The Mill on old Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill., was named today to Landmarks Illinois‘ 10 Most Endangered Historic Places, according to the Lincoln Courier.
It’s ironic that The Mill makes the list now. It’s much less endangered than it was 18 months ago, when the city was about to knock it down because of a neglectful owner. County tourism director Geoff Ladd and other local residents stepped in with a plan to save it. Since then, a number of notable steps have occurred to improve the property, including new windows. Plans are to convert the 1920s-era restaurant into a tourism center.
But the listing does raise The Mill’s profile and helps it in future preservation efforts. According to the Courier:
Despite years of deterioration, the old restaurant is still considered a prime example of early American roadside architecture.
Last year, the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County was formed to renovate The Mill for use as a Route 66 museum and tourist attraction. The group’s progress has been the subject of several newspaper stories.
Heritage Foundation vice president Jan Schumacher said this morning she believes those reports, along with information supplied to Landmarks Illinois by foundation president Geoff Ladd, were instrumental in getting The Mill named to the list.
“It’s a combination of things,” Schumacher said. “We made them aware and they were also aware because they saw it in the news. It was out there in public.
“You call it to their attention, and they decide (which landmarks make the list).”
Schumacher said she’s excited because of the increased awareness the listing brings to The Mill, as well as the added credibility for the foundation’s goal.
“I think it’s part of a national trend to restore and preserve Route 66 buildings,” she said. “As they have fallen by the wayside, it’s a loss to the country.”
Other endangered landmarks were Ursuline Academy in Springfield, University of Illinois Assembly Hall in Champaign, Spoon River Bridge in Bernadotte, Adams Memorial Library in Wheaton, Gunners Mates School in North Chicago, Germania Club and Theatre in Chicago, Chicago Daily News building, Burlingame House in Eden, Michigan Avenue Streetwall in Chicago and, for you Cubs fans out there, Wrigley Field in Chicago. Wrigley made the list because its new owner wants to loosen restrictions that disallow big changes to the 94-year-old ballpark.
UPDATE: Here’s a more expansive story about The Mill’s listing by the Bloomington Pantagraph. Included is an excellent video, where workers and preservationists explain what they seek to do to the property.
Here’s another story about The Mill by WMBD-TV. It also has a video link.
Better late than never.