
Site Map
Testimonials
A Long-Range Plan to Brand the First Lincoln
Namesake City as the Second City of Abraham Lincoln Statues
The Abraham
Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration in Lincoln, Illinois
1.
Abraham Lincoln and the Historic Postville
Courthouse,
including a William Maxwell connection to the Postville Courthouse
2.
About Henry Ford and the Postville Courthouse,
the Story of the Postville Courthouse Replica,
Tantivy, & the Postville Park
Neighborhood in the
Route 66 Era
3.
The Rise of Abraham Lincoln and His History and
Heritage in His First Namesake Town,
also the founding of Lincoln College, the plot to steal Lincoln's
body, and memories of Lincoln College and the Rustic Tavern-Inn
4.
Introduction to the Social & Economic History of
Lincoln, Illinois,
including poetry by William Childress & commentary by Federal Judge
Bob Goebel & Illinois Appellate Court Judge Jim Knecht
5.
"Social Consciousness in William Maxwell's
Writings Based on Lincoln, Illinois" (an article published in the
Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, winter 2005-06)
5.a.
Peeking Behind the Wizard's Screen: William
Maxwell's Literary Art as Revealed by a Study of the Black Characters in
Billie Dyer and Other Stories
6.
Introduction to the Railroad & Route 66 Heritage
of Lincoln, Illinois
7.
The Living Railroad Heritage of Lincoln, Illinois:
on Track as a Symbol of the "Usable Past"
8.
Route 66 Overview Map of Lincoln with 42 Sites,
Descriptions, & Photos
9.
The Hensons of Business Route 66
10.
The Wilsons of Business
Route 66, including the Wilson Grocery & Shell
Station
11.
Route 66 Map & Photos Showing Lincoln Memorial
Park
(former Chautauqua site),
the Historic Cemeteries, & Nearby Sites
12.
Route 66 Map & Photos Showing Salt Creek &
Cemetery Hill,
including
the highway bridges, GM&O bridge, Madigan State Park, the old dam (with
photos & Leigh's memoir of "shooting the rapids" over the old dam), &
the Ernie Edwards' Pig-Hip Restaurant Museum in Broadwell
13.
The Historic Logan County Courthouse, Past &
Present
14.
Route 66 Map with 51 Sites in the Business &
Courthouse Square Historic District,
including locations of historical markers
(on the National Register of Historic Places)
15.
Vintage Scenes of the Business & Courthouse Square
Historic District
16.
The Foley House: A
Monument to Civic Leadership
(on the National Register of
Historic Places)
17.
Agriculture in
the Route 66 Era
18.
Arts & Entertainment Heritage,
including
the Lincoln Theatre Roy Rogers' Riders Club of the
1950s
19.
Business Heritage
20.
Cars, Trucks & Gas Stations of the Route 66 Era
21.
Churches, including the hometown
churches of Author William Maxwell & Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr
22.
Factories, Past and Present
23.
Food Stores of
the Route 66 Era
24.
Government
25.
Hospitals, Past and Present
26.
Hotels & Restaurants of the Railroad & Route 66
Eras
27.
Lincoln Developmental Center
(Lincoln State School & Colony in
the Route 66 era), plus
debunking the myth of
Lincoln, Illinois, choosing the Asylum over the University of Illinois
28.
Mining Coal, Limestone, & Sand & Gravel; Lincoln Lakes; & Utilities
29.
Museums & Parks, including the Lincoln College
Museum and its Abraham Lincoln Collection, plus the Heritage-in-Flight
Museum
30.
Neighborhoods
with Distinction
31.
News Media in the Route 66 Era
32.
The Odd Fellows' Children's Home
33.
Schools
34.
Memories of the 1900 Lincoln Community High School,
including Fred Blanford's dramatic account of the lost marble
fountain of youth
35.
A Tribute to the Historians and Advocates of
Lincoln, Illinois
36.
Watering Holes of the Route 66 Era
37.
The Historic 1953 Centennial Celebration of
Lincoln, Illinois
38.
The Festive 2003 Sesqui-centennial Celebration of
Lincoln, Illinois, including photos of LCHS Class of 1960
dignitaries & the Blanfords
39.
Why Did the State Police Raid Lincoln, Illinois,
on October 11, 1950?
40.
The Gambling Raids in Lincoln and Logan County,
Illinois,
During the Late Route 66 Era (1950-1960)
_______
Pages
in this section tell about Leigh Henson's Lincoln years, moving away,
revisits, and career:
About Lincoln, Illinois;
This Web Site; & Me
A Tribute to Lincolnite Edward Darold
Henson: World War II U.S. Army Veteran of the Battles for Normandy and
the Hedgerows; Brittany and Brest; and the Ardennes (Battle of the
Bulge)
For Remembrance, Understanding, & Fun: Lincoln
Community High School Mid-20th-Century Alums' Internet Community
(a Web site and
email exchange devoted to collaborative memoir and the sharing of photos
related to Lincoln, Illinois)
Leigh Henson's Pilgrimage to Lincoln, Illinois, on
July 12, 2001
Leigh Henson's
Review of Dr. Burkhardt's William Maxwell Biography
Leigh Henson's Review of Ernie Edwards' biography,
Pig-Hips on Route 66, by William Kaszynski
Leigh Henson's Review of Jan Schumacher's
Glimpses of Lincoln, Illinois
Teach Local Authors: Considering the Literature of
Lincoln, Illinois
Web Site About
Leigh Henson's Professional Life
__________
Pages
in this section are about the writing, memorabilia, and Web sites of
other Lincolnites:
A Tribute to Bill and Phyllis Stigall:
Exemplary Faculty of Lincoln College at Mid-Twentieth Century
A Tribute to the Krotzes of Lincoln, Illinois
A Tribute to Robert Wilson (LCHS '46): Author of
Young in Illinois, Movies Editor of December Magazine,
Friend and Colleague of December Press Publisher Curt Johnson, and
Correspondent with William Maxwell
Brad Dye (LCHS '60): His Lincoln, Illinois, Web
Site,
including photos of many churches
Dave Armbrust's Memorabilia of Lincoln, Illinois
J. Richard
(JR) Fikuart
(LCHS '65):
The
Fikuarts of Lincoln, Illinois, including their
connections to the William Maxwell family and three generations of
family fun at Lincoln Lakes
Jerry Gibson (LCHS '60): Lincoln, Illinois,
Memoirs & Other Stories
Dave Johnson (LCHS '56): His Web Site for the
Lincoln Community High School Class of 1956
Sportswriter David Kindred: Memoir of His
Grandmother Lena & Her West Side Tavern on Sangamon Street in the Route
66 Era
Judge Jim Knecht
(LCHS '62): Memoir and Short Story, "Other People's Money," Set in
Hickey's Billiards on Chicago Street in the Route 66 Era
William A. "Bill" Krueger (LCHS '52): Information
for His Books About Murders in Lincoln
Norm Schroeder (LCHS '60): Short Stories
Stan Stringer Writes About His Family, Mark
Holland, and Lincoln, Illinois
Thomas Walsh: Anecdotes Relating to This Legendary
Attorney from Lincoln by Attorney Fred Blanford & Judge Jim Knecht
Leon Zeter (LCHS '53): His Web Site for the
Lincoln Community High School Class of 1953,
including announcements of LCHS class reunions
(Post yours there.)
__________
|

