Another quarter, another deadline…

Attention Association members: August 15 is the deadline for you to submit your content to be considered for publication in the Fall 2018 issue of our members-only quarterly newsletter, The 66 News!

Submit articles, photos, event notices or stories to:

Route 66 Association of Illinois
Attention: Marlene Gorman, Newsletter Editor
c/o Perma Graphic Printers
216 Marley Road
New Lenox, IL 60451

You can also submit articles and photos via email:

permagraphic@sbcglobal.net
Please put Route 66″ in the subject line.

Fabulous news about the future of Route 66! The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act on July 16, 2018. The Act’s purpose is to honor Route 66 on its centennial in 2026.

Read a complete account of this decision on Route 66 News.

It’s here. Hot days, thunderous rains, cool breezes; it’s not a perfect Spring but what is? Illinois green is peeking out from the ground – in fact, in some places the corn actually looks a little high already. Drab muddy browns and grays are giving way to bright greens, spring perennials, and even bright yellow dandelions. Woo hoo – no snow and pops of color!

This is going to be a busy summer everywhere on 66! This is the year of the better than ever Staycation! Communities are putting together their summer/fall festival lineups and you will find fun and interesting places and faces to go and meet not far from home.

The Launching Pad has come a long way from the shuttered, for-sale restaurant with the Gemini Giant slowly being covered with stickers. It is interesting to see that two people who are in the process of rediscovering new lives after sorrow were able to focus on what the Gemini Giant means. Clean windows, a resurfaced parking lot, new bus lanes, neon, an updated roof, racks of t-shirts and even a Route 66 Information Center inside and suddenly the dark and empty recesses of the Launching Pad glow with a warm welcome to local and International visitors. No food inside yet, but it will come. A place to start your adventure and to start your story. It’s always appreciated if you buy a pop or water or t-shirt, but Holly and Tully are genuinely happy to see you.

Increasingly, major companies are getting vested in Route 66. This year, Lipton Ice Tea celebrated National Ice Tea Day with a takeover of the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum’s rear parking lot and giant shield – and offered tastings of their ice teas and selected bites of “road food” during the 8th, 9th and 10th of June. There was also a Rottweiler Dog show in Pontiac on June 10th. Pontiac truly has a little bit of everything and just when you think there is nothing else – something else happens!

The Road Ahead is working on several projects including a cloud based GPS for Route 66 that allows for customization along the road. It would encompass ALL of the surrounding sites for each town, not just the “big ones.” Some of the famous places that are no longer there, such as the Riviera, now have a place-marker to show what was there and what part it played in that community. Other GPS programs don’t even have some of the local alignments listed as an option. Some people think our pursuit of a custom, true-to-road GPS is redundant – but I think we need to be fluid – as more and more time is spent on the Internet or looking up stuff on our phones, let’s make it easy to get the info and share it.

The Road Ahead has gotten some major funding from State Farm. State Farm helped launch our Association back in 1989, so they are a “good neighbor” and we are happy they have partnered with the Road Ahead. All eight states are represented in the Road Ahead. Representing us on the board are association member Bill Thomas of Atlanta, as Director, and John Miller, Cook County Board Representative. Bill Kelly, of the Route 66 Scenic Byway, is also an active member. Illinois is well represented. I think we bring a nice balance to the eight-state group.

We are waiting to see how the act to make Route 66 a National Trail continues. Our population that is hardcore 66 is aging, and we need to make sure that when the volunteers are no available, the road will be protected and provided for by law. In Illinois, we work with IDOT and lawmakers and the cities, towns and villages that request help. Our Preservation projects are usually places that need help to maintain their existence. We can’t save everything, but we can assist anyone who wants to try. Over the years, there have been buildings and train stations we would have loved to have been a part of. It just didn’t work out. We have helped save a bridge, the red brick road in Auburn, and the Meramac barns in Cayugah and Staunton (the one is Staunton is gone now).

New places are happening on 66 as well! There will soon be Midwest Classics On 66 Classic Car Museum and Classic Car Sales in the old Ben Franklin building in Wilmington (formerly owned by Hall of Fame member Angelo Aggelopoulous). The former J.K. Harrison’s has been revamped and renewed into the “Wicked Cricket” and from what I’ve been told has an amazing staff and a great “feel.” Although we lost the Country Mansion and Turtles in Dwight, there are new owners in Odell of Poor Richards (now Pour Farmers), and the old “Wishing Well” is now Café 110. Route 66 was built to help connect the country and it still does today.

