Another very successful Route 66 Preservation Meeting took place on Saturday, March 10, 2007 in Dwight, IL. Fifty-eight people were in attendance. Among other topics, the two major projects these wonderful volunteers will be working on will be the saving of the original front building of The MILL to have it photo ready for travelers and tourists.

The other project will be renovating the original Art's sign that advertised Art's Motel in Farmersville, IL. Work is scheduled to begin this spring on that project. Also, many ideas are being researched as to the best way to honor the Pig Hip Restaurant and Ernie and Frances Edwards, proprietors of the Pig Hip since it opened in the 1930s.

_______________________________________________________________

Pig Hip Restaurant in Broadwell, IL Destroyed in Fire

March 5, 2007

Ernie had just finished hanging photos in new gold frames of the many governors who had stopped to 'fill up' at the Pig Hip. He was already sprucing up the historic Pig Hip Museum looking forward to the big celebration of Broadway's sesquicentennial celebration and Ernie's 90th birthday to be held at this Route 66 icon.

Ernie and Frances left to run errands, and as they were winding their way down Route 66 towards the Pig Hip, bellows of black smoke and fire could be seen reaching for the sky. It was too late to fight the fire inside the Pig Hip. They watched as more than 40 fire fighters fought to keep their home safe. They rummaged through some of the debris the firefighters tried to save, but it was already damaged and full of black soot. 

"There's nothing much left but junk," Ernie told me Monday, "But if we get it cleaned up, we will still pitch a tent and have a big birthday cake!"

The cause of the fire is yet unknown. A pesky squirrel had taken up residency in the attic despite Ernie's evicition attempts. 

Ernie can still greet visitors in his home office and start a new collection of photos. "We thank God we are okay" said Frances, Ernie's wife, "And Ernie has his memories and stories that will be with him forever." 

Lenore

_______________________________________________________________