Highway Sign of
the Times:
1926-1960
The Route 66
Association of Illinois
The Illinois
State Historical Society
Illinois
Tourism Site:
Enjoy Illinois
|
| |
Internet Explorer is the only browser that shows this page the way it was designed.
Your computer's settings may alter the display. April 24, 2004: Awarded "Best Web Site of the Year" by the Illinois State Historical
Society "superior
achievement: serves as a model for the profession and reaches a greater
public"
|
Marquee Lights of the Lincoln Theater, est. 1923, Lincoln, Illinois |
20. Cars, Trucks, & Gas Stations
of the Route 66 Era |
During the Routes 4 and 66 era, Lincoln, Illinois, had many more car dealers
and repair shops than today. The 1953 Centennial Edition of the Lincoln Evening Courier
contains ads for the following car and truck-related businesses:
|
· Barrick Transfer and Beverage
· B. & R. Garage
· Diers Motor Sales (DeSoto and Plymouth)
· Fred Langenbahn Truck Lines
· Harold Thomas (International-Harvester)
· Hoagland Transfer
· Illico Independent Oil Company
· Langellier's (Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury)
· Logan Motor Sales (Oldsmobile)
· McMullen Motors (Pontiac-Cadillac)
|
· Melrose Motors--Chait Brothers (Packard, Aero-Willys, Kaiser, and
Henry J)
· Pemberton (Dodge and Plymouth)
· Row (Hudson)
· Sandel's Service
· Schroeder (Nash: Ambassador, Statesman,
Rambler)
· Star Service Station
· Yellow and Lincoln Cab Co.
· Wilbur G. Colburn (livestock hauling) |

