Savannah Bound-- Part 25: The Cat and the Trains

Daisy them kitten was doing much better this morning.  Only she didn't look much like a Daisy.  She looked more like something else.  Julie said she looked like one of hose little creatures in the "Star Wars" movie and she sure did look like an Ewok.  That became her new name.

Today was our trip to Savannah to see some of Julie's favorite stuff.  History.  Well, Ed and I liked it anyway.

First stop was the Georgia State Railroad Museum.  It was formerly called the Roundhouse Railroad Museum and still called that by many, including Ed.  It is located at the Central of Georgia Railway site and is the most complete antebellum train site.

Probably the most striking aspect of the place is the partial round house and operating turntable, machine shop as well as all sorts of other railroad related things. Also lots of engines and railroad cars.

--RoadTrain

Chicago's Pullman National Monument-- Part 5: Failure of the Strike and Aftermath

But the strike fell short in this attempt, because earlier in the year, the American Railway Union had voted to bar black workers -- like the Pullman Porters -- from joining.

In July, the strike was forcibly crushed by U.S. Army troops.  Debs, along with other leaders of the railway union, was imprisned.

Years later,the Illinois Supreme Court odered the Pullman company to sell its nonindustrial property. Many of the workers then bought their own homes.

But, in the short term, workers didn't see meaningful improvement in their wages or quality of life.  And, the American Railway Union was essentially finished off along with the strike.

--RoadDog

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

MacArthur Bridge-- Part 3:The Vehicle Deck Has Been Removed, But Still a Busy Railroad Bridge

The disused automobile deck has been removed. 

By 2007, only about 30% of the automobile deck had been removed.  Most of the removed sections were on the East St. Louis side.  The western ramp side (St. Louis) was relinquished to Ralston Purina and turned into a parking lot.  In 2013, the TRRA (Terminal Railroad Association) began removing all of the auto deck over the river.

By late 2014, the vehicle deck on the bridge proper had been removed and work was progressing on the western approach.

In 1989, the TRRA obtained the MacArthur Bridge from the City of St. Louis in exchange for the Eads Bridge.  The Eads Bridge, one of the primary  reasons for the TRRA's original formation, had become obsolete for modern-day rail traffic due to height restrictions it placed on rail cars.

The MacArthur Bridge continues to be a vital railroad link connecting west to east for a large number of commodities and bulk cargo.    In 2012 it was the 17th busiest  railroad bridge in the United States.

--RoadDog

The MacArthur Bridge in St. Louis-- Part 2: Opened 1917 and Carried Route 66 from 1926 to 1955

A 1906 Congressional bill authorized the City of St. Louis to build a new Mississippi River bridge and bonds were issued for an initial $3.5 million.  Construction began in 1909 but money ran out before the approaches could be finished so an additional $2.75 million in bonds were issued in 1914.  

The bridge opened in 1917 when automobile traffic began to use it.  Railroad traffic did not begin to use the lower deck until 1928.  

The bridge was built by the Missouri Valley Bridge & Iron Company and the American Bridge Company and designed by Boller & Hodge.

From 1926 to 1955 the MacArthur Bridge carried U.S. Highway Route 66  until the completion of the Poplar Street Bridge.  At one time U.S. Highway 460 crossed the bridge, terminating  on the west side of the bridge.

In 1981, the bridge was closed to vehicles because of pavement deterioration  and the eastern ramp approaches on the East St. Louis side were torn out.

--RoadDog

Going to Union, Illinois-- Part 2: A Nursery and a Lot of History

This, as I said before, is my second longest trip from home since March 2020 because of you-know-what.   The only farther trip was to the Indy 500 over Memorial Day weekend a short time ago.

Once on Illinois Highway 176 and headed west to Union, I stopped at Kolze's nursery and found two hostas that I liked and bought the,.  Hostas have become my go to plant as they require very little effort to grow.  They just do their thing.

Drove around Union, Illinois, a thriving community of 576 according tom the 2020 census, but it has been there since the 1850s and is named for the United States.  It is an old village with a small downtown.  The McHenry County Civil War Round Table got its start there before meetings were moved to the more centrally located Woodstock.

In addition, the McHenry County Historical Society Museum is there and located in what used to be a school.  Also, the Illinois Railway Museum is there as is  Donley's Wild West Town amusement Park and the site of the oldest and largest antique Phonograph Show in the world.  So, as you can see, there sure is a lot of history in Union.

--RoadUnion

Niangua, Missouri's Route 66 Attractions-- Part 1: Name and History

From The Route-66.com.

