Lincoln Highway, Aug. 2020: Wilkinsburg's Lincoln Statue-- Part 3

News about the Lincoln Highway.

A new concrete platform for Mr. Lincoln is already in place as a result of a restoration project along Route 30 (U.S. Highway 30).  But Morris said a new dark granite pedestal, which is coming from India, is needed which will add another $15,000 to the project.

Society President  Anne Elise Morris said:  "The old one was not usable.  It didn't pass the  structural engineer's test, and you're certainly not going to have a beautiful new statue and a new viewing area to set it in -- and then have the part that holds them together in poor shape."

President Morris and the others, however, could not have anticipated this new wave of statue destruction that hit this year with the "woke" community.  She said:  "I believe that most people are not perfect and every decision has a back story to it.  Looking back  150 years ago, although Lincoln was not a perfect man,  he certainly did get the ball rolling  to free  three-and-a-half-million African-American slaves.  And he did what he had to do to save the Union.  If anybody deserved to have a statue honoring them, it's Abraham Lincoln."

Agreed.  --RoadDog

Nice Picture of Old Motel in Hinckley, Illinois, on US Highway 30

From the December 12, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

A photograph, probably 1930s or 1940s of an old motel with rooms in separate cabin buildings.  Three of the cabins are one room and one is a double room judging by the doorways.

The caption reads Hampton's Cabin Court Restaurant and Service Station in Hinckley along Route 30.

I found a postcard of the same scene which dates the postcard to 1940s to 1950s.    I can fin no further information about the place.

Worth A Look.  --RoadDog

Lincoln Highway Is Again Route 30 in Illinois in 1943 (Well, Alternate U.S. 30)

From the April 4, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 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 days 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 that effect are now being erected."

Today, the stretch of the old Lincoln Highway through DeKalb County is Illinois Highway 38.

--RoadDog

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

90th Anniversary Transcontinental Army Convoy

I have been reading quite a bit about the various stops being made on the 90th Anniversary Army Transcontinental Convoy going across the United States right now. By all accounts, it is drawing big crowds and lots of interest.

I know I would have liked to have seen it at last week's Lincoln Highway Association annual convention in South Bend and to have followed it across the rest of Indiana and Illinois, but I was somewhat overseas.

It is following the general path of the original convoy ninety years ago, which means a lot on US-30 and the original Lincoln Highway whenever possible.

Hopefully, someone will post pictures of it somewhere.

I'm Sure Brian Butko Will Be Keep Us Up on the Progress. --RoadDog

Lincoln Log--Little Town, Big Heart--Crime Wave Hits Lincoln Highway

Some recent articles concerning the Lincoln Highway that I came across.

A SMALL TOWN WITH A BIG HEART

The small Indiana town of Hannah, near LaPorte, with population of 450, sounds like a definite Hee Haw Salute to me, is planning a big to do to celebrate its 150th anniversary next year. August 8-10th have been slated for the festivities.

The first settlers arrived in 1839 and it was surveyed and incorporated in 1858. The town was hurt badly in 1958 by the opening of the new US-30 which drew people away from the old Lincoln Highway. The old Yellowstone Trail also went through the town.

A group has organized to plan the celebration which might include a car rally, race, and some sort of a bicycle thing.

October 6 Herald-Argus "Hannah's having a party" by Derek Smith

CRIME WAVE ON LINCOLN HIGHWAY (Or the Case of the "Smushed" Donut)

Lancaster County, Pa., was stunned last Wednesday by the Great Donut Caper. A 39 year-old woman was arrested for stealing a donut from a grocery store at 1603 Lincoln Highway East.

The woman hid the donut down the back of her pants (Yuck!) and left the store without paying the required 44 cents. She was also arrested for an outstanding warrant for parole violation.

Police described the donut as "smushed."

From Dom's Weird News Blog. I also saw mention of it elsewhere.  Risk getting arrested for 44 cents.  Must have been really hungry.  "Smushed?"

Just When You Thought the News Could Not Get Any Worse. --RoadDog

Old Lincoln Highway Bricks Found

On August 9th, WDTN of Dayton, Ohio reported that crews doing roadwork in Canton had uncovered a large section of bricks that were a part of the original Lincoln Highway, America's first highway, but now mainly covered by US-30.

They are digging up part of Tuscarawas Street. These bricks replaced were put down in 1914, replacing ones that had been laid earlier.

Surprisingly, to me, these bricks are going to be sent to the Great Platte River Road Archway over I-80 in Kearney, Nebraska, about the half-way point of the old Lincoln Highway. There, they'll be cobbled together to form a 16 foot wide, 30 foot long stretch of the road.

The museum documents the history of transportation in the US from wagon trails to the present, with a big emphasis on the Lincoln Highway, which is located a few miles away. They are very happy and were hoping to find a brick company to make the bricks, or would have been satisfied with just a few original ones.

There is some question as to whether the bricks will be donated or loaned. Either way, Canton says it will not pay the cost to ship them.

At one time, Canton was called the brick-making capital of the world. Plus, the museum has a 130 foot-long metal bridge made by the Canton Bridge Company.

Most of the information from August 8th CantonRep.com by Ed Balint.

Here's hoping that they find a way to get those bricks to Kearney.

To Brick or Not to Brick? --RoadDog

Lincoln Highway Part 1 - May 9th: Cruising It

Lincoln Highway was the nation's first transcontinental highway, dating from 1913. As such, it predates the arrival of US-66 and the rest of the numbered US highway system by 13 years. Much of the former LH alignment has been subplanted by US-30 and now, I-80.

Left on May 9th and took Il-47 to Plank Road, the way we used to go from Palatine to NIU during our college days. Back then there wasn't much along the length, other than the town of Burlington. When you get to the other end by Sycamore, and Il-23, there wasn't anything back then, but now it's just one subdivision after another. Chicago's sprawl has gotten this far out. I pity the people who have to drive way back toward Chicago for their jobs with this current BIG OIL Gas Gouge!!!!! Home prices are more reasonable way out here, but then there's the gas problem. Plank Road got its name because at one time it was actually a road with planks.

We got onto the old Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, taking it out past Malta and the "Seedling Mile" where, back in the 1910s, a one mile stretch was paved with Portland Concrete to show how great driving would be once the entire length of Lincoln Highway was paved from Times Square in NYC all the way to San Francisco. It is just to the east of Kishwaukee College and there is a plaque located on the grounds explaining the Seedling Mile.

For this stretch of the LH it runs along Illinois Highway 38.

Continued on through the Hub City, Rochelle, Illinois, so named for the number of trains passing through it every day. They even have a Railroad Park, where you can go to see the 100+ trains that pass through each day. This is a railroad buff's nirvana. All along this stretch of LH, there are lots of moving trains just to the south of the road.

Stopped at the 1850s Lincoln Building in Franklin Grove, which serves as the headquarters of the Lincoln Highway Association. The LHA was reformed in 1990 and now has 3000 members throughout the US and the world. I needed to find out the time and location of this Saturday's joint meeting of the Illinois and Iowa chapters of the LHA.

--RoadDog