palace cars -- the luxurious rail cars Pullman's company produced and sold to railroad companies across the country -- into town for the event; visitors can tour them at the 111th Street/Pullman Metra station.

--RoadPull

Chicago's Pullman Monument-- Part 1

From the September 21, 2021, Chicago Tribune "This is Chicago's DNA" byTalia Soglin.

Teri Gage, superintendent of the Pullman National Monument says Pullmam's history is still relevant today:  "We're talking about immigration, social  justice and the labor rights."

Labor Day weekend, 2021, marked the grand opening of the Pullman National Monument Visitor Center in the famous clock tower and surrounding factory grounds.  This did not come about overnight.  The road to this was driven by more than a half century of grassroots neighborhood effort.

In 1998, an arsonist set fire to the clock tower building which was rescued from demolition after residents of the surrounding area orchestrated a letter-writing campaign to save it.

In the six years since President Obama declared the Pullman Historic District a national monument, the National Park Service has contended with toxic soil, funding challenges and bureaucracy.

Residents and community organizations hope the opening of the  visitor center and new exhibits will bring heightened national recognition of Pullman's history, as well as economic investment and development to the Far South Side.

--RoadDog

Along66, Nov. 2022: Frankoma Pottery Co. Reopens

NOVEMBER 21

Frankoma Pottery Company store opens in Glenpool, Oklahoma, after a long hiatus.

It was originally in nearby Sapulpa from 1933 to 2003.

Liz and I were ucky enough to get to go there before they closed.  They sure made some fine pottery.

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NOVEMBER 22

Inside Hook "Tracing the path of historic Route 66 just outside of Chicago.  Joe Rosenthal.

--RoadDog

Return of Chicago's Roar: Those Lions at the Art Institute

From the July 20, 2022, Chicago Tribune by Doug George.

Part of anyone's initial drive on Route 66 in Chicago are the pair of iconic lion statues at the front of the Chicago Art Institute.  They went back to work Tuesday, after returning from a month of conservation work.

They now sport a fresh coat of wax after receiving a deep cleaning and coating of the protective wax at Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio, Inc, an art restoration service in west suburban Forest Park.

The lions were removed on June 14, having been outside for 128 years.  It was their first deep cleaning in decades. They were also checked for corrision.

The bronze statues were sculpted by artist Edward Kemeys for the museumin 1893, in time for the first Chicago World's Fair, and commissioned by Florence Lathrop Field, wife of Henry Field.  The lions were installed the following year.  The lion on the north pedestal is "on the prowl."  The other one is "In an attitude of defiance" on the south pedestal.

They have since been Chicago icons (wearing sports apparel when Chicago teams win championships), predating and the equal to Buckingham Fountain (1927), the Wrigley Building (finished 1924), the Picasso (1967) and, of course, Cloud Gate (the Bean) (2006).

--RoadDog

Have Fun at Burr Ridge's Route 66-Themed Playground-- Part 4: Get Your Play on Route 66

Why do they make these for kids?

While in the nearby Texas section, you'll see two spray-painted cars half buried  in the ground -- a clever homage to Amarillo's classic public art installation (you know, Cadillac Ranch), a fixture on the modern Route 66 road trip.

Next, in the New Mexico section, kids can bounce atop a recreation of the Blue Hole, a popular stop on the Mother Road featuring a clear blue pool of water, with extensive underwater caves.

In the Arizona portion, children can take a spin on the Wigwam motel-inspired rope structure.  The route comes to an end in California, where a pier-themed area allows you to surf on the turf with a spring balance board.  At the end of the roadway, you'll find a giant 3D Route 66 photo-op sign.

The multi-generational play area is sure to be highly popular with travelers of all ages -- allowing even the youngest road-trip enthusuasts to Get Their Kicks on Route 66.

Open tothe public from dawn to dusk, the Harvester Park Playground is at 15W400 Harvester Drive in Burr Ridge.

You can see the whole thing at mykidslist.com/harvesterpark.