20.1: Langellier's
Showroom in
First Year of Business, Located in the IOOF Building on McLean Street
(Fish, Illustrated Lincoln, 1916)
|

20.2: Sheer's
Carriage and Auto Repair Shop, Later Sheer's Auto Supply
(Fish, Illustrated Lincoln, 1916) |
15.
Vintage
Scenes
of the Business & Courthouse Square Historic District
contains a photo of the exterior of Langellier's first facility in the IOOF
Building on McLean St.

20.3: Langellier's Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury Dealership in 1953
(Photo in Lincoln Evening Courier, Centennial Edition, Section Five,
August 26, 1953, p. 16)
Note the interurban tracks in the center of Chicago Street, which was paved
brick at that time. The light color at the edge of the tracks appears
to be concrete patching.
|

20.4: Sheers
Auto Supply in
the Early 1960s
(Photo from Beaver and Gleason,
Logan County Pictorial History, p. 190)
Stan Stringer, who has contributed stories about his memories of Lincoln,
emailed this observation in March, 2002:
"Did you ever hear of Gene Sheer? He owned the Sheer Machine
Shop. I'm told it originally repaired buggies, wagons and farm equipment,
but when automobiles displaced buggies, they worked on cars. I only met
him after his wife died and he had retired. At that time, he entertained
children in the neighborhood by telling stories and cutting paper stars
from waxed paper. I thought of writing about him for the Lincoln Daily
News, but I doubt if there would be much to the story. He was one of
the Lincoln curmudgeons I mentioned to you."
|

20.5: Sheer's Ad
Showing Wreck Before Repair
|

20.6: Sheer's
Ad
Showing Complete Repair
|
The photos above are from Sheer's nearly one half page ad in the centennial
edition of the Lincoln Evening
Courier, Centennial Edition, Section Eight, August 26, 1953, p. 4.
The Sheer's
ad offered a prize of "$5.00 cash to the first person identifying the name
of the manufacturer of the above 1929 automobile which was completely
rebuilt in our shop 23 years ago. Only answers by mail will be
accepted." The ad also presents a photo of its "employees of 1869 when
the Sheer Shop was located where the Postoffice [sic] now stands."
"Our skilled mechanics have helped
us build an enviable reputation throughout central Illinois for careful,
expert repairs on automobiles, trucks, tractors, and damaged items of every
type and description. Adding to our reputation is Sheer's promptness
and fair charges. The thousands of wrecked or broken down autos and
trucks that have passed through our workshop to emerge as good as new are
visible testimonials to the quality of our service and the guaranteed parts
we use."
Original Sheers Business and Location
The
following photos show Sheers operation before the auto replaced horse-pulled
wagons and carriages. Sheers was then at the location of the present-day
postoffice on the southeast corner of Broadway and McLean Streets. Click on
each image for a larger version in a new window. Then, click again for an
even larger version.
When you
view the largest possible image of the second photo, you will be able to
read the signs and see buggies and sleds. The large, round sign on the side
of the building toward the rear advertises the Carter White Lead Company.
For info on manufacturer, see
http://www.nebraskahistory.org/lib-arch/research/manuscripts/business/carter-lead.htm.
In the largest version of the second photo, you can also barely see the
cannon on the courthouse lawn. You will not see any parking meters. Today,
there are about four parking meters in front of the post office, the
previous front footage of Sheers. Undated photos courtesy of the late Fred Blanford.


20.7--8: Sheers in Horse and
Buggy Days
Vehicles from the Peak
of the Route 66 Era (1953-1954)

20.9: 1954 Hudson
from Lincoln Evening Courier Ad of
Row Motors, 116 Hamilton Street, October 1, 1953, p. 6.
|

20.10:
Nash Ambassador
From ad of Schroeder Nash Sales, 404 17th Street in Lincoln
Evening Courier, October 30, 1953, p. 5.
|

20.11:
Studebaker Starlight
Five-Passenger Coupe
From ad of Mel Wiggers Auto Sales, Corner of Fifth
and Logan [Business Route 66], Lincoln Evening
Courier, October, 1953.
|

