September 13 and September 14

On Saturday, September 13th, the Illinois Chapter will have a meeting in Franklin Grove at 12:30 p.m.

Sent to the blog from Jane Nicoll is the following information:

"On September 14, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. Cynthia Ogorek will present her program on this book for the Park Forest Historical Society. The public is welcome. She will be selling her books after the program.

We will be At Park Forest Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive in Downtown Park Forest. Hope you can come!"



View Larger Map


Click the View Larger button and use the mouse to move around in the map so you can see where to go!

Striking Back at Gas Pump Pain!

California Chapter member and Map Committee Chair Paul Gilger sent a picture of his car, and his way of striking back at high gas prices! Paul leads the group of volunteers responsible for creating the Official Lincoln Highway Driving Maps software for the DeLorme Stree Atlas software program.

Yard Sale 08 - 08 - 08

The annual Yard Sale will begin on 08 - 08 - 08 and the price for a yard sign will be lower this year, $8. Registering for a sign will also include a GPS location for all available street addresses and mapping.

Signs will be available in Franklin Grove, the home of the Lincoln Highway Association National Tourism Headquarters:

136 N. Elm St.
P.O. Box 308
Franklin Grove, IL 61031
(815) 456-3030

Longitude: -89.29929
Latitude: 41.84207


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Surprise Number Two!

I wrote weeks ago about two surprises. The first one is that Cynthia Ogorek's book on the Lincoln Highway is coming out through Arcadia Press. Now I can tell you about the second surprise, the Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb is getting an authentic Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, shipped out from Virginia. It is going to cost a mint to get it installed, but the theater originally had an organ, and after installation, the theater will become complete again. This future enhancement will complement the Rialto in Joliet and the Paramount in Aurora. This entire area already serves as a major representation of historic theaters, and that will just improve even more. I think there were just the four main types of theaters in the United States, Egyptian, Paramount, Rialto, and Fox. This area has three of those.

Happy Double Birthdays in 2008!

Happy 20th Birthday to Lee County Tourism in 2008! Check out activities and places to visit on the Lee County Tourism Web site at:

http://www.leecountytourism.com/

Today, March 1, 2008, is the 30th Birthday to an all volunteer group in DeKalb, the P.E.T. Inc. (Preservation of the Egyptian Theatre). Although DeKalb is infamous for tearing down the Old Post Office along Lincoln Highway, the preservation of the Egyptian Theatre is a success story, and it is one of the most photographed places along the Lincoln Highway (just two buildings off the route) in Illinois. The Web site for the Egyptian Theatre is at:

http://www.egyptiantheatre.org/

As always--for full disclosure, the blog master is on the Membership Committee for the Friends of the Egyptian Theatre.

Tragedy at Northern Illinois University

With Northern Illinois University right on the Lincoln Highway, we have members of the Illinois Chapter of the Lincoln Highway Association who are also members of the NIU extended community, past and present. We pass our condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Pontiac Turned Down for FEMA Money

Folks, I just heard on the news today that residents of Pontiac, which is on Route 66, as well as nearby Watseka which experienced flooding about a month ago because of ice jams on the river got turned down for assistance through FEMA. This blog's owner checked on the Route 66 Museum that is there, and it was OK: http://windycityroadwarrior.com/blog/2008/01/10/flooding-in-pontiac-illinois/
but many of the residents were hard hit, and getting turned down by FEMA is another blow. Trying to recover from flooding is extremely difficult.

Blast from the Past

OK, so this video is off topic from the Lincoln Highway . . . This is our Farming Heritage representative and Illinois Chapter Board Member Ron Colson drag racing in 1980.

Enjoy!

Alice Ramsey Documentary on YouTube

More good stuff on YouTube. This is a clip from a documentary on Alice Ramsey's drive and the upcoming re-creation of her drive. Alice Ramsey's drive took some of the same routes that the Lincoln Highway took later:

Next Board Meeting

The next Illinois Lincoln Highway Association Board meeting will be on Saturday, February 9th at 12:30 p.m., at Franklin Grove.