Is 71 Too Old to Play on It?  --RoadYoung

Some Other Illinois Endangered Sites-- Part 3: Chicago, Cicero, Decatur and East St. Louis

**  Altgeld Gardens Shop Building and School Buildings C and E in Chicago.   Known as the "Up-Top", the wavy roofed  retail building of the Chicago Housing Authority's Altgeld Gardens housing complex is privately owned

**  James R. Thompson Center, Chicago.  It has been on the endangered list for a long time

**  Klas Restaurant, Cicero.  Vacant and up for sale on Cermack Road long served as an anchor for the Czech culture in the region

**  Illinois Terminal Interurban Station, Decatur.  It was first a rail station and then  a church.  Built in 1931.

**  Broadview Hotel, East St. Louis.  Built in 1927, the hotel has fallen into disrepair but could be used as more than 100 housing units for seniors.

--RoadDog

Illinois Most Endangered Sites 2021: The Thompson Center and 'Green Book'

From the May 6, 2022, Chicago Tribune "Endangered history:  From 'Green Book' sites to Thompson Center" by Charles j. Johnson.

They didn't list the 11 Most-Endangered Places in 2020 for some reason, but the Landmarks Illinois folks released their list of nine places, six of them in the Chicago and suburban counties.

Chicago's James R. Thompson Center made the list for the fourth consecutive time.  It is not known what will happen to the 1985 Loop building designed by Helmut Jahn.  (Just recently it appears that Amazon bought it.)

The rest of the list doesn't just include big downtown buildings but also more humble locations that hold enormous cultural significance.

Making the list for the first time are the state's "Green Book" sites.  The "Negro Motorist Green Book" was published between the 1930s and the 1960s as a guide for black people who faced refusal of service and the threat of violence in some areas while traveling, including Illinois in so-called "Sundown Towns" where a black person would be in serious trouble if they were still in town after the sun went down.

The guidebook was the title of the 2018 feature film.

--RoadDog

Illinois' 25 Biggest Cities Today-- Part 2: Aurora, Springfield, Waukegan

Continuing with the 25 largest Illinois cities in 2022.'

12.  Bloomington    (77,725)

11.  Cicero    (81,471)

10.  Waukegan    (81,157)

9.  Champaign     (88,288)

8.  Elgin    (112,062)

7.  Peoria     (112,644)

6.  Springfield     (115,075)

5.  Joliet     (147,323)

4.  Rockford    (147,441)

3.  Naperville    (147,734)

2.  Aurora    (199,326)

1.  Chicago    (2,699,347)

--RoadNumbers

Illinois' Biggest Cities in 1870-- Part 2: Rockford, Aurora and Chicago

#12.  Rock Island:  7,890   (#254 nationwide)

#11.  Belleville:  8,146

#10.  Alton:  8,665   (#228 nationwide)

#9.  Jacksonville  9,203   (#213 nationwide)

#8.  Galesburg:  10,158   (#178 nationwide)

#7.   Rockford:  11,049   (#152 nationwide)

#6.  Aurora:  11,162   (#148 nationwide)

#5.  Bloomington:  14,590  (#108 nationwide)

#4.  Springfield  17,364   (#88 nationwide)

#3.  Peoria:  22,849   (#59 nationwide)

#2.  Quincy:  24,052   (#55 nationwide)

#1.  Chicago:  298,977   (#5 nationwide)

Interesting.  --RoadPop

Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 to Hold Its 2nd Hall of Fame Induction

From April 22, 2022 WJOL 1340 AM.

The second annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, June 5 at the Rialto Square Theatre in downtown Joliet, Illinois.

Artists scheduled to attend are REO Speedwagon's Joe Cronin, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.  He will be providing a special induction and performance  in tribute to Gary Loizzo of  the American Breed and Pumpkin  Studios.

Also scheduled to appear is Dennis DeYoung from Styx, Jim Peterik from the Ides of March and Survivor,  the New Colony Six and many more.

