Today is the 90th birthday of the Mother Road, Old Route 66, which ran from Chicago to Los Angeles. Long since made obsolete by the interstates, with many sections abandoned, Old Route 66 still attracts visitors from around the globe, and I have often sparked interest from foreigners when I have mentioned that I live on Old Route 66. My bride and I will be taking the afternoon off from the law mines so that we can help fry up hot dogs at our local celebration here in Dwight to mark the occasion. Go here for the details.
http://youtu.be/bSbNHHkOR68
“Dwight. We’re so much more than the women’s prison.”
The Bear remembers traveling there in connection with a truly sad case of an innocent woman convicted of bogus shaken baby charges. It was his last case. The way to the visiting area had flowers planted along the path, which you didn’t find at Menard. Unfortunately, the Bear was called in only for post-trial motions, and there was nothing to be done except watch a decent farm mother of good southeastern Southern Illinois German stock cry.
Don’t miss a day of it.
It is interesting that Route 66 struck the public’s imagination and has remained popular much more so than the original National Pike, US 40, which has been overshadowed by I-70.
Better music.
The women’s prison closed up in 2013, the result of a vendetta by then Governor Pat Quinn against former Illinois Treasurer Dan “Rino” Rutherford who was from Pontiac. Quinn thought Rutherford would run against him in 2014, but Rutherford’s campaign was rendered stillborn by claims of sexual harassment by a male underling, and Quinn went on to be beaten by Rauner. The buildings have gone to ruin due to the broke State of Illinois not spending a penny on their maintenance. This is all a shame because the Dwight Prison was a model for making a real effort at reforming the women. Their dog training program was one of several innovative methods of teaching inmates job skills that the prison implemented. The prisoners had good community support with prayer groups, frequent visits by priests and ministers, and local groups helping inmates. It was still a prison and grim, but a better one than most, and one which offered hope to inmates willing to work. All gone now due to rotten Illinois politics. Lincoln’s better angels of our nature find small room to roost in his home state these days.