Along66, August 2022: Springfield's A. Lincoln Motel, the Cozy Dog and Country Classic Cars

AUGUST 21

Ace Sign Company gives a preview of the A. Lincoln Motel sign replica coming to the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

It will be part of the fair's  Route 66 Experience.

The A. Lincoln Motel was at 2927 S. Sixth Street (Route 66) and was torn down in the early 1990s to make way for the Cozy Dog Drive-In restaurant building which still is at the site.  The former Cozy Dog, I believe, was where the Walgreen's is today.

Other signs planned for the Legends Neon Park will be the Bel-Air Drive-In sign from Mitchell, Illinois, the Chain of Rocks Motel in Granite City and the Coliseum Ballroom in Benld.

I am definitely going to have to check out all the Route 66 stuff at the state fairgrounds.

****************************

AUGUST 24

The Country Classic Cars near Staunton lands a new owner.  The owners are retiring.

One neat place to visit.

--RoadDog

Just Hangin' Around Here: Gas Gouge, FP, More Expensive, Classic Cars, '67 Firebirds

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Sure been having problems with the internet of late and it is getting very difficult to get on and do these blogs.
Still sitting out FP (Front Porch) most mornings until it gets too cold.    We sure had a gas gouge here in northeast Illinois with gas up to $3.06 in McHenry!!!

A lot of unhappy patrons at Half-Times in Johnsburg as they raised all prices up.  The Tuesday 14-inch pizza, $1 toppings went up from $9 to $12 and the $1 14 ounce draft beers are now $2 for 20 ounces.  Still a good deal.

Drove over to the McHenry Mosse Lodge for  their classic car show and saw a '67 red Firebird convertible.  I am a big, well, huge Firebird fan, especially since I once had a '67 Firebird convertible. Went by Sunnyside Tavern on the way home.

Enjoyed watching the Ken Burns "Country Music" series as I am a big country music fan.

--RoadDog

One Week-- Part 1: FP, Yard Work, Blogs, Sunnyside Tavern, Moose Lodge, Classic Cars, Band and Former Student

MONDAY, AUGUST 12

Sat out FP (Front Porch) most every day reading the Tribune and having coffee or breakfast.  A great way to greet the morning.  Relaxing.  Then I go on the internet and post to these blogs for awhile.  Weather permitting, I work in the yard and have been getting some of the back deck flower bed area out of being overgrown.

And, I have surprisingly at this late date in my life, gotten into crossword puzzles (the easy ones).

I also enjoy sitting OD (On Deck) and out in the gazebo.

Met the friendly folks at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg as we do often.  All August (and this past July) they have $1.50 domestic pints, a good price these days.  Met a former student who remembers when I used to deejay the dances at Magee Middle School.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13

FP, blogs, yard work.

Went to Sunnyside then over to the McHenry Moose Lodge for the classic car show and the band Heartbeats.  Enjoyed the 3 tacos for $5 and $3 margaritas there, then back to Sunnyside.

--RoadDog

A Week In the Life-- Part 5: Enjoying the House, A Band and Classic Cars

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1

FP.  Then on the internet, as I do most every day.  These blogs take a lot of time and effort. Today I also got to enjoy the deck (OD) and the gazebo.  I had to cut the grass, which, this time of the year shouldn't have to happen but every two weeks, but this has not been a normal summer.  All the rain we had through early July as well as the cool temperatures is providing an excellent grass growing condition.  And, it is.

Drove to Antioch, Illinois, and parked which required a walk through that beautiful little park and across Main Street to the Lodge which was standing room only.  Looking for a seat it seemed like it was open season on me.  Wherever I stood, I was in somebody's way.  We finally got two seats at the bar and enjoyed some pre-concert beers.  Thursdays they have half price pizza and 60 cent wings (used to be 35 cents) but the price of chicken wings has gone up with their increased popularity).  We ordered a chicken and bacon pizza.

During the summer, Antioch runs It's Thursday concerts from mid-June to mid-August at their bandshell in a park behind the Lodge.  They always have great bands and it's free.  We always make an effort to see these, but this year, this was the very first one.

Tonight the band was Class of '68, as you can figure, sixties music, right up our alley.  Great show and at the same time they were having a classic car show.

Well, I Sure Was a Happy Lad.  --RoadSixties

Along 66, May 2019: Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Act and the Midwest Classics Museum

MAY 8--  The governor signed the Oklahoma Route 66 centennial legislation into law.  It is called the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission Act.  This commission will "plan, coordinate and implement programs and special events in honor of the road's 100th birthday in 2026.

It sounds like every Route 66 state will have commissions and lots of good times on the Mother Road in seven years.

MAY  13--  The Midwest Classics in 66 car museum in Wilmington, Illinois, abruptly closed last week after being open less than a year.