20.12: Ambulances Are
Now Much Improved in Function If Not in Design
From the ad of Wright's Funeral Home in the Centennial Edition of the
Lincoln Evening Courier, Section Seven, August 26, 1953, p. 2.
|

20.13: Packard
From the ad of Melrose Motors--Chait Brothers--in the Centennial Edition of
the Lincoln Evening Courier, Section Eight, August 26, 1953, p. 5.
|

20.14: Henry J
From the ad of Melrose Motors--Chait Brothers--in the
Centennial Edition of
the Lincoln Evening Courier, Section Eight, August 26, 1953, p. 5. |

20.15:
Plymouth
From ad of Pemberton Motor Co., 214 N. Chicago St., in Lincoln Evening
Courier, Centennial Edition, Section Two, August 26, 1953, p.10. |

20.16: Cadillac Photo
from Courier Ad
From ad for McMullan Motors in Lincoln Evening Courier,
Centennial Edition, Section One, August 26, 1953, p. 5.
|

20.17: Sandel's at the Farm Service Station
From ad for
Sandel's Service, Lincoln Evening Courier, Centennial Edition,
Section Four, August 26, 1953, p. 16. Note: Sandel's was also a
dealer for Evinrude outboard marine motors.
|

20.18:
GMC Pickup Truck
From
ad for Hoagland Transfer, Lincoln Evening Courier, Centennial
Edition, Section Seven, August 26, 1953, p. 15. |

20.19:
1950s Squad Car, Citizen, Cop, and
Other Cars on the Square -- at the Intersection of Pulaski and Kickapoo
Streets
(Photo by Mike Hamilton and sent by Fred Blanford)
The above
photo also shows storefronts on Broadway Street in the background. On
the courthouse lawn are the Civil War statue monument and the Indian mother
statue with drinking fountain (over top of Chevy convertible).
Note: Months after this
Web site was published, I was browsing microfilm of the Courier from
around 1954, and I came upon an item that may explain the photo of 20.17.
The item said that when the traffic lights were first installed at Pulaski
and Kickapoo, cops were on duty to be sure drivers saw and heeded the new
lights.
Fred Blanford offers the following account, 2-9-03, when he emailed the above photo to
160+ alums of Lincoln Community High School:
"This scan of a Mike
Hamilton pic again reflects law enforcement/safety measures of the 50's here
in our 'home' community. Some detail is lost from the original scan when it
is 'compressed' for email.
Without the compression -- the license (M4147) on the
Hudson squad car -- as well as the open vent (center of windshield just behind
hood -- a/c 50's style) are clearly visible. The Chevy ragtop license is 277
360, and it appears there may have been a non-standard hood ornament on the
Chevy. Does this sporty car ring a bell with any participants?
Modern times -- required the parking meters (barely
visible on the left but visible on the other side of the street) be removed
as they were clearly a discrimination against poor people (that lacked the
penny for
12 minutes) or a profiling of those parkers that didn't have any American
currency. The corner has also been hi-teched with the installation of a
"traffic control device" (a stop light) for further security/safety -- to free
up "Barney F." for other duties.
While (most of) the buildings fronting on Broadway
remain (the top floor was lopped off 2/3 of the Landauer building) -- the
occupants of the same stretch of real estate cannot duplicate the
"vibrancy/vitality/whatever" of the businesses -- Lincoln Savings & Loan
(gone--defunct--does not exist
now) -- Spurgeons -- gone from Lincoln even if it lives on in other
communities -- Landauers -- gone --Schoens -- gone -- Montgomery Ward -- gone from here
and I am unsure of its national presence -- but makes little
difference -- Lincoln's Sears and JCPenneys -- that co-existed with the MW store
back then are also gone.
When I went to Champaign in '59 to further my tour as a
youth (school was always better than working for a living), I discovered a
"store" in Urbana that was unique in my experience to that time. It was
named
"Huey's." My recollection is that it was one or more "quonset huts" joined
together and occupied as a retail outlet for all sorts of things. It was a
real "homegrown" affair. I recall two large plain painted signs displayed
on the outside of the establishment: One said -- "If it ain't on the
shelve s-- it's on the floor." The other, "If Huey ain't got it -- you don't need
it."
I believe after his success in Champaign-Urbana -- Huey
moved to Arkansas -- changed his name to Sam and went national/international.
Your old home town has been Wal-Martized -- and apparently -- If Sam ain't got
it -- you don't need it. A corollary to that rule includes -- "and IT was
probably made in China."
As time goes on -- I do "see" what is happening -- I do
"understand" the economics behind the changes -- I'm just not sure I can "see"
where all of this is going. In the modern times of sound bites and photo
ops -- the
bumper sticker and tee shirt are major forms of communication. I am
reminded of the one -- "Life is uncertain -- eat dessert first." Query -- Did we
eat the dessert and will our kids and grandkids have any left for them?
Until I have time for another modern photo of Lincoln
security--take care." fred
|
Business Route 66 Gas Stations (and
One Tire Store) in
Lincoln, Illinois
|

