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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.
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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] |
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