So – classic car shows all up and down 66! Summer festivals, plays in the park, movies in the park! When was the last time you went to a demolition derby or a stock car race? When did a county fair lit up at night not give you a little thrill? Get out your maps, pick a spot and go! There’s a lot out there if you look. Put your phone down and look around. We can always use a volunteer or two at the Hall of Fame and Museum. Contact Emmy Bates if you think you’d like to try it. It’s exciting to greet the people at the museum and hear their stories about why they are so happy to see you!

We had our annual museum clean up day and Bob Waldmire bus cleanup We are doing some repairs and replacements on the outside of Bob’s Road yacht. We have had some issue with people “borrowing” things from the bus’s interior We will be replacing some of the more ordinary things that have disappeared. If you’ve never seen the Bob Waldmire Experience in the City Hall building, please take the time this summer to do so. There are films and more of his work to see.

So quit binge watching, give Hulu and Netflix a rest, and get out on the road. There are buffalo to see at Midewin, microbreweries in Normal/Bloomington, and new displays at the Litchfield Museum. Mining was a huge part of Illinois’ history; coal mining started in Illinois in 1810 and at one time there were over 7400 active mines. Today there are about 30 still active. So, put the Illinois Coal Museum in Gillespie on your to-do list. Check the Internet for times when they are open. If you live in the area, please consider volunteering. There is now a “Mother Jones” museum in the Mount Olive City Hall and it has been garnering great reviews. Check the Mount Olive website for more information.

No big lectures this “season.” No big changes on the horizon for now. Today, live a little. Get moving and walk those car shows, dance at those Friday night festivals, soak in a little sun and maybe even indulge in a little summer shandy with good friends.

Share your time – it’s so precious. Enjoy for now I and hope you have an amazing and soul-satisfying summer.

See you on the road!

Cathie Stevanovich

Interesting news about one of our Hall of Famers, the iconic Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, IL. After being operated for over 90 years by the same family, Nick and Demi Adam have sold the establishment to new owners, Marty and Kara Steffens. The Adams’ last day operating the restaurant will be June 30.

Read all about this historic changing of hands on Ron Warnick’s site, Route 66 News.

The Lipton company has harnessed the allure of the American Road Trip for its “Refreshingly Road Trippin’ with Lipton” events celebrating the weekend of National Iced Tea Day, June 8-10.

Pontiac, Illinois is proud to play a part in this first-ever event. According to a press release from Lipton, “The three-day experience will also feature memorable activities, such as the revealing of the town’s first Lipton mural and renaming the Route 66 highway “The Lipton Highway” for the weekend. The classic Route 66 experience will occur in the charming town of Pontiac, IL, located near the start of Route 66 and home to the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum.”

Click to read the press release in its entirety.

Association members – submit your stories, photos, news and events for consideration for publication in the Summer 2018 issue of The 66 News!

Submission deadline is May 15, 2018!

Send submissions to:

Route 66 Association of Illinois
Attention: Marlene Gorman, Newsletter Editor
c/o Perma Graphic Printers
216 Marley Road
New Lenox, IL 60451

You can also submit articles and photos via email:

permagraphic@sbcglobal.net
Please put Route 66″ in the subject line.

What a strange season this winter has been – from almost tropical to more snow than necessary to wind and rain and oh my! Punxsutawney Phil told us 6 more weeks of this and he wasn’t kidding. Winter snow and rain brings forth sunny days and the coming of the Illinois green and tourist season.

One change this year is that the Red Carpet Corridor is one day only – on Saturday, May 5th. Activities will be in all 13 communities along the road – Joliet, Elwood, Wilmington, Braidwood, Godley, Braceville, Gardner, Dwight, Odell, Pontiac, Chenoa, Lexington and Towanda from 8:30 to 5:00 on Saturday, May 5th. The “collectable” piece will be a magnet this year. The Red carpet committee decided to have a lot of magnets made so that should you not be able to get them all on the Red Carpet Corridor Festival, extra magnets will be available in those communities after the festival. The festival covers 90 miles – and some of the distribution points have been changes. We have posted the brochure on our Facebook and Website so that you can plan your route accordingly.

The Route 66 Car show and DJ will be in Towanda on Saturday, May 5th, from Noon until 4 PM. There is a Pin Up Girl contest at 2 PM so this is your opportunity to shine! I wanted to point out Towanda’s information as Doug Morris and Jody Wharton and their volunteers have had a fabulous car show in Towanda on Sunday in the past and I don’t want our members to miss out with the change of dates.

