There has been so much going on around here even since the end of July that I have not had one moment to even post of some of the interesting things I've been doing.
I've had several decent pieces in the Lincoln Daily News, and need to work on upgrading my sidebar, and the photography has gotten to be a really big deal for me as well.
I guess to be thorough, I need to go back to July and post a few notes on the 80th Anniversary Celebration of the Mill.
The Mill is an interesting old Route 66 icon here in Lincoln. A few years ago it made the local news almost weekly because it was such an eyesore, with the building in horrible condition and weeds and trash growing and strewn about, and the potetnial for vermin inside the building.
The push was on to have it demolished when Geoff Ladd came into Lincoln as the new director of the tourism bureau for Lincoln and Logan County, and he was approached firt off by Ernie Edwards who was the long time owner operator of the Pig Hip in Broadwell, another route 66 icon.
Ernie virtually pleaded with Geoff to save the Mill, and Geoff decided to take it on.
Now, I know Geoff, and he would certainly not want anyone to think he is the sole reason the Mill has survived and is now under restoration, but I also know that he has been the force behind the movement, and he deserves to be patted on the back for saving a piece of route 66 history.
The Mill first opened in July of 1929, but perhaps is more famous for the era of gangsters, gambling, and dance hall girls during the 40's. The Mill was a known stop over for Al Capone, and they dabbled in bootleggin even after prohibition because at that time Logan county was "dry", and all alcohol was illiegal.
The Mill has ties with Coonhound Johnny who was an interesting character all to himself, and also owned a roadhouse in the Lincoln area.
This past July, the Save the Mill Organization, which you can read more about through Savethemill.org held an 80th year anniversary celebration at the Mill.
For the first time in quite some time, the public was allowed to venture inside the building and look around, there were special events inside and outside throughout the afternoon and into the night, and there was a special recognition for folks who have contributed to the restoration project in general, including the Weiss's of the Route 66 Association of Illinois, and Mr. Larry VanBibber who made a generous monetary donation to the project out of his own pocket.
Now here's where I'm going to editorialize for just a bit.....For years, people howled over the run down state of the Mill, and it made the news as I said earlier almost constantly, but do you have any idea how many folks from Lincoln showed up for the celebration??? At one point in time I could have counted them all on my two hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It bothers me to no end that folks want to see something fixed, they want to have tourism dollars in the community, and they want to have bragging rights to such national icons as Route 66, but when push comes to shove, they don't bother showing up in support of the very thing they've been belly-aching over!!!!!
All I can say is shame on them, they are no better than the folks who complain about the president but didn't bother to go vote!!
Anyway, on my side bar are some of the things that we published on the Mill, and you can visit savethemill.org and also Leigh Hensons website which I have linked also on my sidebar has a section referring to old watering holes of Logan County where there is discussion about the Mill and pictures of it plus Coonhound Johnny.
I'm going to throw a few pictures on here and move on to the next topic.
Thanks for reading!
Nila
The backroom bar and restaurant area inside the Mill
The front room which as I understand it may also have been eating and dacing area in the 1940's and beyond.
This Mill as it looks today. Far from finished, but way beyond what it looked like a few years ago!
Local historial Paul Gleanson in the foreground with Larry VanBibber looking on.
Ernie Edwards, owner operator of the old Pig Hip. The Pig hip had shut down as a food joint and bee revamped as a museum. Sad to say it burned to the ground a couple years back and while there is still a marker, I don't think there is anything left of the old place.
Senator Larry Bomke took the time to come up and say a few words at the celebration. Bomke is very pro-active Lincoln, and the city and Logan County does appreciate the interest he shows in us.
In the afternoon the "Sprits of..." Tours from Bloomington did a short presentation on Blossom Huffman the proprietor of the Mill, and her relationship with Coonhound Johnny, who are being protrayed in this photo.
I'm additng this photo just because I like it. The gal playing Blossom really didn't look much like the real thing as far as facial features and all, but I think she nailed the personalily. Now mind you I don't know that for sure, but my instincts tell me she did.
No comments:
Post a Comment