Newsletter Archive
WINDY CITY ROAD WARRIOR Newsletter-Spring 2008 Volume 1 Number 2
Welcome to the second issue of the Windy City Road Warrior e-mail newsletter.
New on the Windy City Road Warrior website:
Links of History: Chicago’s Roads Before 66
New for March, I have added the third article in the Links of History series to my archive of stories originally published in the Route 66 Federation News. Look at the story and photos here:
Recent Blog posts
Although my posts to windycityroadwarrior.com/blog have been more sporadic than I wish, I believe you will find some interesting content there. A few highlights:
Frank Sheets Inducted into Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame Frank T. Sheets may not be a household name, but his contributions to the building and designation of Route 66 within Illinois while he was in charge of the Illinois Division of Highways are vast. He is the Father of U.S. 66 in Illinois.
Evolution of Route 66 in Springfield, IL I have assembled the documentary evidence, first researched by Road Scholar Carl Johnson, that shows how Illinois Route 4 and then Route 66 were routed through Springfield from 1926 through 1932. The shift of 66 between Springfield and Staunton from IL 4 to IL 126 and IL 16 is also discussed.
Frank Sheets Inducted into Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame Frank T. Sheets may not be a household name, but his contributions to the building and designation of Route 66 within Illinois while he was in charge of the Illinois Division of Highways are vast. He is the Father of U.S. 66 in Illinois.
Evolution of Route 66 in Springfield, IL I have assembled the documentary evidence, first researched by Road Scholar Carl Johnson, that shows how Illinois Route 4 and then Route 66 were routed through Springfield from 1926 through 1932. The shift of 66 between Springfield and Staunton from IL 4 to IL 126 and IL 16 is also discussed.
Upcoming Events:
PowerPoint Presentation—Historic Route 66
Join us for a slide show and discussion of the history of U.S. Highways, the background on why Route 66 became the country’s best-known highway, and why it started in Chicago. We then take a “virtual tour” of 66 through eight states on our way from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. These events will also be opportunities to purchase autographed copies of the books Exploring Route 66 in Chicagoland or Images of America: Route 66 in Chicago.
The presentation schedule for April and May 2008:
Evanston Public Library – April 16, 2008, 7 p.m. 
1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201. www.epl.org/ Phone: 847-448-8600. (This program was just added to the schedule yesterday, so if you want to register you may need to wait a few days before calling.)
1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201. www.epl.org/ Phone: 847-448-8600. (This program was just added to the schedule yesterday, so if you want to register you may need to wait a few days before calling.) Riverside Public Library – April 23, 2008, 7 p.m. 1 Burling Road, Riverside, IL 60546. Register online or by phone: http://www.riversidelibrary.org Phone: 708-442-6366.
Schaumburg Public Library — May 5, 2008, 7:30 p.m. 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL 60193. http://www.stdl.org. Register by phone: 847-985-4000.
Fremont Public Library — May 7, 2008, 7 p.m. 1170 N. Midlothian Rd., Mundelein, IL 60060. Register on the event calendar online or by phone http://www.fremontlibrary.org Phone:847-566-8702.
Elmhurst Public Library — May 12, 2008, 7 p.m. 125 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126. Register on the event calendar online or by phone www.elmhurst.lib.il.us
Tours:
Schaumburg Public Library — May 5, 2008, 7:30 p.m. 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL 60193. http://www.stdl.org. Register by phone: 847-985-4000.
Fremont Public Library — May 7, 2008, 7 p.m. 1170 N. Midlothian Rd., Mundelein, IL 60060. Register on the event calendar online or by phone http://www.fremontlibrary.org Phone:847-566-8702.
Elmhurst Public Library — May 12, 2008, 7 p.m. 125 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126. Register on the event calendar online or by phone www.elmhurst.lib.il.us
Tours:
On Saturday, March 15, I had the pleasure of giving my first walking tour of 2008 to a family from Toronto. Anyone else who will be in the downtown Chicago area during the spring, keep in mind that I will continue giving walking tours of Route 66 in Chicago’s Loop—rain, snow or shine. Since the tours allow for plenty of time inside of buildings, as well as outside, even the most inclement weather does not get in the way of an educational stroll along the first mile of the Mother Road:
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WINDY CITY ROAD WARRIOR Newsletter-Special January 2008 Edition
This newsletter will normally be quarterly, and the next regular edition will be e-mailed in March 2008. However, in the last few weeks significant new content has been added to the Windy City Road Warrior website, so please forgive this intrusion and accept our invitation to check out our new content.
New on the Windy City Road Warrior website:
Windy City Road Warrior has now joined the blogosphere! Please take a look at the blog, where your comments are welcomed:http://www.windycityroadwarrior.com/blogI hope to add a daily post to the blog, so if there are any topics you would like to see, please let me know via e-mail at dave@windycityroadwarrior.com
Also, David Knudson, Executive Director of the National Historic Route 66 Federation has graciously consented to allow me to post up scanned copies of my articles as they originally appeared in his quarterly publication, the Route 66 Federation News. I’ll add another article to the on-line archive every month or so. The first is online now and ready for viewing:
http://windycityroadwarrior.com/Stories/FedNews/FedNewsArchive.htm
Happy New Year!
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WINDY CITY ROAD WARRIOR Newsletter – Winter 2007-08 – Volume 1 Number 1
Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Windy City Road Warrior e-mail newsletter.
New on the Windy City Road Warrior website:
Interstate 355 and the Legacy of Daniel Burnham
New for December, I have looked at claims that the new extension of I-355 from I-55 to I-80 is somehow a completion of a thoroughfare first proposed in the 1909 Plan of Chicago, written by architects and city planners Daniel H. Burnham and Edward H. Bennett. I look back at Burnham’s career and the specifics of the proposals put forward in the Plan, and I conclude that such claims are misleading or misguided. Look at the story and photos here:
Postcards and Photo Prints
In November, I added postcards and prints to the offerings of items for sale on the windycityroadwarrior.com gift shop. Please come in to browse or buy:
Upcoming Events:
PowerPoint Presentation—Historic Route 66
Join us for a slide show and discussion of the history of U.S. Highways, the background on why Route 66 became the country’s best-known highway, and why it started in Chicago. We then take a “virtual tour” of 66 through eight states on our way from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. These events will also be opportunities to purchase autographed copies of the books Exploring Route 66 in Chicagoland or Images of America: Route 66 in Chicago.
The presentation schedule for early 2008:
Crystal Lake Public Library – January 15, 2008, 7 p.m. 126 Paddock Street, Crystal Lake, IL 60014. http://www.crystallakelibrary.org Phone: 815-459-1687
Park Ridge Public Library – February 26, 2008, 7 p.m. 20 S. Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068. Register online or by phone: http://www.parkridgelibrary.org Phone: 847-825-3123
Tours:
Anyone who will be in the downtown Chicago area during the winter, keep in mind that I will continue giving walking tours of Route 66 in Chicago’s Loop—rain, snow or shine. Since the tours allow for plenty of time inside of buildings, as well as outside, even the most inclement weather does not get in the way of an educational stroll along the first mile of the Mother Road:
Happy holidays to all.
