Logan County (Ill.) Tourism director Geoff Ladd and Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project historian Carl Johnson joined forces on Thursday to try to find all of the obscure alignments of the Mother Road through Lincoln, Ill., reported the Lincoln Courier.
Talk about a dynamic duo — Ladd has already proved his worth in a short time by rescuing The Mill from the wrecking ball and moving the huge Railsplitter Covered Wagon to town. And Johnson probably has done more honest work on researching Route 66 in Illinois than anyone I can think of.
The old route features they traced included a half-mile-long, one-lane, 10-foot wide section of roadway near North Kickapoo Street they believe was a test route for use of Portland cement, today a common ingredient of concrete.
South of Lincoln, on Cobblestone Avenue near Union Cemetery and continuing across Salt Creek, they noted other Old 66 features – including the meeting of the city’s brick and the state’s paved sections of Route 66 – and a historic marker.
They would like to see historic U.S. 66 designations for all the sites to boost tourism interest.
“This is a big deal,” Ladd said about the exploration and Johnson’s detailed research. “Getting the signage is going to be a big economic boost.” […]
He and Johnson said they believe identifying and marking the lost portions of the old route will renew attention worldwide to the Mother Road’s history around and through Lincoln.“It’s pretty much obscure,” Johnson said of accurate local history about the route. “We’re trying to make it not so obscure.
“You’re sitting on a gold mine, I think. “
This is another reason Ladd will succeed in his efforts — he seeks out the true roadies for knowledge and advice.
I have been blessed to know Carl Johnson for a number of years and only recently met Geoff. I agree that they make quite a ‘duo’. It is always pleasing to see others get involved with Route 66 and on such an important project. This will not be the last you hear of the two of them but only the start.
I am proud to call both of them ‘fellow roadies’ and friends. They are rasing the bar for the rest of us.
Keep up the GREAT work both of you.
I admire both men and feel fortunate to call them friends.
Geoff is on my board of directors and is a great asset to our organization. His tenacity and patience has certainly won the day with the work that will be completed on The Mill Cafe.
I don’t know what I would have done without Carl in the first months of my job. I’d hate to go back and see how many emails flew back and forth about places on the road. And I have Carl to thank for introducing me to the wonder of concrete!