20.20: Gilbert (Gib) Wilson at His
Shell Station, Business Route 66,
Fifth and Washington Streets, 1953 (Photo provided by Gib
Wilson) Click this link to
access
a
list of gas-service stations from the 1941 city directory.
|

20.21: Wayne Perry's Standard at
Logan and
Broadway Streets (Business 66)
(Photo provided by D.D. Welch and
caption by Norm Schroeder) |

20.22: Jim's Phillips 66 at
Logan and Broadway
(Business 66)
(Photo provided by D.D. Welch and
caption by Norm Schroeder)
|

20.23:
B&B Tire on 100 North Logan Street (Business Route 66)
(Photo provided by D.D. Welch. Note the same '59 Ford in other photos
by Mr. Welch. His wheels?) |
More Downtown Scenes

20.24: Shell
Station on Pulaski Street in 1955
(Photo provided by Fred Blanford)
Fred says
the station was owned by Mitchell, Cecil, and Hudkins.
The photo
has several noteworthy features, including brick pavement. The truck
at the right has "Lincoln Laundry" on its rear doors. In the
background, several landmark buildings of the railway and Route 66 eras are
apparent. At the far left, a very small part can be seen of the Howard
(Commercial) Hotel. Immediately next to the right is the old ITS
(interurban) depot. Spellman's office building is next to the right,
and farther to the right is the Spellman elevator.
One irony of
the picture is it shows the gas station and the interurban depot together.
The gas station is doing business, but the depot was not used by the
interurban at that time, as the sign above the two windows on the second
story appears to include the name of Spellman. The automobile was the
main reason for the decline and fall the interurban.
Fred writes,
"The Hudson pickup [below] and the preceding photo of the Shell station have
a connection, as Fred Blanford explains in an email of 10-20-02. I quote him below
(unedited in order to preserve the distinct flavor of his style):
The previous pic was of the Shell station on the corner of Pulaski and S. Chicago. As
noted, the Commercial Hotel has since burned. On the North end of the
Commercial Hotel was the Commercial Restaurant (?) or whatever -- that had a
side entrance in common with the Hotel Lobby. The eating establishment was
operated by Slim Cole for many years. (Daughters Linda & Anita were classes
about 61 and 64 respectively) Just to the North of the entrance for the
eating establishment -- was a small
cubby hole sort of storefront that was operated as the dispatching office
for one of Lincoln's two cab companies. Next store North was for a time the
site of my Uncle & Aunt's appliance store. A door or two North of
that--John Pelc's Schwinn shop.
Them being relations is how I happen to have the
attached pic. Leigh said go to your old boxes and root around -- so I have
been. The truck in the pic was instrumental in moving the LBI (now known as
LCC -- but not meant to be confused with Lincoln Correctional Center or Logan
Correctional Center -- both in Lincoln) from its original home in the 100
block of North Logan Street (they had 12 students at that time) to its new
home just East of town on Rte 10. I got to "help" with that move. I wasn't
big enough to do much toting --, but I loved riding in the back of the truck
between buildings.
Trying to get guesses out or you folks is kinda like
pulling teeth -- so I won't pose the question -- just provide the answer. That
is a Hudson pickup truck -- pre-war naturally. Now there is a retro name for
you. If you ever watch b&w films on TV --, you will occasionally see the cops
in their (kinda Tucker shaped) Hudsons chasing the bad guys. In the newer
old films -- Nash squad cars replaced the streamlined Hudsons. One thing
about the old cars--they weren't generic in their shapes like the new
models--think SUV."
|

20.25: Pre-WW II Hudson
Pickup Truck
(Photo provided by Fred Blanford)
|

20:26:
Pulaski Street on the Square in 1941
(Photo in Paul Beaver and Paul Gleason, Logan County
Pictorial History, p. 193)
This scene
is just two block east of the one of 20.24. The above photo shows
remarkable contrasts -- the truck (apparently a ten-wheeler) among the cars;
the car behind the truck older than most of the other cars; and
simultaneously two styles of streetlights on the square. The building
to the right of Sears occupies the lot once owned by Abraham Lincoln.
To its right is the Arcade Building.
|

