Monday, November 18, 2013

Route 66: Litchfield

We camped near Litchfield today and went for a tour:

Leaving St.Louis,

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Tour of Litchfield.

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Litchfield has a 1950s Drive-in, the last original Route 66 dirve-in theater in Illinois:

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Route 66 was a 4 lane highway before the interstate went through this area. So 2 lanes are in use and two lanes are abandoned.

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Sunday, November 17, 2013

More of Route 66

Funks Grove

Different spelling of Sirup. The store is closed for the season.

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McLean

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Town Square

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Atlanta

1904 Elevator owned by John Hardin Hawes

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Octagonal 1908 Library

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Another converted Muffler Man the Bunyon Giant

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Lunch at a 1934 diner

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Lincoln

Postville Courthouse State Historical Site

Abraham Lincoln practiced law here from 1840 to 1847.

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An old diner

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The new courthouse built 1905

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Elkhart and Williamsville

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Price at this old pump is 31.9 cents per gallon

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This trailer would fit Duke just fine.

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Saturday, November 16, 2013

Comlara Park just North of NORMAL

This is our view this morning at Comlara Park near Normal.

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We are the only campers in a very large campground.

Route 66 first stop Pontiac, Il.

We are in the land of Lincoln.

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Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum

The old city hall and fire department have been converted to museums

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This is Bob Waldmire’s vw bus. Bob was a artist who did lots of Route 66 Art.

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BurmaShave advertising, the signs would be spaced along the highway so you could read the signs one by one. These signs were everywhere in middle America.

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Large section of old 40’s and 50’s toys

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Outdoor displays including this old motel sign.

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An example of 40s- 50s wash day appliances.

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An early 60’s radio station.

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I think one of my sisters had this house.

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Old Log Cabin Restaurant (1926)

This restaurant’s claim to fame is: in the 1940s, Route 66 was widened to four lanes and relocated to the west side of the business, where it is today, The sturdy cabin was jacked up and turned 180 degrees with horsed to face the new road.

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But the food was not up to Teri’s standard

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Route 66 second stop Lexington, Il.

Restored Neon Arrow Sign

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Memory Lane the Old Route 66 Highway.

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Route 66 third stop Tawanda, Il.

Dead Man’s Curve

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Walking Tour and Burma Shave.

Tawanda has an unused strip of Route 66 to they made it into a walking lane. with BermaShave signs and information on the states that the highway crosses.

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Route 66 fourth stop Normal, Il.

1931 Spruque Super Service Station and Café.

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Route 66 fifth stop Bloomington, Il

David Davis Mansion State Historic Society.

Clover Lawn was built between 1870 and 1872 and is where Justice Davis lived until his death in 1886. Davis commissioned French-born architect Alfred H. Piquenard to design the mansion, which combines Italianate and Second Empire architectural features and is a model of mid-Victorian style and taste. Piquenard was a prominent Midwest architect who designed the State Capitolin Springfield. The home was meant as a residence for Davis' wife, Sarah. David Davis himself spent most of his time there after his retirement from the U.S. Senate in 1883. The house remained in the Davis family until 1960, when it was donated to the state of Illinois, which operates it as a state historic site

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Back in Comlara Park

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