April | 2011 | Lincoln Highway News

Archive for April, 2011

Blair blog a fun trip along the Lincoln Highway

April 26, 2011

LINCOLN HIGHWAY NEWS IS A BLOG BY BRIAN BUTKO
Jeff Blair has been walking the Lincoln Highway across Indiana to promote the highway but also asking for pledges of support to be split evenly between the Alzheimer’s Association in Indiana and the Indiana Lincoln Highway Association. He has reported on his walk daily since he headed west from the Ohio border on April 14. His blog at www.blairwalk.com/daily-blog is a fun read and many await his daily updates. As he nears the completion, just yesterday he wrote:

I can tell we are tiring …the decibel level of groaning when we climb out of the car to check in to a new motel rises each day. But we eat a good meal, get a good night’s sleep, and everyone is ready to go again the next day.

Jan and Bill Arick walked with Jeff a couple days, as many others have. Jan wrote, “The success of this walk is an incredible story and Bill and I have been honored to be part of it. Crowds and school kids have been turning out along the route. Mayors are walking and holding dedication ceremonies! People are stopping along the road and handing Jeff donations! It’s so neat to see the support for Jeff’s efforts.”

Here are some photos from Jeff’s blog, starting with a Lincoln Highway sign near Townley; New Haven City Hall; the Bonnie Doon in Mishawaka; B&J’s American Cafe in LaPorte; and making the turn at Oak Knoll.

Tags:highway history, historic highway, Indiana, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, roadside, walking for a purpose
Posted in food, highways, history, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, roadside, signs, transportation, travel | 1 Comment »

LHA conference committee meets at Lake Tahoe

April 20, 2011

LINCOLN HIGHWAY NEWS IS A BLOG BY BRIAN BUTKO
The 19th annual Lincoln Highway Association conference will take place June 20–24 at Stateline, Nevada, on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. The host hotel is Harrah’s Lake Tahoe (along with with Harvey’s), where you will register for the conference, browse the book room, enjoy the Opening Night Banquet, attend the Thursday program lectures, and celebrate the end of a great conference with Friday’s Continental Breakfast Buffet.

Paul Gilger, conference committee co-chair, sent a report from a planning meeting held Saturday at Harrah’s. Among the 20 committee members attending from Nevada and California were Jim and Lani Bonar at head of table, Bob Dieterich to Lani’s left, Geno Oliver 3rd from right, Bob Chase front left, with Paul taking the photo.

The group took a tram up Heavenly Mountain to visit Lakeview Lodge, site of the awards banquet.

Paul took a telephoto shot of the conference hotels: Harveys at left, Harrah’s behind tree at right, and the Lincoln Highway between them.

And then a shot of the Rainbow Bridge at Donner Pass.

Tags:California, highway history, historic highway, Lake Tahoe., Lincoln Highway, Nevada, snowy photos, travel
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, lodging, Road trip, transportation, travel | Leave a Comment »

Lincoln Highway mural notes paving in Ashton, IL

April 15, 2011

LINCOLN HIGHWAY NEWS IS A BLOG BY BRIAN BUTKO
The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition unveiled its newest mural on April, 13, 2011, at 810 Main Street in Ashton, Illinois. The Coalition’s murals will soon be found in more than two dozen communities along the 179-mile National Scenic Byway corridor across the northern tier of the state.

The Lincoln Highway Coalition collaborated with Ashton Mayor John Martinez and Village Clerk Sharon Van Dam to develop the theme with designer Jay Allen, President of ShawCraft Sign Company. Ashton’s mural recalls the town’s 1921 Pavement Jubilee, a two-day celebration honoring the newly paved section of the Lincoln Highway and the town’s new electric streetlights.

For more information on the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition — places to see, things to do, festivals, special events, highway history and stories or to download a free ILHC Visitor Guide — go to www.drivelincolnhighway.com/

Tags:Ashton IL, highway history, historic highway, Illinois, Lincoln Highway, mural for highway
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, roadside, souvenirs, transportation, travel | Leave a Comment »

Fund-raising walk along the Indiana Lincoln Hwy

April 12, 2011

LINCOLN HIGHWAY NEWS IS A BLOG BY BRIAN BUTKO
LHA director for Indiana Jeff Blair will be walking the Lincoln Highway across the state starting this Thursday, April 14. The walk will start at the Ohio border and for two weeks head west over the 170 miles to Illinois. He is asking for pledges of support or donations that will be split evenly between the Alzheimer’s Association in Indiana and the Indiana Lincoln Highway Association. Follow his blog at www.blairwalk.com or contact him at jeffblair87@gmail.com or (574) 453-3158.

Jeff says he’s looking forward to seeing some of the old buildings, businesses, and Midwest scenery along the original 1913 route and posting photos on his blog:

Also, I want to celebrate my 63rd birthday by walking the 170 mile distance over 2 weeks just to prove I still can. I have driven 2/3 of the coast-to-coast route over the past two years and only the Wyoming to San Francisco drive remains. About 3 years ago I also got interested in Alzheimer’s as my father in law (Leo Radkey) was deteriorating physically and mentally.

Join Jeff at a stop or walk along a while. Here’s a general schedule:

April 14 – OH/IN border to New Haven (11 miles)
April 15 – New Haven to Ft Wayne (11 miles)
April 16 – Ft Wayne to Churubusco (11 miles)
April 17 – Churubusco to Kimmel (15 miles)
April 18 – Kimmel to W. of Ligonier (13 miles)
April 19 – W. of Ligonier to Goshen (13 miles)
April 20 – Goshen to Mishawaka (17 miles)
April 21 – Mishawaka to South Bend (11 miles)
April 22 – South Bend to New Carlisle (11 miles)
April 23 – New Carlisle to La Porte (12 miles)
April 24 – La Porte to Westville (12 miles)
April 25 – Westville to Valparaiso (11 miles)
April 26 – Valparaiso to Schereville (13 miles)
April 27 – Schereville to IN/IL border (10 miles)

Tags:Alzheimer’s Association fund-raising, highway history, highway walking journey, historic highway, Illinois, Indiana, Lincoln Highway, Ohio
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, transportation, travel | 2 Comments »

Blues song pines for the open road of the Lincoln

April 5, 2011

LINCOLN HIGHWAY NEWS IS A BLOG BY BRIAN BUTKO
Tom Neely, a songwriter and music teacher in the Lincoln Highway town of Dublin, California (just south of San Francisco) has been writing and performing music most of his life. After seeing Rick Sebak’s Lincoln Highway show on PBS, Tom was inspired to write a song about the joys of the open road: “it seemed like an easy metaphor for freedom. The lyrics, to be honest, wrote themselves.” Tom says he and his wife “plan to drive it with our kids some time. We love nothing more than throwing our kids in the back seat and following our noses.”