This, of course, was where Helen Jackson  was born and grew up.  She was regarded as the Last Civil War Widow.

Some Niangua Route 66 attractions:  

Oak Vale Park (cafe, cabins, gas station)

Niangua Filling Station (1930s)

Rockhaven restaurant, cafe, filling station.

Abbylee Court  and its iconic sign.

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

History of Niangua

The name Niangua comes from a stream that runs  close to it and was named after the Osage word for "bear."

The area was surveyed in 1870 by the South Pacific Railroad Co. and shortly after John J, Redmond built the first general store.  Shortly after that, the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad reached the area and built a station there, six miles north of Marshfield.

The post office opened the same year and was named Niangua.

Route 66  was created in 1926 and passed  just west of the town.

--RoadDog

Iowa Drives-- Part 3: Loess Hills National Scenic Byway

I know a lot of people who think Iowa is a boring state as far as terrain (same with Illinois where we live), but that "just ain't so."  There is a lot of terrain to see and enjoy in the state.  As a matter of fact, we plan on  doing some touring as soon as you-know-what is under (hopefully) control.

Here's another drive in Iowa.

Described as one of the most "epic" drives in Iowa.  It encompasses more than 1,080 miles along the Missouri River in western Iowa and is more than 220 miles long.

The author of this list says it even has one of her favorite places as well, a lavender farm.  I can only imagine how that place smells when in bloom. 

Some places to visit are the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs and Bodega Victoriana, the largest vineyard in western Iowa.  Plus, you have rolling hills and striking river views along the way.

Sign Me Up.  --Roadwa

Lincoln Highway Passports in Iowa-- Part 3: 'Roads Less Traveled'

Places to get your Iowa Lincoln Highway Passports:

**  Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad in Boone

**  Lions Club Tree Park in Grand Junction

**  Thomas Jefferson Gardens in Jefferson

**  Eugen Koch  Memorial Park in Westside

**  Harrison County Historical Village and Welcome Center in Missouri Valley

**  Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs

"Transportation is essential to connecting people with all the wonderful things Iowa has to offer," Marley said.  "Our state's scenic byways system helps travelers recognize both main roadways  and roads less traveled that highlight the uniqueness of out great state."

--Road(Hawk)Eye

Nineteen Things to Do in Central Pennsylvania-- Part 2

10.  Islett's Museum  Over 40,000 items dating back to the 1800s.

11.  Lincoln Caverns and Whispering  Rocks

12.  Rails to Trails  There are two former railroad lines. now for walking or riding.  H and BT Trail and the Lower Trail

13.  Fort Roberdeau  Built 1778

14.  Altoona Railroad Museum

15.  Horseshoe Curve  Fun for railroad folks.

16.  Allegheny  Portage Railroad

17.  Johnstown Flood Museum

18.  Shawnee State Park

19.  Old Bedford Village

Should Keep You Busy For a Few Days.  --RoadDog

Crestline, Ohio

From the Historic Byway: The Ohio Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor:  "Crestline"

In the last post, I wrote about a presentation that was supposed to take place about Crestline's role in the Lincoln Highway earlier this year.

Crestline is located east of  Bucyrus and has a population of around 5,000.  The Lincoln Highway originally went through the town of Galion, to the south of Crestline, but as I found out in the last post, Crestline decided they wanted the highway more and did what they had to do to get it.

Crestline has been on the LH since 1921.

Crestline came into being as a major railroad center in 1851, as the crossroad of the nation's four biggest railroads.  However, things went south by the 1970s with the decline of the railroads, as did the city somewhat.

THINGS TO SEE:

**  Crestline Shunk Museum

**  Two Lincoln Highway brick pillars.  One honoring Bement and the other McMahon.

**  Holcker Hardware in business since the late 1800s.

**  Hunger Paynes Restaurant and Just Jokin' Bar and Grill**  Ice cream and sandwich stands open during the summer.

--RoadShunk

Painting Word Pictures With Steve Goodman's 'City of New Orleans'

Chicago native Steve Goodman.

Riding on the City of New Orleans
Illinois Central, Monday morning rail

Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders
Three conductors, twenty-five sacks of mail

All along the southbound odyssey, the train pulls out of Kankakee
And rolls along past houses, farms and fields

Passing towns that have no name, and freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobile.

Good morning, America, how are you"
Say, don't you know me, I'm your native sun
I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans
I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.

This paints quite a word picture at this point.  I don't know about you, but I can sure see that train chugging along.

Good Ol' Steve.  --RoadRail

History of Victor and Victor Township, DeKalb Co., Illinois-- Part 2

Continued from June 25.