Of course, weather permitting! Old Man Winter is about to whack us again!

New Book Coming Out on the Lincoln Highway!

OK, Surprise #1 is now out!

Cynthia Ogorek has a new book on the Lincoln Highway in Illinois coming out in March. It is linked from here.

Arcadia Publishers have books out all over the place, so when this book comes out it will be one more step in raising awareness of the Lincoln Highway in Illinois.

Two BIG Surprises!

Keep checking back during the month of February to find out about two BIG surprises!!

More Lincoln Highway Fun on YouTube

From our friends in Nebraska, a Lincoln Highway Tourism Video:



Brick Portion of Lincoln Highway in Ohio at risk:



Professor I. Ron Gnees at the Lincoln and Henry Joy Monuments in Wyoming

30 Second Nebraska Tourism TV Ad:



Folks in Valparaiso, Indiana recover a Marker formerly held at an Indiana State Highway worker's previous residence:



Link Wray High Way Lincoln Highway in DeKalb as seen at 180 m.p.h. (sort of)! We can ask our former drag racing star if this really what the world looks like at 180 m.p.h., although there's no turning around at the silo in drag racing!

Update on the Berwyn Car Kabob/Spindle

For folks asking about the Berwyn Car Kabob (real name Spindle), the non-profit groups so far are short of the money needed to move it and restore it. But take a look at all of the people involved in a bike fund-raising event:




Preservation = An Energized and Involved Public

Story and Pictures from Helen Montgomery and Bill Gellert

Helen Montgomery and her fiance, Bill Gellert of Franklin Grove, took a trip to California and back in his 1950 Plymouth during 2007. The story and pictures are at: http://illinoislincolnhighway.tripod.com/PlymouthTrip.html

Enjoy!

Rochelle's Hub City Car Club on YouTube

Check out the Hub City Cruisers Car Club on YouTube at the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival in 2007!

It comes with music, Little Richard and Fats Domino. Wayne Silvius and his car are at -3:05, in the middle of "Tutti Frutti." Click the arrow button in the middle of the screen. The picture should come right into focus. Enjoy!

08/08/08

Thanks to everyone who participated by working really hard and having sales for 2007! Thanks to everyone who went to the yard sales!

The dates for 2008 are on the calendar, for Friday and Saturday, August 8 & 9, 2008. Set your calendars for the easy-to-remember (and lucky) date of:

08/08/08

Collectible Yard Sale Signs!

Get Your 2007 Collectible Signs!

There are a few signs from 2007 left for $17 which come with a certificate signed by President Wayne Silvius. Pick one up at the National Tourism Headquarters in Franklin Grove, Illinois or mail a check to:

Lincoln Highway National Tourism Headquarters
136 N. Elm St.
P.O. Box 308
Franklin Grove, IL 61031

Call 815-456-3030 with other questions.

Yard sale T-shirts, tote bags, magnets, small posters, and other items are available at: www.cafepress.com/lincolnhighway

The Illinois Lincoln Highway Association belongs to the national non-profit Lincoln Highway Association.

Buy yours before they are all gone!

2007 BuyWay Business Participants (East to West)

2007 BuyWay Business Participants

For 2007, these businesses kindly participated in the BuyWay. Show them our support in return and stop by!

DeKalb

**My Faivret Things
249 E. Lincoln Hwy.
Phone: 815-748-2101




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**Hillside Restaurant
121 North Second Street
DeKalb, Illinois
Phone: 815-756-4749
http://www.hillsiderestaurant.com/






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**DeKalb Florist and Greenhouse
2131 E. Lincoln Hwy.
DeKalb, IL 60115
Toll Free: 888-428-5237
Local: 815-756-2705

http://www.dekalbflorist.com/


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**New Traditions, Inc.
143 E. Lincoln Highway
DeKalb, IL 60115
Phone: 815-758-7500



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**Simply Posh
235 E. Lincoln Highway
DeKalb, Illinois
Phone: 815-762-5650