The Class of 2022 artists or bands are Styx, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Dan Fogelberg and the New Colony Six.  The legendary John  Records Landecker joins the DJ category, WXRT FM in the radio category and Gary Loizzo in the  recording studio one.  Mercury Records , founded in Chicago in 1945, enters in the Record Label Category.

Sounds Like a Fun Time.  --RoadCago

Along66: David Clark and More Illinois Route 66 Byway Grants

I take these from the Route 66 News blog which has articles every day about our favorite road.  And, it goes into much more detail.  I just pick the posts I'm most interested in and write about them.  So, if you want to get your self on the pulse of the Mother Road, you want to go to the Route 66 News site.

NOVEMBER 2

David Clark provides an overview of the Great Chicago Fire during its 150th anniversary.  He is known as the Windy City Road Warrior and I doubt that anyone knows more about the history of Route 66 in Chicago and surrounding area than he does.

NOVEMBER 4

The Illinois Route 66 Byway is launching  a second round of grants to its members.  These grants range from $500 to $1000.  The post also had a list of the 14 first round recipients.  It costs money to preserve history so this is a good thing.

-RoadDog

Along66 Oct. 2021: Ed Debevic's in Chicago and the Old State Capitol in Springfield

OCTOBER 11

Ed Debevic's Diner reopens at a new location in Chicago.  In the past, the place was famous for its 50s decor and surly waitstaff.  It has reopened in the Streeterville area after the previous one in River North was closed and demolished six years ago.

The old one wasn't on Route 66, but it was such a unique experience that many 66ers went there.

The original was opened in 1984 at 640 Wells Street.  The new one is at 159 E. Ohio.

We went there on several occasions and once with my nephew who had no idea about the waitstaff.  When she plopped down next to him and started yelling at him to make up his mind about the order, he just about crawled out of the booth.  I, of course, enjoyed this immensely.

OCTOBER 13

The Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, has reopened for tours.   

Abraham Lincoln served in the legislature there and gave his famed "House Divided" speech there.

--RoadDog

Hey, Route 66ers!! Five of the Sixteen Remaining Teams in the Illinois State High School Football Playoffs are on the Mother Road

Five out of sixteen teams, not too bad at all.

Playing today. we have Wilmington, the Home of the Gemini Giant playing for the Class 2A Championship at 1 pm.

Then, we have two teams on 66 playing for the Class 4A Championship, Joliet Catholic in Joliet, home of the Rialto Square Theatre and Springfield's Sacred Heart-Griffin.  Of course, Springfield is the home of Cozy Dog.

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Tomorrow at 1 pm, we have East St. Louis and the nearby Cahokia Mounds.  They are Class 6A.

Then at 4, we have Chicago's St. Rita playing for Class 7A's Championship.  Home of famed  Lou Mitchell's.

When I have my Route 66 vs. Lincoln Highway, I do not include Chicago teams.

--RoadDog

Good Times in the Area: About That Good Old High School Football

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9

One of my favorite places to go this time of the year is to the local high school Friday night games on good weather days.  You get all the action  of college and pro football with a whole lot less of the hassle and costs.

Sadly, I haven't been to a game now since 2019, that's two years that I've missed.  Of course, last year, Illinois didn't have high school football until a shortened six game season in the spring.  I'm hoping to get back to the games next year.

I usually go to either the Richmond-Burton or Johnsburg High School games as they are the closest to me.  I pull for both rivals, but when they play each other, I pull for Richmond-Burton as a lot of my money goes there.  That school serves Spring Grove and Richmond, Illinois.

I also follow Palatine High School and even rival Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois.  I went to and graduated from Palatine High (and even went to Fremd for my freshman year as the frosh-soph for Palatine went there, juniors and seniors to Palatfox line High).

I also pull for Round Lake High School as that is where we lived for 17 years and we taught for 33 years in that school district.  Also, pull for Grant High School in Fox Lake as we spent much time boating.

Two other schools I back are Mt. Carmel in Chicago because NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch is head coach there.  Also Goldsboro High School in North Carolina because that is where I was born and lived for five years.  My grandparents lived just down the block from that school.

--RoadHigh