Illinois Route 66 Association announces its Hall of Fame inductees April 13, 2010

The Illinois Route 66 Association announced its Class of 2010 for its Route 66 Hall of Fame. Here is the complete list, courtesy of the association:

817 Hillsboro (known as Halley’s) in Edwardsville

The building at 817 Hillsboro in Edwardsville was built in 1914 and started as a cash & carry mom-and-pop market called Barns Cash Market. In 1927 it was sold to Thomas and Mayme Halley, who owned and operated the market as Halley’s Cash and Carry Market for 43 years. It was Halley’s for so many years that most people still know it as Halley’s. The current owners, Sam Makler and Colette Andre, now operate it as the Springers Creek Winery. They use Route 66 on the labels of all their wine, but only the blush has the shield on it. Next time you’re in town, why not stop in and check out this historic place and have a glass of wine?

Lewis (Zoo) Barrick of Lincoln, Ill. (posthumous)

On Feb. 15, 1935, Lewis A. Barrick founded Barrick Transfer & Beverage Co. in Lincoln, Ill., which operated on Route 66 for 75 years. The transfer company hauled meat, soda pop, and other freight up and down Route 66. Mr. Barrick expanded his company to include beer to this soda and freight business. He cared about the Route 66 community. He added benches to his truck to provide transportation to the coal miners so they may attend the Mother Jones Monument dedication in 1936. Later, he purchased a moving van and became a North American Van Lines agent. Barrick was described as a workaholic, but his work was always on Route 66 and always included his kindnesses and helpful ways with his Route 66 friends.

The Deck Family of Girard

The Deck Family has operated a business in the Route 66 community of Girard well before there was a Route 66. They had a family business for 117 years from 1884 to 2001. In 1884 Mr. Lewis Deck opened Deck’s Drug Store. Various descendents of the Deck family have carried on the family tradition. In 1929, the Deck family added a marble top soda fountain to the drug store. With the soda fountain, they became the hangout for the community. In 2001, the Deck brothers, Bob and Bill closed the doors of this quaint little drugstore. It took six years, but in 2007 Bob and Bill reopened the original pharmacy as a great drug store/museum, free for everyone to enjoy.

Snuffy’s Grill in McCook

Snuffy’s Grill has been serving Route 66 for 80 years. The original owner ran Snuffy’s from 1930 until the mid-’50s when the Nikitopoulos family took it over. Tony and Nancy Nikitopoulos still run Snuffy’s today! Snuffy’s, has always been a haven to truckers, regular local customers and Route 66 travelers. Open 24 hours a day Monday through Saturday, on Sundays they close from 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Inside, 17 stools face an open grill with the menu hanging above. There are only three booths along the wall of windows facing the parking lot. Total seating capacity is only 35. Al Marsiglio, a customer since 1948, said, “The food at Snuffy’s is great; it’s real comfort food. It’s one of the last old grills still operating today. If you walk away hungry, it’s your own fault!”

2010 Tom Teague Ambassador Award

Bob Waldmire (posthumous)

Bob Waldmire was an artist, ecologist, vegetarian, a true Route 66 ambassador and was also known as the Mother Road’s resident hippie. Bob lived his life on his own terms, and that was to live his life on the road he loved. There is not a man to compare to Bob. Each person he met was given his friendship for life. His artwork, writings, and conversations with those he met, revealed his lifelong love affair with Route 66.

The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame banquet will be Saturday, June 12, at the Best Western Carlinville Inn in Carlinville, Ill. It coincides with the association’s annual Motor Tour. To purchase tickets, contact Jerry Law at thelaw1(at)sbcglobal(dot)net or call 618-251-4892, or contact Marty Blitstein at blitz66(at)earthlink(dot)net or 708-444-1312.