The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, under the auspices of the National Park Service, announced its cost-share grants for 2016. This year, the program awarded eight cost-share grants totaling more than $103,000 -- mostly for renovations or preservation of historic Route 66 properties. Since 2001, the program has awarded 122 projects $1.9 million with $3.1 … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces grants for 2016
Tag: Joliet
Unpopular marquee returning to Rialto Square Theatre
An additional marquee for the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Illinois, that was nixed because of its unpopularity is returning -- this time, to the back of the historic building. The theater's principals still are raising funds for the classic marquee. But they think the red-headed stepchild of the other marquee still can prove useful. The Herald-News reported: … Continue reading Unpopular marquee returning to Rialto Square Theatre
Route 66-Lincoln Highway marker erected in Joliet
The city of Joliet, Illinois, long has been known by historians as boasting the intersection of two historic roads -- Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway. Now casual travelers will learn of this major crossroads with a new, 7-foot-tall marker at Chicago and Cass streets (map here) in Joliet, reported the Herald-News. Local officials see the … Continue reading Route 66-Lincoln Highway marker erected in Joliet
“Route 66 in Illinois”
The "Route 66 in Illinois" presentation by Joe Sonderman and Cheryl Eichar Jett -- who co-wrote a book by the same name -- during the Miles of Possibility conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, contained a few tidbits of information even veteran roadies might not have known, such as: An explosion in 1942 at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant … Continue reading “Route 66 in Illinois”
Joliet church will be redeveloped into a restaurant, apartments
A developer is seeking to redevelop the historic but long-closed St. Mary Carmelite Church in Joliet, Illinois, into a large restaurant and apartments, according to the Joliet Bugle. “A loan has been secured, and they are going to close in April,” Mayor Tom Giarrante said on Friday. “I am very happy. It is a beautiful … Continue reading Joliet church will be redeveloped into a restaurant, apartments
Rialto Square Theatre will get a new marquee
The historic Rialto Square Theatre along Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois, soon will receive a new marquee and will repaint its iconic vertical sign thanks to a $350,000 gift from a local construction firm owner, reported The Herald-News. The new marquee will have LED screens suitable for video under the name of the theater. Ed Czerkies of … Continue reading Rialto Square Theatre will get a new marquee
Route 66 expert worries about traffic congestion in Chicago suburbs
A prominent Route 66 expert wrote a letter to a village, expressing his concern that truck traffic will negatively impact tourism on the Mother Road in Will County, Illinois, reported Suburban Life Publications. John Weiss, who won the prestigious Steinbeck Award for historic preservation with his late wife Lenore in 2002 and has written several books … Continue reading Route 66 expert worries about traffic congestion in Chicago suburbs
Route 66 theme sparks increase in customers at restaurant
File this away under Mr. Obvious. But it's good to see what a Route 66 theme can do for a business, all other things being equal. A longtime restaurant in downtown Joliet, Illinois, has seen a sizable increase in the number of customers since changing to changing its name from the Joliet Restaurant to Joliet Route 66 Diner two … Continue reading Route 66 theme sparks increase in customers at restaurant
Suburban Chicago county approves Route 66 marketing plan
The board of Will County, Ill., recently approved a new marketing plan for a long-overlooked section of Route 66 from Joliet to Braidwood, reported the Southtown Star. The newspaper said: There is an “untapped tourism potential” here, and tying all these natural, recreational and historical amenities together is historic Route 66, said project consultant Ferhat … Continue reading Suburban Chicago county approves Route 66 marketing plan
Downtown Joliet church soon will be auctioned
The historic but long-closed St. Mary Carmelite Church in downtown Joliet, Ill., will be auctioned Oct. 23 after attempts to convert it to senior housing stalled, according to The Herald-News and other media outlets. Scott Henry of Celadon Holdings hopes the building will fetch at least $278,000, which was about was put spent on the church … Continue reading Downtown Joliet church soon will be auctioned