The Illinois Chapter of the Lincoln Highway Association (LHA) held its annual membership meeting in and around Geneva on 26 October 1996. Those (few) of you who failed to attend missed (i) a personalized tour of the Geneva Historical Museum, (ii) a leisurely and beautiful drive through the farmlands west of Geneva -- on Keslinger Road, the original Lincoln Highway, past "The Lincoln Highway Farm", (iii) a pleasant stop at the Milnamow Pine-Apple Farm and orchards, including delightful impromptu historical reminisces of the farm's owner and near-by residents, (iv) culminating in a tasteful yet economical repast at the Inglenook Pantry.

After our meal, the Illinois Chapter held its annual business meeting. Among the highlights: a report on the Chapter's prior (and successful) meeting and tour in Rochelle, particularly the "yummy soda fountain creations from Mr. and Mrs. Steve Bingham"; Vivian Wright reported on the development of a Lincoln Highway curriculum with her Sandwich, Illinois sophomores (see more detailed report elsewhere in this newsletter); and Mike Winandy announced the completion of his Lincoln Highway mural in Morrison (a photo of which appeared in a recent Lincoln Highway Forum).

Last but not least, the assembled Illinois Chapter agreed through unanimous resolution to inform the National LHA of our willingness to host the 1999 LHA National Convention; and we further resolved to actively seek and develop proposals for an appropriate city in Illinois to host that Convention.

Following the Chapter's annual membership meeting, the Chapter's new board of directors held its first meeting to designate officer and committee positions. For future reference, your praise and compliments (no blame or criticisms, please) may be sent to the following individuals:

President: Barbara Winandy, 600 Lincolnway West, Morrison, Illinois 61270, telephone 815-772-3454.

Vice President: Jean Babb, P.O. Box 69, Belvidere, Illinois 61008, telephone 815-544-2720.

Secretary: Sue Jacobson, Rt. 3, Box 347A, Jericho Road, Aurora, Illinois 60506, telephone 630-896-7286.

Treasurer: Carl Jacobson, same as above (or in the dog-house out back).

Newsletter Editor: Howard Stovall, 2131 North Racine Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60614, telephone 773-348-8911.

Communications: Suzanne Weimer, 45W702 Wheeler Road, Sugar Grove, Illinois, 60554, telephone 630-556-4301.

Director At Large: Paul Weimer, same as above (or on the couch at Ruth & Clare's).

Illinois State Director: Ruth Frantz, P.O. Box 27, Sugar Grove, Illinois 60554, telephone 630-466-4382.

At the Geneva meeting in October 1996, the awesome power and responsibility of Illinois Chapter president was passed from National LHA state director (and award-winning dynamo) Ruth Frantz to the capable hands of Barb Winandy, Morrison. (Barb and her energetic husband Mike are co-owners of the Hillendale Bed and Breakfast in Morrison, a formal yet comfortable retreat directly overlooking the Highway, featuring a stylish atmosphere and furnishings, where ..... but I digress.) Barb attended the Geneva meeting with air casts and/or heavy elastic bandages on both her feet and ankles -- the result of some bad karma involving a rope bridge in Tibet, a 40 foot ravine, some Sherpas and -- but don't ask. Your thoughtful editor is currently negotiating for the serial rights on Barb's misadventures. Watch for details in future issues of Land of Lincolnway!

Barb had the following brief comments about her goals and vision for the Illinois Chapter in the year ahead:

Sue Jacobson reports that the youngest member of the LHA is an eighth grader: Kyle Fisher of Sterling, Illinois. Kyle's grandparents are friends of Ruth & Clare Frantz. Kyle's grandmother called Ruth to tell her Kyle needed a topic for a history assignment, but when he went to the library, it was closed on (Veteran's Day). She asked Ruth to give her an idea for a topic which Kyle could research. Of course, Ruth suggested that Kyle do his research on the Lincoln Highway. Kyle's mother went to the national headquarters in Franklin Grove to see what information was available. She was so impressed with the national office, she bought two books and enrolled her son Kyle as a national member.

Jean Babb, our Chapter's new Vice President, kindly informed your always inquisitive editor about an exhibit running through November, 1997 at the Lake County Museum (Lakewood Forest Preserve, 27277 Forest Preserve Drive, Wauconda, IL 60084) -- called "Model A to Z-28: America's Love Affair With the Road." Jean reports that the exhibit contains 200 postcards from the Curt Teich Postcard Archives, including many images of auto manufacturers, tourist courts, restaurants, etc. Although Route 66 is featured prominently, there are also images of sites along the Lincoln Highway. Also a different vintage auto will be displayed each month. They include a 1950's GM concept car, 1957 Thunderbird, vintage motorcycles, 1964 Indy car, 1948 Oldsmobile, 1939 Lincoln Zephyr, 1974 Pontiac TransAm and a Model A.

