Story Circle

The Downtown Joliet Farmers' Market continues every Friday from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM through September 28th.

Located on Chicago Street between Van Buren and Jefferson Street

BIGGER & BETTER THAN EVER!

The Market offers a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, corn on the cob, fresh cut flowers, plants, jewelry, fresh baked breads, cupcakes, cookies, pies, fresh fruit salsas, hummus, olives, pizza, smoked sausages, including a full line of Italian products, and other food items. Avon, Pampered Chef, Tupperware and other franchises will be represented at the market.

Also specialty gift items, candles, purses, childrens clothing and accessories, cinnamon roasted nuts, and much, much more!

For more information contact Cam
815-774-6066
cam.barnett@jolietdowntown.com

Thanks to Ellie Alexander of Pontiac, IL Tourism for providing the following information for us to share:

Do you love gold? The “Gilding Arts” exhibit opened in Pontiac, Illinois, on June 29, 2011. The Society of Gilders, in cooperation with the City of Pontiac, opened the exhibit inside the Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum at 217 Mill St, in the center of downtown Pontiac.

We want to make you aware of the Farmers' Market in historic downtown Elkhart at the corner of Governor Oglesby and Latham Streets Elwood, IL, Saturdays from 7:00 AM to Noon in full swing through October 27.

Market shoppers can also enjoy a cool drink or lunch at The Wild Hare Café, and shopping at Horsefeathers Antiques and Gift Shop, The Little Foxes Shop and Birdsong Books and Vintage Shoppe, all on Governor Oglesby Street in historic downtown Elkhart.

For more information contact:
Peggy Lee
217-947-2046
peg.lee1@gmail.com

We are sad to report that Hall of Fame Member Rita Erickson, 93, passed away on Tuesday, August 7th. Rita was the owner/operator of the Odell Shelter for 42 years and a proud member of our Hall of Fame.

Rita is survived by 10 children, 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren! She had been living at Evenglow Lodge in Pontiac. Rita's funeral mass was Saturday at 10 A.M. at St. Paul Catholic Church, Odell, IL.

Our thanks to Geoff Ladd, Executive Director, Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County for providing the following press release for us to share.

BROADWELL, IL – Ernie and Fran Edwards Route 66 International Appreciation Day has been set for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, at the Pig Hip restaurant site in Broadwell.

Click here to view the official flyer for this event.

The free celebration will be a time for the public to visit, reminisce and enjoy a free cookout.

At 2 p.m., the Route 66 Preservation Committee will dedicate the restored Pig Hip sign and marker.

Edwards, who was known for his tall white chef’s hat and equally tall tales, owned and operated the Pig Hip on Route 66 in Broadwell for many years.

Our thanks to historian and author, Joseph D. Kubal for submitting the following article.

By Joseph D. Kubal

As a child, I always relished the thought of flying a bombing run over Nazi Germany during World War II in a B-17 “Flying Fortress.” The imagined target often was the infamous ball bearing factory used to fuel the Nazi war machine. This childhood fantasy was a direct result of watching the popular 12 O’Clock High television series. The series was unusual in its use of actual WWII film footage during many of the episodes. Now, children and adults alike will have the opportunity of a lifetime when a genuine Flying Fortress comes to town this summer.

Our thanks to our Association Recording Secretary, Emmy Bates, for writing up this travelogue of a trip she took with her sister, Debbie, along the Mother Road in April, 2012. Enjoy this firsthand account of their trip!

My sister, Debbie, and I decided that we’d like to take a road trip and since we are members of the association, maybe it would be fun to learn more about The Road. We planned to drive from Illinois to California, with a few side trips. I did some homework by looking on the internet (reading blogs), reading books, and talking to people in the association. Making a list of “must sees” and things that interested me, we were ready to go. Good reference books are by John Weiss (for Illinois) and Jerry McClanahan. Just remember that things have changed since Jerry’s book was written. Some places are no longer there.

Our Preservation Chairman, John Weiss, has provided us with the following travel advice for Route 66 travelers through Joliet, IL:

Starting on Monday July 9th the Ruby Street bridge in Joliet will be closed for four months. This bridge is Route 66. The official detour for those heading South will cause Route 66 travelers to completely bypass Joliet. Joliet tourism will do all they can to properly guide, with signage, Route 66 tourists to the Route 66 Welcome Center. The directions are extremely easy.

Photo courtesy Johnny Lucchesi

Clever slogan, huh?
It's courtesy of John Miller.

Get yours at Association Business Member, Vic's Pizza
2025 Peoria Road Springfield, IL
(217) 522-2464

We were recently contacted by Arlyn Booth, Map Coordinator of the Illinois State Library requesting Route 66 information. Can you help her gather the information she seeks?

Update: Arlyn Booth is no longer with the Illinois State Library. Please contact them, nonetheless, as they will direct your email to the appropriate party.