McLean and Atlanta Illinois - Villages Along Route 66

ILLINOIS LEGENDS

McLean and Atlanta - Villages Along

Route 66

As you continue your journey down Route 66 from Funks Grove, you will soon come to McLean, Illinois just about four miles down the road. This small town, with a population of only about 800 residents, still continues to collect hundreds of visitors at the Dixie Truckers Home, the oldest and best truck stop in Illinois. Filled with Route 66 memorabilia, the truck stop has been serving up burgers and fries since 1928.

The truck stop began as a mechanic’s garage, that also sold sandwiches to passing motorists by J.P. Walters and John Geske almost 80 years ago. Starting with little more than a counter and six stools, it quickly gained popularity and by the mid 1930's had developed into a full-fledged restaurant complete with cabins in the back.

The Dixie Truck Stop in McLean, Illinois has been

operating since 1928, September, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

Not only popular to travelers, Dixie’s also brought in hundreds of area locals who enjoyed the live entertainment and music on the weekends. However, when World War II began, the festive weekends came to a screeching halt.

However, the restaurant and gas station continued to serve travelers by four generations of the Geske family until June of 2003. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, it never closed except one day when it suffered a fire in 1965.

The Dixie Truckers Home has since changed hands and has an updated look, but still continues to stand along Route 66 serving the truckers and travelers of the Mother Road.

McLean also features and a tiny downtown area sporting several historic buildings and a restored train depot that houses an antique shop.

While McLean, Illinois is not quite a ghost town, most of its former businesses

are boarded up and sit quietly today testifying to better times along the

Mother Road. September, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

Atlanta, Illinois

In just about five more miles, you’ll come to another small Route 66 town – Atlanta, Illinois. Here, you’ll find several remnants of vintage eras in this Route 66 proud town. Getting its start as the settlement of Newcastle in 1854, the village found itself over a mile from the railroad when the steam engine bustled through the area a year later. Moving the town -- lock, stock and barrel, nearer the railroad, the new settlement became known as Atlanta.

In 1903 the J.H. Hawes Elevator was built to serve the area farmers and continued to operate until 1976. In 1988 it was purchased by the City of Atlanta and fully restored in 1993. The wooden grain elevator is the only one of its kind in the State of Illinois and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, the building houses a museum that demonstrates the unique systems used to empty horse-drawn wagons, and later unload grain trucks. The museum, located at 301 Southwest Second Street, also includes a brick engine house and a wooden scale house/office.

Another museum resides at the Atlanta Public Library and Clock Tower, built in 1908. The octagon shaped building is on the National Register of Historic Places, featuring 1840’s neo-classic details such as high ceilings, a domed rotunda, high narrow windows, the original solid oak woodwork, and an old fashioned fireplace. A museum was established in the basement in 1973 that houses pieces of local history. The library museum stands on the corner of Race and Arch Streets.

The 1903 J.H. Hawes Elevator now serves as a

museum in Atlanta, Illinois. Photo courtesy

Moore & Warner Farm Management.

In the downtown area is a new Route 66 Park that celebrates the heritage of the Mother Road in Atlanta, the town that is known as the geographic center of Illinois on Old Route 66. The park is home to the hotdog man who stood for more than forty years in front of Bunyon’s Hotdog Stand in Cicero, Illinois. When the restaurant was sold in 2003, the famous Hot Dog Man was placed by the family on permanent loan to the town of Atlanta as part of the park. The 19-foot tall statue, now referred to as “Tall Paul,” underwent months of renovation and repairs before being placed in the park.

While cruising through this picturesque town, be sure to check out its many murals on the historic buildings. At 107 Vine Street is a vintage era country market that has long served and a mom and pop grocery store.

The city has many other historic landmarks such as The Carriage Shed, where Abraham Lincoln stayed with the Hoblit family; Turner’s Grove where Abraham Lincoln attended a July 4, 1859 celebration, and Gold Springs, an 1800’s resort area.

Just four miles west of Atlanta is the Eminence Christian Church which was built in 1901. Prior to the current structure was another built in 1856. It is believed that the church has one of the oldest congregations in the country. Their membership hosts many fifty year members, some of which are eighth generation descendants of the charter members.

Keep your eyes open and your camera ready as your journey has just begun. Continue kicking asphalt on down to the historic cities of Lincoln, Broadwell, Elkhart and more.

The old train depot in McLean now serves as and

Antique Shop, September, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

The Hot Dog Muffler Man stood for almost 40 years in Cicero, Illinois before it found a new home in Atlanta. September, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

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