Among the first settlers were:  Jeremiah Mulford (first postmaster at Van Buren and named his post office after his favorite president), W.H. Keene,  Aruna Beckwith, James Green, Newton Stearns, Peleg Sweet, Jerome Baxter, George N. Stratton, Simon Snydon, C. Beard and W.R. Prescott.

When the railroad was built in 1851, there was a large influx of new settlers.  Many Irish and Germans purchased land and a considerable colony of Norwegians also established itself.  They are now among the most thriving and prosperous of its townspeople.

There is now no land within the town that is not actually occupied.

--RoadDog

Those Wild and Crazy Kids in Their Automobiles in Malta, Illinois in 1945

From the May 13, 2020, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1945. 75 Years Ago.

"Although every effort is being made to protect  the youngsters of Malta there seems to be considerable comment  about the reckless driving of youths in automobiles.

"The wild driving is not confined alone to crossing the railroad track but is also noted as  the drivers cut through yards and alleys, as well as on the main streets."

Those wild and crazy kids.  I thought there was gasoline rationing on at the time.  Malta is a small town just west of DeKalb on the Lincoln Highway.

Zoom, Zoom, V-Room!!  --RoadDog

Best of the Midwest-- Part 2: Jackson, Michigan: Railroads, Murals and Republicans

JACKSON, MICHIGAN

There is a new Great Lake-to-Great Lake Trail Route 1 that goes 275 miles from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron and it goes through Jackson, less than 40 miles west of Ann Arbor.

It has a lot of history, including the Underground Railroad and also lays claim to the title of Birthplace of the Republican Party (although Ripon, Wisconsin disputes it).

There are several museums and has one of the country's oldest operating train stations from 1873.

They have a free app Experience Jackson Tours to take you to historical sites, notable architecture, breweries, wineries and murals.  And, speaking of murals, they have 36 of them downtown.  (I especially like murals in Pontiac, Illinois, and Cuba, Missouri.)

The origins of Ritz crackers purportedly can be traced to this town.

Love Them Murals.  --RoadDog

NIU Homecoming 2018-- Part 11: Of Trains and Bars On the Lincoln Crawl

Even though we were early, we still had to park on the other side of the railroad tracks in downtown DeKalb.  This means you might likely have a wait for a train to go by.  Lots and lots of trains run through DeKalb.  And they run through REAL FAST.  I mean, real fast.

You don't try to beat the train, either on foot or in a car.  We had to wait for a train to go by.  We always laugh at each other and say, "Imagine that.  A train going through DeKalb."  If we didn't hear a train, we'd think we were in the wrong town.

We went in through the back door of Lord Stanley's, our new place to go in downtown DeKalb.  Of course, it is on the Lincoln Highway.

Back when we were in school, this place was Daddy-O's Shamrock.  Not too far west of it, on the corner of 1st and Lincoln Highway was Otto's (called the Uprising when we were at Northern).  That has now been torn down and a nice-looking apartment building built in its place.

Just to the east, and across the Lincoln Highway stands Andy's and McCabes, two other college watering holes.

Dodging Trains and Drinking Beer On the Lincoln Crawl.  --RoadDog

Good Thing It Was a Flivver

From the September 5, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"A tourist, while driving across the railroad tracks at Fourth Street this noon. lost a wheel, and was held up for some time.

"A gang of strong fellows standing nearby picked up the flivver so that the wheel could be  placed again and then pushed the car clear of the tracks. There is one advantage of a flivver, it can be handles easily by a couple strong men in an accident like that."

--RoadDog

Along 66, September 2018: Underpass Cafe in Missouri

SEPTEMBER 11--  The restoration of the Underpass Cafe near Phillipsburg, Missouri, is continuing.

The long-closed property has been cleared  It was named after the low-clearance Frisco Railroad bridge over Route 66.

A sign telling its story will be erected as well.

A prefabricated gas station opened on the site in 1941 and a concrete block restaurant was added in 1950.

--RoadDog

Rough Railroad Crossing a Hundred Years Ago in DeKalb

From the May 30, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Aho.

"Automobile drivers of DeKalb and the community are cautioned about the dangers of driving over the Seventh Street crossing, until such time as the proper repairs are made there.

"A crossing plank for one of the side tracks crossing has become loose and one end is protruding about four to six inches above the remainder of the crossover.  Driving over the crossing rapidly and not seeing this obstruction might cause a serious accident."

What!!  Rough Railroad Crossings a Hundred Years Ago!!  Who'd a Thunk It.  --RoadDog