THE MYSTERY OF THE SIGN
By Lenore Weiss, Route 66 Preservationist

On a bright and beautiful day in June, representatives from the quaint Red Carpet Corridor community of
Wilmington proudly dedicated their new Route 66 Visitors Center and christened their Route 66 Roadside
Attraction sign with a bottle of Route 66 Root Beer.  A variety of groups worked together for nearly a year to
secure funding, approval and more to have their goal of becoming a Roadside Attraction fulfilled.

Less than a month later the sign has mysteriously disappeared.  Vandals, souvenir hunters, or perhaps a
prankster?  Hopefully time will tell.  The lure of the sign had just begun. Travelers, daily commuters and
tourists from around the world were wondering what all the fuss is about in Wilmington.  If the Roadside
Attraction sign was on display, that signifies there is something special to see, do, explore, or experience and
should not be overlooked. This program originated in 1998 by the Preservation Committee of the Route 66
Association of Illinois.

Wilmington is a beautiful, historic community, with the same struggles of many other smaller towns to keep it
alive and vibrant.  Many businesses rely on customers on a daily basis to help keep their establishments
open.  
Historic buildings are in the process of sprucing up their facades and many other improvements continue in
this historical district to entice visitors to explore and experience the hospitality of Wilmington. We now take
for granted the beautiful lights that line Water Street.

Claire’s Corner was a perfect place to begin their journey.  The simple beauty of the small corner park lent a
welcome to Wilmington where small town hospitality awaits.  To sit on a bench, sipping coffee while watching
the busy traffic buzz by is like stepping back to a gentler pace, even for a few moments.  Not knowing who
Claire was, I can’t help but think she would be proud and happy to see folks from all over enjoying her
flowers, trees and experiencing the beauty of her corner.

Visitors from around the world were trickling into the Wilmington Welcome Center and signing the guest book
while picking up brochures that introduced them to our historical town as well as offered additional
information for their travels as they continued their Route 66 journey.

They strolled past and sometimes into the antique shops looking and often times finding their treasure.
Women especially could be found checking out the jewelry at the north end of Water Street surprised by the
bountiful selection.  Proprietors were waving and/or greeting these folks as they explored our area.  Many
picked up a souvenir, soda and more to remember their Route 66 stop in Wilmington.  They peeked in
windows, and then entered out of curiosity to see more, read a menu and enjoy an unforgettable meal or
snack.  They read their new found brochures and drove around our town finding more places to explore.  
Thus, do to a new, all American colored Route 66 Attraction sign; we were visited by folks who would have
passed us by.  These folks told their friends and fellow travelers to be sure and stop in Wilmington.  And the
friends and fellow travelers did.

This new and exciting chapter of the saga of the Route 66 Roadside Attraction sign was just getting started.  
And now, through the meanness of another, this experience has been taken away, stolen from many future
visitors.

As a proud resident of this authentic, historic and progressive town that is such an asset to Route 66, and
want to continue to share it with the world, I am going to send some funds to the Downtown Merchants
Association (DMA) to hopefully help them purchase another sign.  And I hope that, if you are as proud of
your town as I am, or a Route 66 supporter and enthusiast who enjoys visiting Wilmington and want others to
discover our nostalgia and friendliness, you will help out too. My check is going to the DMA, 203 N. Water St.,
Wilmington, IL 60481.  Rt. 66 sign will be printed in the memo.   The amount isn’t important, the support of
our Route 66 town is. (We will not allow a bully to rob the travelers and tourists of our nostalgic site!)

Wilmington, Illinois, on Historic Route 66, is a beautiful community and deserves to be explored and enjoyed
by all.  Let’s announce it once again to the world!!!!!
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