Always hate it when something about 66 closes, especially a museum.

But the Road Goes On.  --RoadDog

All Those Neat Old Cars

From the Stucky's Bar and Grille, Johnsburg, Illinois, 2019 calendar "Days Gone By."

Every month has one of those neat old cars in a pretty scene.  A pleasure to look upon at any time.  Unfortunately, they don't give the location of where the photo was taken.

DECEMBER--  1952 Chevrolet Deluxe Bel Air

JANUARY--  1948  Mercury Convertible  in front of an old movie theater named State.

FEBRUARY--  1958 Ford Custom 300  in front of an old gas station.  Gas listed at 67.9 on Texaco pump

MARCH--  1957 Chevrolet Suburban in front of Shelton Inn and Blondie's Restaurant.  (Shelton, Washington)

APRIL--  1933 Cadillac LaSalle

MAY--  1956 Packard Executive  in front of Ashley's "Home of the .50 cent Burger   Roller Skate Service or Dine Inside.

JUNE--  1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille  with Mt. Ranier, Washington, in the distance.

Can't Wait to See the Rest of the Months.  --RoadDog

Along 66, December 2018: Denny's Windmill and Country Classic Cars

Stories taken from the Route 66 News blog site.

DECEMBER 2--    Denny's windmill in Arcadia, California, spinning again.  It fell off last year.  Denny's purchased the site in 1989 and spent $100,000 refurbishing it at that time.  It is on an original Route 66 alignment.

Saw a picture of it and next time through there, we'll be stopping.  That is one neat-looking windmill.  Definitely a tourist attraction.

DECEMBER 2--  A series of an estimated 15 tornadoes struck the Staunton, Illinois, area and severely damaged the Country Classic Cars complex nearby (off I-55).  They are having some bad luck after a destructive fire in 2017.

I haven't heard anything about damage to Rich Henry;s Rabbit Ranch so guess he had no damage.

--RoadDog

Did You Hear the One About the '64 Mustang?-- Part 2

 Continued from August 19, 2018.

Well, after countless discussions, Tom got to work on restoring the skylight blue sports car that had sat in his garage for 27 years.  And then, he learned that their car might be something special.

It might, in fact, be the very first Mustang ever sold.

And, you know, those '64 Mustangs were cool cars to begin with...but, the very first one!!!

Ford Motor Company has now confirmed that their car was the very first one ever sold.  And, this weekend, the car is on display in Detroit as the company celebrates the sale of its 10 millionth Mustang.  (None, however, ever owned by me.)

Not only did Gail and Tom Wise hang on to their Mustang all these years, but they also kept all the original paperwork.  By one estimate, that makes their old blue car worth as much as $450,000.

Well, Good Thing They Held Onto That Old Worthless Piece of Junk.  --RoadDog

Score One for Us Pack Rats: Did You Hear the One About the '64 Mustang Convertible? -- Part 1

From the August 15, 2018, Chicago Sun-Times  "The joy of being first with a '64 Mustang"  Editorials.

A Park Ridge, Illinois, couple, Gail and Tom Wise debated for years whether to junk their old Ford Mustang convertible.  Gail had bought it in 1964 from a Ford dealer on Cicero Avenue so that she could get to her first job.  It then became the family's car, but stopped running after fifteen years (1979) and then, just sat in their garage.

Gail wanted to free up space in her garage.  Tom wanted to restore the car some day.

Hey, 1964, wasn't that the first year they made Mustangs?

Sounds Familiar, Doesn't It.  --RoadDog

Along 66, June 2018: An Illinois Bicentennial Coin and New Classic Car Museum in Wilmington

JUNE 18--  The official Illinois Bicentennial Coin design will feature Route 66 and was designed by Hayden Schumer, 21, from Chatham, Illinois.  It will cost $45 and be shipped around August 1.

Illinois became the 21st state on December 3, 1818.

JUNE 20--  A classic car museum will be opening soon in Wilmington, Illinois.  It will be called Midwest Classics on 66 and is set to open in July in the old Ben Franklin building.  Owners Jeff Hubrick and Mike Bell will sell and buy the cars.

==RoadDog

"Big Red" Returns to Route 66

From the June 6, 2018, LaClede County (Mo.) Record by Gary Sosniecki.

Janet McAllister stopped driving "Big Red" -- her red 1973 Cadillac El Dorado convertible -- in the Lebanon Christmas parade several years ago.  She knew that her late husband, Dr, Jack McAllister would like to have her drive it in parades, "But, I couldn't see over the hood."

However, Janet and "Big Red" will be in the 2018 Lebanon Route 66 Festival.

The festival was Saturday, June 16.  We would have liked to have been in Lebanon for it, but we had already been there earlier in June for three days.

