JOLIET — Known as the Crowned Prince of the Blues, Ronnie Baker Brooks and his band perform soul-filled music September 8 at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

The son of blues legend Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie grew up steeped in American music tradition, yet puts his own twist on the blues by incorporating funk, soul and rock influences.

JAHM invites the public to the performance, held on the Museum’s Rooftop Terrace at 204 N. Ottawa Street. Free parking is available at Ottawa and Webster Streets.

Brooks played at the JAHM in February 2010, and because he enjoyed the audience and venue so much, he asked to return. The JAHM wanted to offer another Brooks performance to the community and signed his group for the final concert in this summer’s Five Bridges Folk Series.

“Ronnie Baker Brooks is a talented musician and songwriter, but I was also impressed with the ease with which he related to the audience, both on and off the stage. It is obvious that Brooks invests his heart and soul, whether talking with his fans or performing,” said Leslie Bolin, marketing manager at the JAHM.

JOLIET — If you’re on a quest for a fast and easy Sunday breakfast, visit the Joliet Area Historical Museum Sunday, September 12, and enjoy a stack of pancakes.

Fast is the key word here. JAHM isn’t serving up your run-of-the-mill pancakes. Instead, guests can watch an amazing pancake machine flip out 33 perfect pancakes in three minutes flat.

Exactly how does this machine work? The pancake machine is 44" in diameter with a round aluminum top that rotates and cooks up to 33 pancakes every three minutes. After one 90-second rotation, the pancakes are flipped, then rotate one more time for 90 seconds before they are declared ready to serve.

The pancake machine was invented by Neal Houbolt, Russell Vanderhoof, and Lee Petrie. Houbolt, a Joliet native who is a pilot and has been involved in aviation for over 50 years, had attended numerous pancake breakfast events. After watching the organizers cook pancakes on small, conventional griddles, Houbolt said, “There has to be a better way.”

Our Association has lost one of our most dedicated Preservation people, Dolores Scinto. Despite having vision issues she still participated in Preservation projects.Dolores was a wonderful woman who had vision problems before cancer - one of her last projects she worked on was painting Odell Station. She will be greatly missed. Our Association extends our deepest sympathy to Dolores' family and loved ones.

Click to read Dolores Scinto's obituary in the SouthTownStar.com.

The Route 66 Association of Illinois is proud to announce some exciting upcoming events in celebration of friend of the Mother Road, Bob Waldmire.

Three years ago, Pontiac, IL City Administrator, Bob Karls, commissioned artist Bob Waldmire to create a mural on the side of the Futures Building, next door to the Route 66 Association of Illinois Museum and Hall of Fame. Waldmire was at that time already suffering from the effects of the cancer that ultimately took his life but he bravely undertook the project. He sketched out a mural on paper that is, not surprisingly, 66 feet long in what he referred to as his last "all-nighter." The mural remains unfininshed and is officially considered Bob's last artwork.

A few more details are coming in about the Bob Waldmire bus and van that will soon be on display at our Museum and Hall of Fame located at 110 W. Howard Street in Pontiac, IL.

Click to read about these exciting aquisitions.

Let's play Route 66 Trivia!

The question is:

Which Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame Attraction once sold guns?

Please leave your answer in the comments below.

The correct answer will be revealed in our next Day Tripper e-Announcement. Haven't subscribed? Well, lets's take care of that detail right here and now! All we need is your email address and first name:
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Thanks for playing Route 66 Trivia!

Our thanks to John Weiss for this submission.

The Mill in Lincoln received a grant last year. A final inspection is due by the end of August. They need help to finalize a lot of work they have been doing.

A work day to help them finish up is scheduled for August 21st at 8:30 AM.

As an incentive, they are offering up to six rooms at the Best Western for those who would like to stay overnight. This would also include dinner. (Of course lunch is included, we work for food!)

Submitted by our Association President, Cathie Stevanovich

On Sunday, August 9th, my mother, Sylvia Ann Novak, lost her battle with dementia & Alzheimers.