Illinois Coal Mining Towns on Route 66

Coal Mining Towns on Illinois Route 66

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Today Braidwood, with its population of just a little more than 5,000 people, still provides a nostalgic glimpse of the vintage Mother Road with icons such as the Polk-A-Dot Drive In. First started in 1956 in a school bus painted with rainbow colored polk-a-dots, lunch was served from a mini-sized kitchen inside the bus. Today this great drive-in at 222 N. Front Street sports bigger than life statues of James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, and the Blues Brothers, along with great food.

The Polk-A-Dot Drive In has been flipping burgers since 1956.

September, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

Life size statues at the Polk-A-Dot Drive In include Elvis, Marilyn Monroe,

James Dean and Betty Boop on the east side. September, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

Further down the road, you can glimpse the old art deco ceramic tile station still doing business as Kelly Tires and the old train depot before moving on down the road to Godley and Braceville.

Godley and Braceville were also coal mining settlements of the nineteenth century. Never a very big settlement, Godley was once well known in the area for its popular red light district. One such house of ill-repute was a particular favorite, as it sat directly on top of the county line. Here, both the “ladies,” as well as their customers could avoid the local law by just stepping on the other side of the house.

Braceville, Illinois

The village of Braceville was actually once a thriving city with 3,500 residents at its height in the 1870's. By the late 1880's the town sported six general merchandise stores, two banks, a hotel, two restaurants and 18 other retail businesses.

Braceville thrived until the summer of 1910 when the miners of the Braceville Coal Company went on strike. Fed up with the whole affair, the coal company simply closed and within just a few months the town was all but abandoned leaving behind an opera house, a large frame school and many empty businesses. Of these today, there is no sign other than a few slag heaps along the old highway. However, the Braceville area still supports some 800 residents. Braceville is home to Mazonia/Braidwood Fish & Wildlife Area, which features quality sport fishing lakes stocked with largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie, channel catfish, and bullhead as well as areas for waterfowl hunting.

Braceville, Illinois old General Store

W.C. Sheppard's was one of two grocery and dry goods stores operated in Braceville. The store was located on Mitchell Street, photo courtesy Coal City Public Library.

Gardner, Illinois

The next town on this coal mining ride is Gardner. Keep your eyes open as you move along this stretch as right after crossing the Mazon River, you will see the Riviera Restaurant. Just two miles before you reach the small town of Gardner, this historic Roadhouse was built in 1928. A South Wilmington business man named James Girot moved the buildings from both Gardner and South Wilmington to form the structure. Reportedly, movie legends Gene Kelly and Tom Mix used to regularly stop here and it was a favorite out of the way joint for Al Capone during his heydays. During prohibition the old roadhouse offered both liquor and slot machines to discrete travelers. Perhaps the booze was even provided by the infamous bootlegger, Al Capone himself.

The Riviera Roadhouse in Gardner, September,

2004, Kathy Weiser

The Streetcar Diner behind the Roadhouse,

courtesy Illinois Preservation Volunteers

Behind the Riviera is an old horse drawn Streetcar Diner that is well over 100 years old. In 1932 George Kaldem purchased the streetcar and moved it to Gardner. Soon it became a simple diner providing good food with just a small sign in front to identify it. For a while it even became an unofficial stop on the Greyhound bus line before the diner closed in 1939. In 1955 Gordon Gunderson, James Girot’s son-in-law purchased the streetcar and moved it to its present location behind the Riviera. The streetcar diner was used by the Riviera mostly as a storage space until the Illinois Route 66 Preservation Committee discovered it and restored it to its original Route 66 appearance.

Today the Riviera still serves the Route 66 traveler with some great home cookin’ as well as a brewsky or two.

Just two more miles down the road you will reach the small town of Gardner with its 1,400 residents. In Gardner be sure to check out the historic two cell jailhouse that was built in 1910.

Keep on kickin' asphalt as you head on down the Mother Road to the small towns of Dwight, Odell, and Pontiac, and as always, enjoy the ride!

This art deco ceramic tile station is still doing business

as Kelly Tires in Braidwood, Illinois. September,

2004, Kathy Weiser.

On the west side of the Polk-a-Dot Drive In in Braidwood,

you can "shake hands" with the Blues Brothers, September, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

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To Dwight

Return to Route 66

To Wilmington

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Route 66 Postcards - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected numerous postcards for our Route 66 enthusiasts. For many of these, we have only one available. To see this varied collection, click HERE!