 Famed
Route 66 Pig Hip Restaurant and Museum marker to be dedicated Sept.
28
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[September
20, 2007]
BROADWELL -- When the Pig Hip Restaurant Museum
caught fire earlier this year and could not be saved, many thought
that only the memories would live on in the hearts and minds of
visitors. This was not to be. Bob Olson, longtime friend of Pig Hip
proprietor Ernie Edwards, took it upon himself to purchase a marker
to be placed at the site of the Pig Hip.
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 "After the fire in March," says Olson, "we were constantly
explaining to people why the Pig Hip wasn't there anymore. We were
explaining the same thing over and over again."
The Pig Hip marker, a bronze plaque set in pink Wisconsin granite
bearing details of the Pig Hip's history, was set into place on
Ernie's 90th birthday, Aug. 5. This marker tells the story of the
Pig Hip Restaurant, immortalizing the memories and the history of
this Route 66 icon. Olson explains that he knew Ernie wanted to get
a historical marker from the state, but the process seemed very
difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, he purchased the marker,
not only as a way to help his friend Ernie, but also to help
immortalize the Pig Hip.
On Sept. 28 at 2:30 p.m. there will be a ceremony to dedicate the
Pig Hip marker. This is the same day that the Mother Road Festival
begins in Springfield, so just swing by on your way there and attend
the dedication. Ernie Edwards is sure to be at the ceremony, so
don't miss your chance to hear some of the best stories of the Pig
Hip Restaurant and Museum.
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 The Pig Hip restaurant originally opened in 1937 as the Harbor
Inn, but the name was changed a few years later after a farmer came
in and asked for a piece of "pig hip." The restaurant became a Route
66 icon and has had many brushes with fame.
Ernie retired in 1991 and the restaurant closed, but it was later
turned into a museum for Route 66 artifacts. In March of 2007, the
museum caught fire and couldn't be saved.
Thankfully, this new marker will stand in remembrance of the
famed restaurant and will preserve the history for new generations.
For more information on the dedication ceremony, please call
217-732-8687.
[Text from file received from
Abraham Lincoln Tourism
Bureau of Logan County]
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