Fall for spring bulbs
Yellow and purple crocus peak up through a dusting of snow. Nothing brightens a winter day in March more than the colors of early blooming spring flowers. Now is the time to plant your hardy flowering bulbs. Spring flowering bulbs–classified as “hardy bulbs”–require a cold period before breaking their dormancy. Because of their wide variation…
Your Turn . . . 9-25-03
Half the loaf To the editor: My Illinois Times “Best of Springfield” issue [September 18] is still warm from the printing press as I hammer out this letter of protest. I’m sure you’ll be besieged with letters of outrage complaining about the people’s choice for “Best Fire Hydrant” or “Best Snow Plow Guy,” but this…
Not your grandfather’s polka band
Describing Brave Combo to the uninitiated is like trying to explain cheese to someone who’s never tasted it: You know they’re gonna love it, if you could just convince ’em to try it. So you do everything possible to avoid mentioning that the basic ingredient is moldy milk. Brave Combo is like that. Any human…
The Road Home
Everyone knows Route 66 started in Illinois. But even before the legendary highway was created in 1926, the Prairie State had already built a paved road connecting Chicago and St. Louis. That road, established in 1918, went by two names: the Pontiac Trail and State Route 4. The Pontiac Trail followed Indian paths, and the…
Now Playing 9-25-03
Hey, time travelers, come “get your kicks on what’s left of 66” (a nod to Jason Eklund) this weekend in lovely downtown Springfield, but don’t forget to meander around to other highly anticipated events that are making music history in the capital city even as you read these words. Sounds like big talk? Tell me…
He’s got a million of ’em
Ernie Edwards, longtime proprietor of the Pig Hip Restaurant in Broadwell, is one of Route 66’s most gifted and proficient storytellers. With 54 years in business and a dozen years of retirement, he’s certainly had plenty of practice. The end of a story is never enough for this Murphysboro native. A tale may end on…
A twisted tale
Julie Rea has never changed her story. Ever since October 13, 1997, when her 10-year-old son, Joel Kirkpatrick, was murdered in his sleep, Rea has claimed the killer was an intruder who entered her home in the wee hours of the morning, took a knife from her kitchen, and killed her child. Authorities in Lawrence…
Diesel in the blood
Rich Henry is intimately familiar with the early history of the trucking industry on Route 66. His family had four generations of truckers who plied their trade on the historic highway, and today he operates a museum of sorts dedicated to the subject. Henry’s Route 66 Rabbit Ranch in Staunton is an adjunct to his…
E-A-T
There are plenty of places in town to get a couple of eggs, a cheeseburger, or a cup of coffee. But only on Historic Route 66 can you get your food served by a racecar driver who likes to show off his flying Barbie doll. On a trip through Springfield, you’ll see just a few…
Route 66 stories
See Route 66 Stories.
Speaking in plates
Since vibrations first tickled our vocal cords, mankind has been a compulsive communicator. From petroglyphs to DVDs, from Dead Sea scrolls to skywriting, we’ve left no expressive stone unturned in our never-ending quest to say something–anything–more. “Why?” you might ask–and never get a better answer than “Why not?” It’s our nature and we revel in…
The highway side
NINETEEN I took a nap with the balcony doors open. When I woke, it was dark. Out on the pier, the Ferris wheel was moving, and there was another ride next to it, both decked out with fancy carnival lights. I could almost hear the laughter, smell the popcorn and the cotton candy. I ordered…
Grace Smith’s birthday movie
Grace Smith wanted to do something radically different for her 30th birthday: She decided to write, direct and star in her own feature film. She will screen the result–Hope’s Happy Birthday–at this year’s Route 66 Film Festival, where her do-it-yourself movie has been selected as the festival’s Best Comedy Feature. The protagonist, Hope, strikes out…
Rebuilding the Road
Back in 1961 David Knudson had just graduated from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. He was looking for a job in California and took Route 66 all the way there. “It was an absolutely fascinating experience, a 2,400-mile carnival,” he says. “But I had hardly any money at all. And me and a…
Money, money, money
After losing its referendum to increase property taxes in March 2002, Springfield School District 186 said it had no choice but to lop $10 million from its budget and eliminate 178 jobs and dozens of programs. Then earlier this year the district hired consultants to lead a series of public meetings to repair the damage.…
The Road on the Web
The Internet is a great but often shallow sea. True to its populist and idiosyncratic nature, you find just about anything on it. There just aren’t too many Marianas Trenches of information along the way. Illinois Times advises Route 66 fans and other readers to keep their library cards. You never outgrow your need for…
End of the road
“Sure they stop, but it ain’t to eat. . . . An’ when you stop you got to buy sompin so you can sling the bull with the broad behind the counter. So you get a cup a coffee and a piece of pie. Kind of gives a guy a little rest.” –A truck driver…
Come to Mother
Welcome, Springfieldites, to the second annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, held on the downtown streets of our fair city Friday through Sunday. You’ll see hundreds of automobiles from days gone by, roving street entertainers, live music on five stages, plus food vendors, kids’ activities, and various exhibits with a Route 66 theme. Tonight…
Knoepfle 9-25-03
fall night stars in their dormitories they are like students even when they are awake they are asleep © John Knoepfle 2003
