The Mill, a once-popular restaurant and lounge on Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill., has been closed for years and is a whisker away from being condemned.
However, the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County has stepped up to the plate in an effort to at least partially preserve it, reports the Lincoln Courier. A history of The Mill can be read here.
The short-term goal is to acquire it from the owner (who faces jail time for not keeping it maintained), raze the less-significant back portion, and shore up the remainder so it will remain a Route 66 tourist attraction. The long-term goal is to restore it when more funds become available.
The proposal might actually be accepted because it would cost many thousands of dollars to demolish the structure. The short-term idea to convert The Mill into a “photo op” won’t cost more than $4,000 because of volunteer labor that includes members of the Illinois Route 66 Association, reports the preservation group. The association has been involved with many high-profile preservation projects before.
We’ll see. The Mill, which was built in 1929, is in deplorable condition. But there’s a glimmer of hope. Months ago, there was none.
UPDATE: Here’s another report about The Mill from the Lincoln Daily News.
It’s eight hours to Lincoln. Count me in for one of John and Lenore’s famous workdays.
It sure looks to be in sad shape, hope something of it can be salvaged. It is a great photo op.
I’ll give a hand as well.