I wasn't lost I just didn't know where I was (Peoria: military, motel)

[studedude]

While working in July 06 I drove thru a town somewhere north of Springfield that could have been a 1940's movie set. Completely deserted, covered porches of empty business downtown served as the sidewalk. A gas station with pumps and drive overgrown with weeds had an "ESSO" sign. I didn't have time to stop and I was following verbal directions from my GPS so I have no idea where I was other than somewhere between Springfield and Peoria or Galesburg. I'm retired and would like to go back and take some pictures if I can find it. Anyone know where I was?

[linicx]

IL Route 29 begins at PANA, IL, turns North at Springfield and continues North through Pekin and Peoria, and ends at 1-80. This route is near the Springfield airport.

Follow IL Route 97 NW to Il Route 125, continue on 125 to to Beardstown. Then begin US Route 67 to Macomb where you will turn East to access IL Route 41 North to Galesburg..97-125-67-41.

US 67 goes to Monmouth. Galesburg is due east of Monmouth.

Without a destination it is difficult to recreate the original route you took. When the Mississippi flooded, a lot of farms and other property was lost. .

[studedude]

Originally Posted by linicx

IL Route 29 begins at PANA, IL, turns North at Springfield and continues North through Pekin and Peoria, and ends at 1-80. This route is near the Springfield airport.

Follow IL Route 97 NW to Il Route 125, continue on 125 to to Beardstown. Then begin US Route 67 to Macomb where you will turn East to access IL Route 41 North to Galesburg..97-125-67-41.

US 67 goes to Monmouth. Galesburg is due east of Monmouth.

Without a destination it is difficult to recreate the original route you took. When the Mississippi flooded, a lot of farms and other property was lost. .

Lest I sound dumber than I really am, let me explain. I was covering a sales route. I started and ended in Springfield. I don't remember if I went to Peoria or Galesburg first. I know I went to both of them that day. In between these larger cities I may have stopped in any town that had a grocery store. Because of this my GPS on one of these trips actually had me on a two track dirt road. So it is impossible to reconstruct the trip. I'm hoping someone will recognize the discription.

[TrixxiSpumoni]

It sounds to me like you were headed towards Beardstown. I vaguely remember the ESSO sign on the road after you've already left Springfield.

[Drover]

Kinda reminds me of the Lost America project where the guy takes pictures of abandoned stuff all over the Desert West. It's phenomenal how many abandoned motels, gas stations, houses, mobile homes, military facilities, etc. there are out there.

[susancruzs]

Thanks, Drover for that link! Eeerie but when you get off the interstate and take some highways through states instead, these are the things you see. I drove from Tennessee to Waukegan one time following 41 all the way that was interesting. Also did the same thing from Texas one time, too, trying to stay off the interstates.

In my postcard collection, I have alot of older cards with views of the old mom & pop motels, gas stations, roadside diners definitely a by-gone era.

[teresabutler]

Originally Posted by studedude

While working in July 06 I drove thru a town somewhere north of Springfield that could have been a 1940's movie set. Completely deserted, covered porches of empty business downtown served as the sidewalk. A gas station with pumps and drive overgrown with weeds had an "ESSO" sign. I didn't have time to stop and I was following verbal directions from my GPS so I have no idea where I was other than somewhere between Springfield and Peoria or Galesburg. I'm retired and would like to go back and take some pictures if I can find it. Anyone know where I was?

Could have been Easton, IL. It's right off route 10. The gas station has been torn down though. But the town is not deserted. They have a tavern and diner. It's not much there though. Maybe you were on route 29 leaving Springfield?

[studedude]

Originally Posted by teresabutler

Could have been Easton, IL. It's right off route 10. The gas station has been torn down though. But the town is not deserted. They have a tavern and diner. It's not much there though. Maybe you were on route 29 leaving Springfield?

I may have been going from Mason City To Havana. I'll be in Peoria 4/3 I'll drive down there and look. Thanks for the help.

[teresabutler]

Originally Posted by studedude

I may have been going from Mason City To Havana. I'll be in Peoria 4/3 I'll drive down there and look. Thanks for the help.

If you were driving from Mason city to Havana , you very well could have followed route 29 out of Springfield and turned left at Mason City and continued on through Thehran and then into Easton, which is a very small town that sometimes looks to be deserted , at times, all that is messing is the tumble weeds. If you follow route 10 past Easton it continues over to route 136 and if you go west on 136 it goes right into Havana.

There also is some very small towns on the route from Havana, to Macomb as well. My guess is it's probably easton. The gas station is gone now though.

Until a few weeks ago I hadn't been through easton in years and was not aware that they tore that old gas station down.

There is alot of small rural town in this area, like our town, that the school's sit ,because they consoliated with larger nearby towns. Easton's school are no longer used as school anymore as well.

There's also a small rural town off route 97 , Oakford. they have a old gas station right off the highway and it's or was a toy store. You really do not go through the downtown area of Oakford though unless you turn off the highway.

good luck figuring it out though.

[studedude]

Originally Posted by teresabutler

If you were driving from Mason city to Havana , you very well could have followed route 29 out of Springfield and turned left at Mason City and continued on through Thehran and then into Easton, which is a very small town that sometimes looks to be deserted , at times, all that is messing is the tumble weeds. If you follow route 10 past Easton it continues over to route 136 and if you go west on 136 it goes right into Havana.

There also is some very small towns on the route from Havana, to Macomb as well. My guess is it's probably easton. The gas station is gone now though.

Until a few weeks ago I hadn't been through easton in years and was not aware that they tore that old gas station down.

There is alot of small rural town in this area, like our town, that the school's sit ,because they consoliated with larger nearby towns. Easton's school are no longer used as school anymore as well.

There's also a small rural town off route 97 , Oakford. they have a old gas station right off the highway and it's or was a toy store. You really do not go through the downtown area of Oakford though unless you turn off the highway.

good luck figuring it out though.

Thanks for the help. I did not get off of the highway (road) I was traveling on. It could have been 10. I'll be there Thur and post some pictures if its a winner.