The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, Illinois, plans to make a re-creation of a 1929 Slovenian corner grocery store that operated in town until the 1990s. According to The Herald-News, the Planinsek Meat and Grocery Store has sat unoccupied for at least 20 years at the southeast corner of Elizabeth and Russell streets (map … Continue reading Joliet history museum plans to re-create a Slovenian grocery from 1929
Category: History
Jerry White, co-operator of Whitehall Merchantile in Halltown, dies at 87
Jerry White, who co-operated Whitehall Mercantile along Route 66 in Halltown, Missouri, for many years, died Wednesday at Mercy Hospital in nearby Springfield. He was 87. Jerry White Jerry's wife, Thelma, not only owned the business in Halltown but both were charter members of the Route 66 Association of Missouri. Thelma died in 2010 after … Continue reading Jerry White, co-operator of Whitehall Merchantile in Halltown, dies at 87
A World War II bomber landed on Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois
A bomber pilot made an emergency landing on Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois, in 1942, then took off from the same highway after his aircraft was repaired. Reader Dave Todd forwarded me the brief story that was recounted in the Illinois State Journal newspaper on Dec. 30, 1942. The pilot, Lt. John W. Graybill, 25, … Continue reading A World War II bomber landed on Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois
Gillespie receives state grant to improve its Illinois Coal Museum
The old Route 66 town of Gillespie, Illinois, received a $33,800 state grant to improve its Illinois Coal Museum. The museum was one of 43 that received $22.3 million in grants from the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program. State Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, made the announcement, according to The Telegraph in Alton: “The Gillespie … Continue reading Gillespie receives state grant to improve its Illinois Coal Museum
Joliet officially reopens Chicago Street, an original alignment of Route 66
The Joliet City Council on Monday marked the official reopening of North Chicago Street in downtown Joliet, Illinois, along with officials from the Joliet City Center Partnership, Joliet Chamber of Commerce and Will County. According to The Times Weekly: “This is an exciting day for all of Joliet as we reopen an iconic street in … Continue reading Joliet officially reopens Chicago Street, an original alignment of Route 66
New sign marks Paul McCartney’s brief stop on Route 66 in Oklahoma
Oklahoma County and several residents of a stretch of original Route 66 on Monday installed a sign that commemorated a brief stop by a former Beatle, Paul McCartney, there in 2008. Shellee Graham, who lives on that segment of historic road with Route 66 historian Jim Ross, was there to help document the installation with … Continue reading New sign marks Paul McCartney’s brief stop on Route 66 in Oklahoma
More doubt cast on Apache Death Cave story at Two Guns
A researcher who previously has debunked a long-told tale at a Route 66 site has cast additional doubt on the Apache Death Cave massacre that supposedly occurred in 1878 at Two Guns, Arizona. And it turns out the man who likely made up the story killed a man decades before. If you're unfamiliar with Apache … Continue reading More doubt cast on Apache Death Cave story at Two Guns
Lowell Davis, creator of Red Oak II near Carthage, dies at 83
Lowell Davis, an illustrator who created the rustic Red Oak II complex near Carthage, Missouri, as an homage to his hometown, died Monday. He was 83. According post Monday night on the Red Oak II page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3654927054531816&id=130367633654460 Ozarks Alive described his early career after his stint in the Air Force: Lowell Davis rose … Continue reading Lowell Davis, creator of Red Oak II near Carthage, dies at 83
Zettlers Route 66 shop in Ash Fork reopens
The historic Zettlers Route 66 shop in Ash Fork, Arizona, reopened last month after it landed new owners earlier this summer. According to the Williams-Grand Canyon News, Zettlers aims to cater to both tourists and locals by offering Route 66 memorabilia and souvenirs, hardware, appliances and camping gear. The newspaper reported: New owners Terry and … Continue reading Zettlers Route 66 shop in Ash Fork reopens
Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center wins $30,000 grant to expand veterans exhibit
The Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Illinois, recently won a $30,000 grant to help expand its Veterans' Room there. Anne Jackson, secretary of the welcome center, detailed the windfall in a letter to the Journal-News: The Litchfield Chamber of Commerce had been housed in the museum since our opening. They decided to … Continue reading Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center wins $30,000 grant to expand veterans exhibit