20.27: Dell Rogers' Deep Rock at Pekin and Kickapoo Streets
(Photo provided by D.D. Welch and Norm Schroeder)

20.28: Clapper's on Kickapoo Street in Mid 1950s
Photo by Mike Hamilton and emailed by Fred Blanford. Clapper's offered
tires for your car, tv's and appliances for your house. Notice the
reflection of the Lincoln Theater in Clapper's large, plate-glass window.
Can you identify the businesses to the left (on the other side of the
alley)?

20.29:
Night View of Clapper's Appliances and Tires on Kickapoo Street in the 1950s
(Photo provided by Fred Blanford)
|
Car Businesses of Routes 10 & 121 on Seventeenth
Street--Woodlawn Road

20.30:
Route-66 Era Auto Business in a Spanish-Style Building at 404 17th Street
Elm
Street "north ended" at Seventeenth Street, and Schroeder Nash was located
on the north side of Seventeenth and Elm. This business was adjacent
to the old LCHS football, track, and baseball fields.
Mary Baldin Moore, who provided the above photo, wrote the
following history: "I am
attaching a picture of Turner's Garage (operated by Ed Turner) taken in
1970, shortly before it closed. It had formerly been Schroeder Nash Sales,
I believe, in the middle or late 1950's. (This is a snapshot given to me by
Ray Turner, Ed's son, who worked with his father in the garage).
As a side
note, this building is now painted a couple of shades of purple with
chartreuse trim, the old house on the corner of the property is a mustardy
yellow with burgundy trim, another building is chartreuse with orange trim
and an orange door, and a garage has a large flag painted on the side. This
is all the result of the homeowners in the area blocking the owners from
selling the property for commercial use.... they maintained the area should
remain residential, stating that these buildings could be painted up and
would be perfectly OK. The owners complied!!!! This happened several years
ago, and the colors have mellowed some."
Note: I spotted a
story in lincolndailynews.com (February 11, 2003) that said these buildings
would soon be demolished. Mary Baldin Moore captured the picture below just prior
to demolition.
|

20.31:
Spanish Architecture in Psychedelic Decor:
A Timely Last Photo Provided by Mary Baldin Moore, 2-27-03
|
Gasing up Across the Street
from Schroeder Nash Sales

20.32: Shell Station at Elm and 17th
Streets, 1955
(Photo provided by Fred Blanford)
Fred writes, "I don't know that
I have seen any pics that really give the full flavor
of 17th Street. It was a scant two lanes -- and -- wasn't parking allowed
along the way -- at least by the football field? The attached pic is of
the Shell Station that was located on the corner of Elm & 17th -- just
opposite the ticket office main gate for the football field. This was
still operating when we were there -- as I seem to recall stopping for an
occasional coke to take with on the long walk back to the HS after
running cross-country practice. Of course -- you had to pay a deposit on
the bottle.
To the right in the background -- the building where "Lee's Drive-In
Liquors" was later established. Did Tony Rufogales ever run this as a
deli before Leo Bennis had the drivein? The far end of this block
(corner of North College and 17th) would have been Steve Vlahovich's
drive-in. Large lemonades from there were great. Another collector of
artifacts here in Lincoln (I don't have room for everything) has the old
(painted white) wooden barrel from Steve's which spouted root beer -- if
memory serves."
Gwen Lisk Koda, in email
correspondence to 150+ LCHS alums (10-28-02), reports that the owner of the station
had a parakeet trained to say, "Buy Shell or go to hell!"
The
precocious bird also could say, "Pretty girl, give me a kiss." Gwen
recalls one of her friends did try to give the bird a kiss and was badly
bitten on the lip. Gwen has made me promise not to reveal the identity
of the embarrassed victim. |
The Rods of
Larry "Jughead" Malerich, LCHS Class of 1959
|