The magnet for Pontiac will be given out at the Pontiac Community Art Center, 209 W Madison Street about one block from the museum. Madison is one block south of Howard.

We are planning the 2018 Motor Tour “Route 66 Forever – Still Making Memories.” We travel from south to north this year and will be starting in Edwardsville at the Comfort Inn. Saturday we will cross the Chain of Rocks Bridge two times – east to west and back west to east – before hitting the road heading north! We are heading north during the Blue Carpet Corridor so there are events along the road besides thsoe listed in our passport on Saturday. We are overnighting in Springfield at the Route 66 Hotel where the Hall of Fame Banquet will be held. Sunday we hope to have a photo opp with some of our Illinois representatives and a great day continuing north where we will end at the Gemini Giant in Wilmington! So remember June 8, 9 and 10!

The Road ahead continues to work together to plan for the future. All State associations are represented in this group as well as other groups that represent Route 66 interests. The goal is to work together to provide funding for future restoration projects along Route 66 in all eight states! Current funding under the National Parks Route 66 program “sunsets” in 2019 and most likely will not be renewed.

The National Trail seems to be working its way through the appropriated channels and it is hoped that it will be cleared and a “go” for the end of 2018. It is of vital importance that we preserve Route 66 with protection by the National Parks Service. Route 66 will continue to be the national treasure it is – and will be honored and protected as a National Trail. Politics and money are always in constant flow but we need to acknowledge that our Route 66 caretakers are aging, and without an influx of younger people into our ranks, there many be no future state associations to carry on the day to day work that preservation brings: maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! National Park status will ensure that the road continues to be maintained and protected. There are 19 National Trails in this country.

Our next Preservation Workday is at Ocell Station, Saturday, April 7 at 10:00 AM. Join usl. The preservation motto is “We Work For Food” and a hot lunch will be provided. Come out and get a little dirty and enjoy the company of all the volunteers who come with great energy and enthusiasm. We guarantee a lot of laughter, ample food and satisfaction when you se how great our Odell Station will look at the end of a clean-up day. All are welcome!

We are going to be working again with the Missouri Neon Preservation Committee to ask for a National Parks grant for the Ariston. “Back in the day” the Ariston had neon in its windows. We are hoping to get a matching grant to fix and restore the Ariston’s vertical neon signs that hand above the green neon “Ariston” sign and restore the original neons in the front windows of the restaurant. This would be the fourth project that the Route 66 Association of Illinois and Route 66 Association of Missouri would have collaborated on under the expert guidance of Jim Thole of Missouri. State Associations can work together well because keeping the original places authentic is the passion of all Associations and their members.

Our Association tries to work with and respond to requests made about impact on the road in Illinois. Route 53/Historic 66 is dealing with being part of the world’s largest inland truck port/hub in the Elwood area and area residents are dealing with trucks and a quality of life issue. We have been contacted to be involved with returning the Monarch butterfly to our region. We are involved with the High Speed Rail and its effects on Route 66 communities. We are seeing a resurgence of involvement with Joliet’s Route 66 roots. We’ve seen a re-interest in the communities of Bloomington/Normal and Lincoln as well.

The Blue Carpet Corridor from Chathamn down to Collinsville is gearing up for their festival that runs the second weekend of June (same as the Motor Tour) and is back to a two day festival. June 9 and 10. More information will be on our website as it is available to post.

Thank you for your continued support of all the towns, villages and cities along the Road. We have 91 communities that need economic support and Roadie love. When people tell me “66” is old news and who cares, I point out all the tourism we have. I point to Brennan Matthew’s new magazine ROUTE, which chose Route 66 as its topic for its launch (firsh printing) and it sold out immediately. Route 66 is not a fad’ it’s an experience.

Next time you have a life-ached there is nothing better than the two lane and a hand stirred Coke at Doc’s in Girard. Maybe you need to try a cold brew coffee at the Coffee and Scones Shop in Pontiac. Sooon it will be Maple Sirup time in Funks Grove; visit the Funk family as they naturally process the maple sirup and share their history of making sirup right there on the premeises.

Looking forward to an amazing spring and summer with you.

Cathie Stevanovich, President

The Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Illinois will be closed on Sunday, April 1 in observance of Easter Day.

The facility will re-open on Monday, April 2 operating on our Summer hours, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

We hope to welcome you to our FREE museum and take you back in Route 66 time!