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 The Mill is considered a prime example of early
American roadside architecture and is one of the few buildings in
the area still standing from that era.
Opening the Mill will add to the number of Route 66 visitors and
increase both civic pride and economic development in this rural,
central Illinois community.
In 2006, a group of volunteers formed the 501(c)(3) tax-deductible
foundation to help save The Mill. With over $50,000 raised so far, a
great deal has been accomplished including a new roof, new and
replacement windows and restoration of the downstairs floor and
foundation. Local volunteers and members of the Route 66 Association
of Illinois preservation committee have made great strides in the
work so far.
There is still much to do to open the museum. A contractor must be
hired to finish wiring the facility for electricity. The walls need
to be insulated from the inside and the large holes and damaged
floor behind the bar area downstairs and the front area upstairs
need to be replaced. Knotty pine must be rehung behind the bar, and
drywall ceilings and an HVAC system must be installed. A small
addition must be added to the back of the facility that will house a
handicap restroom and handicap entrance. The cost for completing the
project will be $93,900. Funds raised would be leveraged toward
possible available grants. All donations are tax-deductible.
A wall of the future museum will be dedicated to those who have
volunteered and donated funds and issued grants over the years.
Honorees on the wall will include organizations and individuals such
as the National Park Service, The Danner Trust, Route 66 Association
of Illinois, Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, The Railsplitter
Antique Auto Club and the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan
County.
Paul Coddington of Lincoln formally opened his restaurant at the
corner of Washington St. and Stringer Ave. on July 25, 1929, under
the name of the Blue Mill. The eatery was constructed by local
contractors in the shape of a small Dutch windmill with sails on the
front.
As a special treat that night, his manager’s children dressed in
Dutch costumes with wooden shoes and passed out roses to all of the
patrons.
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 In 1945, Blossom Huffman purchased The Mill, unbeknownst to
her husband, Albert. He, nevertheless, ended up helping to run
the establishment. The Huffmans obtained, at no cost, an old
Army barracks from Fort Ellis in Ipava, IL, and attached it to
the back of the existing building. The restaurant could now
accommodate the addition of a bar, and The Mill quickly gained
in popularity.
One of the restaurant's claims to fame was its fried schnitzel,
originally made of veal and later of pork. Louise “Mom”
Rofschansky brought the original Wiener Schnitzel recipe with
her from Austria. The Cook introduced the sandwich to Blossom,
who Americanized it and made it a Mill specialty.
The Huffmans ran the restaurant and bar until it closed in 1996.
“I take every opportunity to thank those who have helped with The
Mill since it was saved it from destruction 2006 with coordination
from the city of Lincoln,” said Geoff Ladd of the Route 66 Heritage
Foundation. “I particularly want to thank some very special
individuals – Larry Van Bibber for his generous donation, the late
Ernie Edwards for his insistence, the late Mike Fak for the
flooring, John Weiss for his mentoring, two very special anonymous
donors (one of whom contributed our new Mill logo and t-shirts), all
past and present board members, and all the generosity provided by
the local media,” said Ladd. The Mill remains under the auspices of
the private foundation, Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan
County, a group of dedicated volunteers. More information can be
found at www.igg.me/at/millon66 or savethemill.org.
[Geoff Ladd, Route 66 Heritage
Foundation]
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