A small metal turkey sign that helps mark 1920s turkey tracks on old Route 66 near Nilwood, Illinois, was stolen earlier this month.
Crime Stoppers of Macoupin County posted on Facebook:
Sometime on or before November 11th, 2018, person or persons unknown stole a commemorative sign marking the spot of the “Turkey Tracks” on Old Historic Route 66 in NIlwood, IL.
Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-352-0136. You can also submit an anonymous tip on-line at www.macmontcrimestoppers.com or use your cell phone to text information by entering: TIP722 and your message and send to CRIMES (274637), In doing so, you could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5000.
The Springfield State Journal-Register followed up on the story. The section of old 66, known as Donaldson Road, was built between 1926 and 1930. A turkey apparently wandered across the cement as it still was setting, leaving its 34 tracks forever etched in the pavement.
Another sign also marks the turkey tracks. According to the state highway department, an average of 35 vehicles a day drive on that section of road.
I’m fairly familiar with that part of Route 66. The theft was pretty brazen, as a farmer lives close to the site. And the terrain is flat enough there that many other locals could see visitors at the site, as well.
(Image of the stolen metal turkey via Crime Stoppers of Macoupin County; image of the Route 66 turkey tracks near Nilwood, Illinois, by Jim Grey via Flickr)
Somebody should have their giblets removed for taking that Turkey.
Small point, but this section of the highway was very likely paved prior to 1926. Illinois State Bond Issue 4 was mainly paved in the years 1922-1925, and most small sections that remained unpaved when the 1926 designation as Route 66 occurred were in municipal areas where there were conflicts between local authorities and the state. That sort of conflict would not have been happening in a rural area like Donaldson Road.
Finding this site out in the middle of nowhere was one of the nicest surprises on my ‘half’ trip (Tulsa/Chicago). I have a feeling the turkey wasn’t taken by a 66’er. Try to imagine how much society had changed since those turkeys ‘fowled’ the fresh concrete those many years ago. I believe those of us who travel 66 are looking for something wholesome we can’t articulate. The loss speaks for itself as a reminder of the times in which we live.