Creston

**Roadhouse Antiques

ROADHOUSE ANTIQUES
Right on Route 38
South side of the road
815-384-3222








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**Rouge Wine Cellar & Gifts
http://www.rougewinecellar.com/


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**Headon's Fine Meats and Catering
http://www.headons.com/


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Rochelle

**Downtown Businesses
Check out the Web site of the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce for visitors' information and a directory of businesses:
http://www.rochellechamber.org/

Ashton

**Ron's Food Market
602 Brown Ave.
In downtown Ashton, near the railroad tracks


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**Fred's Bargain Barn
Frederick & Anita Koch
6977 Highway 38, north and east of Franklin Grove on curve
Ashton, IL 61006
815-562-7520

Franklin Grove

**Franklin Grove Historical Society at Chaplin Creek Pioneer Village
1715 Whitney Road
Franklin Grove, Illinois

Click the link!


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**Lincoln Highway National Tourism Headquarters
In the H. I. Lincoln Building
Lincoln Highway items and books, crafts, handmade soaps, antiques
Click the link!

Dixon

**Crawford House, Inc.
Bed and Breakfast in a Beautiful Mansion
204 E. 3rd St.
Dixon, IL 61021
815-288-3351
E-mail: crawfordinn@grics.net






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**Palmyra Greenhouse
489 Palmyra Rd
Dixon IL 61021-9705
(815) 285-2800
www.palmyragreenhouse.com

(Between Dixon and Sterling, about two miles outside of Dixon)






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**Jerry Crofts
1211 W. 3rd St.
Sterling, Illinois 61081
815-625-4165

Antiques and Collectibles
Camping Equipment
Antique Hand Tools
School Desks and Chairs (Tablet Chairs)
Old Desk and File Cabinets
Bottled Water (Crock) Coolers

Morrison

**The City1
815-772-7600
http://www.thecity1.com/




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**CONstantly Stitching & More
13690 Lincoln Road
Quilts!
815-772-2833
http://www.constantlystitching.com/


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**K. Brandau Designs
219 E. Main
Antiques, floral, and gifts
815-535-1644

Fulton

**Fulton had the best participants for 2007. See the City of Fulton Web site for local places of interest at:

www.cityoffulton.us.


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**Barnyard Antiques
6020 FULTON RD (Rt 136)
Fulton, IL 61252
(563) 249-2624

Check out the pictures!!! If these folks don't have it, no one does!!

http://www.barnyardantiques.net/


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**Long's Garden
18510 Sand Rd.
Fulton, Illinois
(815)589-4121

www.longsgarden.com

Don't miss their Yard Art!
www.longsgarden.com/yard_art.htm

World's Fastest Growing Yard Sale!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

This summer, on August 9, 10, and 11, the Lincoln Highway will become the World’s Fastest Growing Yard Sale. Stretching 586 miles communities across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia are invited to participate. Anyone in any of the communities along or close to the Lincoln Highway is welcome to have a yard sale, a garage sale, church rummage sale, or business sidewalk sale. Organizations are invited to have bake sales, car washes, or whatever else they would like to arrange. Car shows are welcome. Kids! Try your hand at a lemonade stand. This new annual sale began in 2005 in Ohio as the Lincoln Highway BuyWay. In 2006, Indiana linked with Ohio and for 2007, Illinois and West Virgnia will join for the first time.

Advertise your sale to your friends or loyal customers!! There are signs, notecards, magnets, T-shirts, bags, and other items for sale at:
http://www.cafepress.com/lincolnhighway

Proceeds from the sale of the CafePress items will help the Illinois Lincoln Highway Association defray our advertising costs.

Communities along the Lincoln Highway include:

Chicago Heights, Olympia Fields, Matteson, Frankfort, New Lenox, Joliet, Plainfield, Aurora, North Aurora, Mooseheart, Batavia, Geneva, Cortland, DeKalb, Malta, Creston, Rochelle, Ashton, Franklin Grove, Dixon, Prairieville, Sterling, Emerson, Morrison, and Fulton.

This is the first year Illinois is participating and it will be an annual event, on the second weekend of August.