20.33:
Jug's 1937 Ford Coupe |

20.34:
Jug's 1934 Ford Coupe
|
In an email of April,
2004, to 270+ LCHS alums, Fred Blanford writes,
"In Jug's case, he
represented the wave of the future. He had two vehicles--one for normal
transportation--the left photo--a 1937 Ford Coupe while the right photo
represented the "off-road" vehicle of the 50's--a car modified for drag
racing. Jug informs me it was a 1934 Ford Coupe. Off-road vehicles are
very BIG today. He informs "they" were very successful in the good old
days. They is meant to include his "partner" in the drag adventure--Ron
Koester--forgive if I have misspelled the name. Ron was from one of the
outlying communities--like NewHollandMiddletown or HartsburgEmden.
Allegiances were very localized in the 50's--not world-wide as they are
today. The difference of a few miles was a lifetime. Ron ended up married
to the girl that sat behind me in Spanish 1--Luanne Lohrenz (again forgive
any spelling errors) with whom he had a very full life.
In any case--THC--the history channel has oft times
described the American "Love Affair With
The Auto." While trite in concept--reflection will reveal the truth of the
statement. Even in the 50's we all loved "our cars." To this day the
Americans are in an ongoing affair with the wheeled beasts. Jug (and his
two vehicles--one driver--multi-function vehicles) was just a precursor of
things to come."
|
Gentle readers, I mean no disrespect by including
the following images, but their type was part of the Route 66 era.
Also, if you think these images are politically incorrect, why, you must not
have seen the kinds of calendars that adorned the walls in the back rooms of
repair shops. So, actually, what you see here is not exactly Norman
Rockwell, but it was semi-respectable calendar art for its time.

20.35
|

20.36: 1949 Captain's Daughter
|

20.37: 1946 Billy Devorss Calendar
|
(20.34-35 offered on eBay.com but not purchased by the
author)
|
Sources
Suggested
Beaver, Paul J. History of Logan County Illinois
1982. Published by the Logan County Heritage
Foundation. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing
Company, 1982:
· "Transportation Notes for 1980" lists "iron" bridges
demolished and others remaining, pp. 30-31.
· Photos of Wright Brothers airplane landing near Mt.
Pulaski, 1910; "last horsedrawn cab with Bill Madigan. First motorized cab with
Thomas (Sas) Madigan"; covered bridge over Salt Creek, early 1900s; "last
Illinois Terminal Railroad System--Chicago Street, 1962"; bridge identified as
"Eminence n. 18 SW 1/4 Sec. 9 Sugar Creek 'Gilbert Bridge,'" p. 30.
· "1935 tractor-trailer Merritt Stoll, driver" (Photo is
related to article on Armour's Creameries, and photo shows load of chickens)
Gehlbach, Nancy Lawrence. "Cars. . . and
Drivers." Our Times. vol. 3, no. 4, winter, 1998.
Prairie Years Press. 121 N. Kickapoo Street, Lincoln,
IL 62656:
· Sections on "The Lincoln Speedway," "The Lincoln
Automobile," Recollections of Bob Graue, Maxine Amberg [Seggelke], Marge Coogan
Blanford and Fred Blanford
Gleason, Paul E. Lincoln, Illinois: A Pictorial History.
St. Louis, MO: G. Bradley Publishing, 1998:
· Photo of Logan County Sheriff's car (Ford) (1953 or
'54)
· Photo of midget racing cars, p. 144
· Various photos of street scenes showing cars of the
1930s, 1940s, and 1950s
Gleason, Paul E., and Paul J. Beaver, Logan County,
Illinois: A Pictorial History. St. Louis, MO:
G. Bradley Publishing, 2000:
· Photos of McCormick and Fink auto dealers, pp. 96-97
· 1960s photo of Sheer's Auto Supply, p. 190
· Photo of Bob Sanders and service station, 1929
Mr. Gleason's material
used in this Web site is with permission from the G. Bradley Publishing Company, 461 Des
Peres Road, St. Louis, MO 63131. Call 1-800-966-5120 to inquire about purchasing Lincoln:
A Pictorial History (1998) (200 pages of rare photos and text) or Logan County Pictorial History
(2000) (also 200 pages of rare photos and text). Visit
http://gbradleypublishing.com/.
Lincoln Evening Courier, Centennial Edition,
Wednesday, August 27, 1953:
· Photo of Mrs. Belle Schott with her 1920 Ford sedan,
which she had owned and driven for 33 years, section 3, p. 4.
· "Illico Oil Company Organized in 1904," Section
Five, p.
2.
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Email comments, corrections, questions, or suggestions.
Also please email me if this Web site helps you decide to visit Lincoln,
Illinois:
DLHenson@missouristate.edu.
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"The Past Is But the
Prelude" |
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