Her late husband had been quite the classic car collector, mostly convertibles, owning "a dozen or tow."

But after his death, the others were sold off.  Someone else will be driving "Big Red."  Remember, Janet can't see over the hood.

Go "Big Red.  --RoadDog

Along 66, September 2017: Goodbye Don Williams

From the Route 66 News Site.

SEPTEMBER 8--  There is a clue in the Country Classic Cars fire in Staunton, Illinois.  One of the five cars in the center of the the warehouse caught fire and that started it.  The owners have plans to rebuild.  Good news as that is a favorite place to salivated.

SEPTEMBER 9--  Don Williams RIP.  Age 78.  A huge country performer from the late 1970s to early 1980s.  His 1978 "Tulsa Time" went to #1 on the country charts.

"I left Oklahoma drivin' in a Pontiac
Just About to lose my mind
I was goin' to Arizona, maybe out to California
Where all the people love so fine."

And exactly what road would take from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to California?

--RoadDog

Along 66, August 2017: Travel Advisory, The Nimblewell Nomad and the Fire

AUGUST 7--  A closer look at the NAACP's Missouri travel advisory.  It warns about possible discrimination and attacks against minorities because of recent legislation making discrimination lawsuits harder to win.

A clear case of grasping at straws by a racist group.  Well, at least it wasn't about discrimination against Confederate monuments.

AUGUST 8--  M.J. Eberhart, 78, walking the length of Route 66.  he calls himself The Nimblewill  Nomad.  Going East to West.  And I can just make it across the bar to my stool.  Today, September 9, if all is going well, he should be in Edmond, Oklahoma.

AUGUST 9--  Fire ravages Country Classic cars near Staunton, Illinois.  Did a job on the main building which had around 100-150 cars in it.  The business opened about 20 years ago.

They had some neat cars, but a lot that really, really, really needed to be restored.

Beware Travelers!!  The NAACP Is Looking Out for You.  --RoadDog

Why Go Anywhere Else-- Part 5: Rally-By-the-Lake, Parish Fest, Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13

Started the day off listening to Bob Stroud's annual salute to summer 40 years ago.  That would be the Summer of '77 for three hours.  He was playing the songs on the radio and in our record collections from August 13, 1977..  I will be listing the songs he played on my Down Da Road I Go blog later today.

Then, I did some yard work and drove the '85 Firebird over to Fox Lake's Lakefront Park on Nippersink Lake for the annual classic car and motorcycle show.  It really made my day to see another '67 Firebird.  I once had a '67 Firebird convertible and that is my favorite classic car.  Of course, mine was in very rough shape compared to the ones I've recently seen.

Then, we went to Parish Fest for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg and enjoyed the food and one of our favorite bands, New Odyssey.

I left early so I could go over to Veterans Park in McHenry for the annual Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive commemoration of our Greatest Generation, the World War II veterans.  McHenry probably has the biggest celebration for this of any place in the United States.  And it is already good to give our World War II veterans their due.  We had about 17 of them there.

A Really Busy Day.  --RoadDog

Always A Good Time In the Chain of Lakes Area, Especially Summertime-- Part 1

We have lots of weekly concerts in the area as well as a huge classic car show throughout the summertime.  There is just something great about being outside and listening to a band in the summer.

Here are some of the weekly events we have:

MONDAYS--  GREEN STREET CRUISE NIGHT in McHenry, Illinois.  Every Monday features a different vehicle.  Last Monday was Corvettes and today jeeps, trucks and motorcycles.  I am looking forward to July 10 with Ford Mustangs, July 31 with Camaros, August 21 with pony cars and September 25 with Pontiac.

TUESDAYS--  CRYSTAL LAKE CONCERT IN THE PARK

WEDNESDAYS

WOODSTOCK CITY BAND in the bandstand/gazebo in Woodstock Square.

LINDENHURST LIVE MUSIC IN THE PARK at the pavilion in Lindenhurst and the Lehman Mansion.

More Fun to Come.  --RoadDog

News From Along Route 66, April 2017: Bill Shea's Reopening As Route 66-Themed Auto Repair Shop

All these articles are taken from Ron Warnick's Route 66 News site, your place for any and all-things Route 66.  He has photos, videos and goes into much more detail than I do.  Plus, I don't write about all his posts.  I pick the articles I am most interested in.

APRIL 22--  Bill Shea's Route 66 Museum in Springfield, Illinois, is returning.  However, now it will be a themed auto repair shop.

Randy Pickett and Jake Niewold are the new owners and will take care of your classic car needs.  They plan to reopen this summer and will  feature old cars and Route 66 memorabilia.

Bill Shea died at age 91 in December 2013.  The contents of his museum were auctioned off in November 2015.

