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Route 66 Association of Illinois

Where The Road Begins

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The President’s View Spring 2011

Well it’s still Winter, we had snow, snow and thunder and lightning and snow and now for a few days of pure Spring (read rain, rain, rain). Winter is not over. I want snow now, not in May or June. I like real seasons.

Winter brought many changes along Illinois Route 66. There are new businesses and a couple of new museums! Berwyn is building a Route 66 museum utilizing some of the displays that used to be at Anderson Ford. Pontiac is adding the Pontiac Oakland Automobile Museum about a block from our museum. Godley is going to build, with our Preservation Committee’s assistance, a mining museum!

The Preservation Committee met at Maria’s Route 66 Restaurant in Dwight. Over 50 people came and offered their help at upcoming Preservation Work Days! There will be a clean-up day at the museum in Pontiac on Saturday, March 19th! March 26th will be the first clean up day in Godley at the new museum. April 9th will be the clean-up day at Odell Station! If you’ve never come out for a preservation work day then come out and work (play) with us! A work day in Lincoln at the Mill is waiting to be confirmed! The Preservation Committee’s motto is “We work for food,” so lunch will be provided at all clean-up sites! Watch our Facebook page and our website for more info and how to RSVP that you’ll be there. Preservation involves maintenance – so whether you can give 2 hours or 6 hours your help is always appreciated!

The Red Carpet Corridor – the annual 90 miles of fun – will be using a passport this year to record your trip. Activities will be listed in the Passport for the entire weekend! Put May 7th and 8th on your calendar now! This year promises more activities than ever before including the painting (by everyone) of Bob Waldmire’s last artwork. The 66-foot long mural will be painted by the public over the RCC weekend and will be completed and dedicated during our Motor Tour in June. From Joliet to Towanda – its Elvis, car and motorcycle shows, tractor shows, auctions, flea markets, music and even bed races in Lexington, promise fun-filled weekend for all!

The combined efforts of the Missouri and Illinois Route 66 Associations are working on a grant to bring back real neon to the Luna Cafe. Our own Dorothy McMullen is hard at work looking at getting more Illinois buildings on the national historic register. It’s exciting to see that in the midst of an economic “downturn” the enthusiasm that continues to exist for our part of the Mother Road and the communities alongside it.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for this year’s LOVE, PEACE, and the MOTHER ROAD Motor Tour! We will be honoring Bob Waldmire’s legacy June 10th, 11th and 12th. This year we go North to South, starting in Joliet and ending in Litchfield.

We look forward to a great Spring with you! I’ll be looking for you during Sirup time at Funk’s Grove, and at the quarterly meeting in Springfield in April.

See you on the road!
~Cathie

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Donations Fuel Our Mission!

Your donation to our Association helps support our efforts to preserve, promote, educate and enjoy Route 66 in Illinois. We are a volunteer organization; 100% of donations are allocated to preservation efforts along the Mother Road in Illinois (never to administrative or housekeeping expenses). We thank you for your generous donation toward maintaining our nostalgic slice of Americana.


The Allure of the Mother Road

Listen to Association member, Route 66 expert and author, John Weiss, describe the allure of the Mother Road. What makes Route 66 a treasure worth preserving? John explains it all.

Motor City Mad House Radio Show

Additionally, John was recently interviewed on WCPT by Richie Zie. View and listen to the show here.

Get Your Memorabilia!

Order your Waldmire-designed T-shirt and Funk’s Grove Midpoint Pin!

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