These are the good old days - on Route 66

 

[January 04, 2019] 

As we start a new year, many are thinking about the past year and what is good in our communities.

Every day there are people stopping in our towns to see where Abraham Lincoln practiced law and many of those visitors come by way of Route 66, two great interests to those who love to travel.

Daily people traveling the historic Mother Road are living the old slogan, "Get your kicks on Route 66!" Note the license plates on this car.

All along the historic roadway communities are embracing visitors and showing travelers the quintessential Americana slice-of-life. Logan County's small communities offer some of the best experiences the post-WWII glory days road has to offer.

Travelers of the road are being welcomed back to a time when life was slower and friendlier, when people stopped to speak to one another, even if, and sometimes especially if they see someone 'not from around these here parts.'

This is a little remembrance of two such Route 66 travelers who passed through Logan County this last fall, enjoying their stops and bringing a little joy with them.

Michael Angelo and Judy Nellis of Davenport, Iowa, were in day three when they entered Logan County through the village of Atlanta.

In Atlanta they stopped into Atlanta Palm's Grill, the Atlanta Library Museum, and took in the downtown sites. While there, they spoke with village residents who happily provided history and made recommendations for their afternoon stop in Lincoln.

One of their favorite Lincoln stops was a tour provided by Library Director Richard Sumrall of the historic Lincoln Public Library, which was designed by Chicago architect W. A. Otis in Classical Revival style. The beautifully maintained institution, restored to original replication a few years back, was built in 1902 with funds from the Carnegie Foundation.

As the day was getting on it became pressing to keep moving. Judy had homemade oatmeal cookies to be delivered to some monk friends in Springfield that night. They yet wanted to visit the Abraham Lincoln driven Largest Covered Wagon, stop by the Mill, and swing through Elkhart, then enter Springfield by way of Sherman.


Michael had made his first leg of Route 66 from Chicago to Joliet a year ago. He was happy to have friend Judy to join him for the longer journey this year.

They started in Joliet. There they had one slight disappointed when the infamous Illinois State Penitentiary located on the city's east side Collins Street was not accessible. The site is no longer a prison. One claim to fame of the prison is that the opening scene for the Blues Brother's movie was shot there.

Beginning their Route 66 journey south, Angelo and Nellis said they enjoyed the numerous sites in Pontiac, including the Pontiac car museum.

The master plan for the friends was to be leisurely about everything, and it did not require finishing the route in California on this six-week trip.

Angelo and Nellis are both from around Davenport, IA. As they traveled, they not only were taking in the Route 66 experience, they were giving back to all those whom they encountered.

Their wheels was a sensational 2007 Toyota Solara convertible wrapped in iconic flowing graphics of all things Mother Road: images of famous performers, places, highway signs, diners, gas stations, period cars and more.

There is even an image of Nat King Cole with the Route 66 sheet music as background.

Michael owns the vehicle and he worked with two designers before settling on Riverbend Sign Works of Bettendorf, IA to do the graphics. He said he was glad he had waited until the design was just right.

The Solara is a traveling piece of Route 66 art.

Communities all along the famous road have jumped on board to make traveling the 'Mother Road' an experience and in Logan County - Atlanta, Lincoln and Elkhart are all welcoming more visitors by the day.

After all, as the most famous road in America, Route 66 is a destination in and of itself.

[Jan Youngquist]