Last year, when we drove by it coming into Springfield, it really tore us up seeing the building standing there vacant and forlorn.  There were many great memories of sitting out in front of the Mahan's Station on the museum property and talking with Bill Shea, his son and Tom Teague.  We had really been hoping his family would continue with his museum and keep all that accumulated memorabilia.

Glad To See Something Else Going In There.  --RoadDog

Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 3: Three Events in One Day

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

Busy day.

First, I went to the Rally By the Lake at the Fox Lake Lakefront Park on Nippersink Lake.  There were probably 75 classic and sports car there. A whole lot of them were GM cars from the 60s and 70s, so I especially enjoyed them

Then, I dropped Liz off at the St, John's Parish fest in Johnsburg and drove into McHenry and bought a Kinks and Mothers of Invention CD at the Vinyl Frontier record store.  I went back to Parish Fest and enjoyed the band New Odyssey.  It has three guys (the guitar player is an old friend of Liz's) and they, during the course of their show, play 30 instruments.  They had just come in from a show last night in Wisconsin and appeared at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Monday.  Busy guys.

I then went over to McHenry where they had a Keeping the Spirit of '45 Alive ceremony to honor our World War II veterans.  It is reported that McHenry has one of the biggest of these observations in the whole country and there were at least 500 people there as well as our sadly dwindling number of veterans from that war.  There was the surround taps, a dove release and a big band playing.

Last stop was at Sunnyside tavern in Johnsburg.

--RoadDog

Her Car's 82, She's 102-- Part 2

This Margaret Dunning is surely one interesting woman.  And, she has an interesting personal history.

She started driving at age 8 on her family's big dairy and potato farm west of Detroit and had her first car wreck at age 10 while driving her dad's Overland car when she couldn't navigate a turn and crashed into a barn.  Since then, she has had some fender-bender accidents, but she admits her biggest problem is a lead foot on the accelerator and her fair share of speeding tickets.  A real "Little Old Lady from Sullivan"

She owns a number of other collectible cars, but the Packard is her favorite.  "The lines of a Packard car are very artistic, as far as I'm concerned.  My family drove Packards, and I was very proud of the fact, I guess I got indoctrinated."

She still drives the Packard on occasion, but admits she has problems with the big steering wheel.  Her everyday car is a 2003 Cadillac.

She's had her driver's license for 90 years and got her first one at age 12.  Her father died that year and her mother didn't drive.  Her family was politically connected and her mom was able to get her one.

Quite the Life.  --RoadDog

Her Car Is 82. She's 102.-- Part 1

From the December 30, 2012, Chicago Tribune by Bob Dyer.

Now here's a story that applies to old roads.  An old car and an even older woman.  And...she changes her own oil and spark plugs, something I only did once in my much much younger days.  This Margaret Dunning sounds like quite a character and has had quite an interesting life.

Margaret Dunning of Plymouth, Michigan, was born in 1910, making her 102.  She is still sharp and spunky.  And then, there's her "baby," a 1930 Packard 740 Roadster, twenty years younger than herself.  And, she still drives it, but not as often.  Not because of trouble with the manual transmission and shifting, but because she has trouble turning the huge steering wheel.

She bought it back in 1949 in really bad shape.  "Four upholstery jobs and 22 coats of hand-rubbed lacquer later it became the first vehicle to be awarded a perfect 100-point score by the Classic Car Club of America."

And, classic it is.  Would I ever like to get behind the wheel of that car and cruise down some old highway.

A Fascinating Woman's History Up Next.  --RoadDog

Old Cars and Retro Diner-- The Lodge's BBQ Wings-- Aunt Janet Band

Continuing with June 30th, now in Antioch, Illinois, right on the Wisconsin border.

OLD CARS AND RETRO DINER

At the liquor store I noticed an old car show going on at the retro diner across Il-83. I don't pass up old cars when I have the opportunity so drove over and took a look. I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but will have to eat there in the future as I had my taste buds set for some of those great bbq wings at the Lodge.


THE LODGE'S BBQ WINGS

Thursdays are 25 cent wing days at the Lodge of Antioch (also known as Sequoit Lodge (named after a local Indian tribe). They are not big, about the size of those at Buffalo Wild Wings, but that barbecue sauce is one of the best I've ever had. Ordered ten. Good eating for $2.50.

The place was packed as usual. A lot of the people were going to walk out behind the Lodge to see the band.


AUNT JANET BAND

Thursdays are the appropriately named Antioch music festival called "It's Thursday." Someone certainly put a lot of think time into that. The bands play at the music shell behind the east side of Main Street (Il-83). I try to get to it every time I can.

Today's band was called Aunt Janet and I was unfamiliar with them. They have a female lead singer and play classic rock and modern pop. Very good band.

Not a Bad Day At All. --RoadDog