Enjoy the unforgettable experience of Frankfort, the town with the 1890s charm! The shopkeepers of this delightful town will be looking forward to assisting you in any way they can -- antiques abound, as does ice cream shops and many unique stores just waiting for you to discover. The Indiana chapter of the LHA and the Route 66 Preservation Committee of Illinois have been invited to join us.

Our day in Frankfort will begin at 9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., when participants should arrive at the Frankfort municipal parking lot located on Kansas & Oak Streets. There will be a Farmers Market available in this area. At 10 a.m., our tour bus (donated by the Frankfort Area Historical Society) will depart. Our tour, narrated by Dr. Larry McClellan, will include: (i) viewing the original Lincoln Highway alongside Route 30 in Frankfort -- we will dedicate our LHA banner on this site; (ii) viewing three Lincoln Highway markers at various locations west of Frankfort, as well as a few of the remaining motels that accommodated many Lincoln Highway travelers; and (iii) visiting the Bird Haven Greenhouse, for a beautiful walking tour of the grounds covered with flowers and a greenhouse bursting with color.

We will arrive back in Frankfort at 12 NOON for an authentic German lunch at Chef Klaus Die Bier Stube. Price range is $5,00, $9.00 or $13.00 complete. A special menu has been prepared just for our group. After lunch, a brief stroll will lead you to the Glen Warning building for our meeting and then across the street to visit the Frankfort Area Historical Society Museum. At 3 p.m. a dedication of the Old Plank Road Trail will be conducted by Dr. McClellan with special scheduled guest, Gov. Jim Edgar. This old toll road, then railway, parallels the Lincoln Highway, and has been transformed into a 12 mile hiking and biking path.

DIRECTIONS: From I-80, exit #145 south (Rt. 45, LaGrange Rd.). Travel 3 miles to Rt. 30 (Lincoln Highway). Cross Lincoln Highway, then immediately turn left onto White Street. Travel approximately 3 blocks to Kansas Street, turn right. Continue west to the public parking lot on your right.

Barb and Mike Winandy recently attended a Scenic Byways Workshop at Starved Rock State Park. This workshop featured presentations by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT); the National Trust for Historic Preservation; and the National Scenic Byway Program, Federal Highway Administration (FHA).

The Scenic Byways Program "provides a compass for people from all over the world to explore America's treasured open roads. This program recognizes outstanding byways that "celebrate the pride and diversity of our communities as well as the stunning landscapes that have shaped our lives." There are two federal scenic byway designations: National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads. All-American Roads are the best of the best. They are destinations unto themselves and an exciting adventure for all ages. Route 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway in California) is a prime example of an All-American Road. National Scenic Byways "possess outstanding qualities that exemplify the regional characteristics of our nation."

To qualify for the National Scenic Byways designation, the byway must have at least one of the following "intrinsic qualities": scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological, recreational. (In Barb's opinion, different portions of the LH meet all six of these qualities.) Then the sponsoring group must develop a corridor Management Plan for that byway. The goal of the plan is to identify its qualities and how to plan to make it available for current and future generations.

There are matching grant moneys available from the FHA to assist in paying for qualifying projects. Many of the IDOT and National Trust for Historic Preservation attendees thought that the Lincoln Highway would be an excellent candidate for this program -- although it represents a lot of work ahead for the membership of the LHA. In Barb's opinion, it is important for our Chapter to begin the inventory process for Illinois.

The Ohio LH group has prepared a helpful "Guide to Roadside Attractions" on the Lincoln Highway through Ohio. In line with Barb Winandy's suggestion that we begin an inventory of landmarks along the Highway in Illinois, Jean Babb (Chapter Vice President) has written a letter to Your Editor, asking:

Dorie Stovall, your Editor's loving mother, has an old Q.R.S. piano roll (No. 2481), entitled "Lincoln Highway March" (Bluebird March). The end label states that the march is played by Osborne and Howe, and copyrighted in 1922 by Geo. B. Lutz. The lyrics printed on the piano roll (at tempo 85, or 95 for dancing) are as follows:

From the land of William Penn

On a highway firm and true;

Girded by the mountain peaks,

lakes and plains, and the sky so blue,

As we journey miles and miles

Thru the Lincoln land of smiles,

Just a constant dream

Like a never-ending stream

O'er hill and dale we roll;

Thru the piney mountain air

And it's laurel fragrance rare.

O'er golden plains below

Breezes blow,

Gently golden glow.

Past the purple sage and vines

T'ward the sunset rays sublime

Just a constant dream

Like a never-ending stream

O'er hill and dale we roll.

Like the dawn with its hues of gold,

We travel on thru the sunlit paradise of old.

So come along with us on our joyous caravan

of pleasure on the great highway.

(Repeat)

On to the Lincoln Highway

Beauty on every byway,

On thru this land of ours,

This wonderland of flowers,

On thru the dreamy vales,

On t'ward the sunset trail,

On o'er the land of freedom,

Lincoln Highway trail.

(Repeat)

Illinois National Director Ruth Frantz sent Your Editor the following pleas (please) for help. First, we are looking for volunteers to spend a few hours staffing our booth at the Franklin Grove Summer Harvest Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, 2 and 3 August. (We will have a brochure regarding the Festival at our Frankfort meeting.) Second, we are looking for volunteers to help (mailings, filing, wrapping packages and the like) at the LHA national offices in Franklin Grove, particularly on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. If you have a few hours to help in either venue, please call Ruth at (630) 466-4382.

The 1997 LHA National Conference in Ohio is now history, but what a successful event it was! Congratulations to Esther Oyster, Richard and Mary Lou Taylor, Mike Buettner and the entire Ohio membership for a job well done. Our Illinois Chapter was well-represented, with the following attendees: David and Jean Babb, Eileen Baird, Clare and Ruth Frantz, LeRoy and Joann Jackson, Carl and Sue Jacobson, Merlin and Clara Sager, Howard, Audrey and Allison Stovall, Mike and Barb Winandy, Marvin Wolfe, and Roy and Vivian Wright. (Apologies if Your Sometimes-Neglectful Editor failed to mention any other Illinois Chapter attendees.)

According to the by-laws of the Illinois Chapter, Sue Jacobson (as Chapter secretary) is to send out an announcement on 1 June (close enough?), asking for nominations of members to serve on the Chapter's board of directors. Although board membership need not involve an inordinate commitment of time or energy, the board does have an important role to play, being responsible for policy and general supervision of the Chapter.

Nominations should be signed by two members, and include the following information: a statement as to why the nominee would make a good director; a biographical sketch of the nominee; and a statement from the candidate indicating a willingness to serve.

Yours Truly has prepared the enclosed sample nomination form, for you to use, photocopy and/or frame. Nominations may be accepted until 1 August 1997. The current Chapter board of directors strongly encourages nominations from every part of Illinois, to ensure that our Chapter board reflects a good geographical cross-section of the state.

[S A M P L E]

Name of Nominee:

Why would this Nominee be a good director?

Brief Biographical Sketch of Nominee:

Statement of Nominee's Willingness to Serve:

Nomination supported by:

Chapter Member's Name [please print] Chapter Member's Name [please print]

Signature Signature

LAND OF LINCOLNWAY

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Chicago, IL 6061