The Museum is located on the east side of Wauconda, just off Route 176.

A while back, Jeffrey Steele of the Chicago Tribune published an article on great moments in the history of luxury cars. (Perhaps some of our readers have additional suggestions or ideas?)

Pre-World War I: A number of higher-priced, prestige cars were marketed, among them Pierce-Arrow, Thomas, Packard, White, Peerless, Locomobile, Franklin, Marmon and Duesenberg.

1914: Cadillac joins the over-$2,500 luxury field with the introduction of the V-8 engine.

1915: Packard and several other makes introduce 12-cylinder engines.

1920: Packard introduces the Lanchester vibration dampener, which helps provide a smoother ride.

1921: Cadillac is the largest selling luxury car, followed closely by Packard and Franklin.

1922: Ford Motor Co. buys Lincoln, giving the auto giant an entree into the luxury market.

1923: Packard offers the first mass-produced straight-8 engines.

1928: Pierce-Arrow, having fallen on tough times, is bought by Studebaker.

1929: Luxury leader Packard, along with runner-up Cadillac, account for 70 percent of the luxury market.

1930: Cadillac introduces the V-12 and V-16 engines, the latter rated at 185 horsepower.

1931: Double-cowl Packard Phaeton wows luxury buyers.

1935: Lincoln introduces the Zephyr, named for a high-speed train of the era and sporting the first mass-produced streamlined body.

1937: Last Duesenberg produced.

1938: Last Pierce-Arrow produced. Ford Motor Co. introduces the Lincoln Continental.

1939: Lincoln Zephyr eliminates running boards. Packard introduces air conditioning. Chrysler brings out the New Yorker.

1949: Lincoln Continental phased out in favor of new Lincoln models -- Lido and Cosmopolitan.

Early 1950's: Packard unveils four-way seat adjustment.

1953: Cadillac introduces popular Eldorado convertible.

1954: Ailing Packard bought by Studebaker.

1956: Continental reappears as Lincoln Continental Mark II.

1958: Last Packard produced by Studebaker-Packard.

Sue Jacobson, not only Chapter secretary but also chairwoman of the National LHA Education Committee, submitted the following committee report to the National LHA board of directors late last year:

The Sandwich (Illinois) teachers, Vivian Wright and Eileen Bairn, have been busily working with a new group of sophomore students this year, adding some new dimensions to the Lincoln Highway unit of study. This year's group of students is a more hands-on-group, so the teachers have taken some new strategies to induce research! As a result, the students have made a game fashioned after the TV show Jeopardy. The teachers and five students took the game with them when they attended the State English Teachers' Convention in St. Louis the middle of October. Each student spoke about some phase of their involvement in studying the history of the Lincoln Highway.

The students wrote a play about Alice Ramsey's trip across America in 1909 and presented it to elementary students, which was very well received. The LH students had the elementary students make posters of the Lincoln Highway logo, which are posted in the vocational room of IVVC in Sandwich, Illinois.

The group presented their study of the Lincoln Highway to The Tech Prep Vocational Teachers' Conference the end of October in McHenry, Illinois. The vocational teachers were most interested in the unit of study. The group also gave their program to the ladies of the Lions Club in Sandwich, who donated $200 for the students' continued study of the highway.

Eileen Bairn, the business teacher of the group, wrote for a grant to the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Chicago. There were 113 applicants, with 28 receiving grants. Only 10 schools were granted money, the other grants going to large museums, conservatories, etc.! The Sandwich group was quite proud to be the recipient of $5,000. They purchased two computers, a scanner and a digital camera, all of which they are learning to operate. They have been using the Internet for research.

Future plans include presentations at more elementary and Jr.-Sr. High Schools, a history fair in DeKalb, Illinois and a trip to the national conference in Mansfield, Ohio in June 1997. Vivian and Eileen hope to bring five students to the conference to talk about English, Math and Business classes coordinated in the study of the LH. They will bring slides, overhead transparencies, and a more sophisticated Jeopardy Game. (For those who are interested in competing in the Jeopardy contest in Mansfield: it is not too early to start putting all your thoughts into the form of a question. -- Your helpful editor)

These teachers and the students are to be commended for the outstanding job they are doing in their study of the Lincoln Highway and their diligence in providing information to the public as well as to schools.

Our next Illinois Chapter newsletter will be published very late once again, right on schedule. Remember our motto, "All the News that Fits, We Print". Send your thoughts, news, comments and questions to Land of Lincolnway, c/o Howard Stovall, 2131 North Racine, Chicago, 60614. Please -- no requests for advice on romantic matter.