Day 4: Pontiac, IL to Springfield, IL
Old arrow in Lexington
The arrow directing travelers off the road and into Lexington has been restored.
The Funk Prairie Home
The highlight of this day's journey was the Funk Prairie Home. The Funks were (and are) an amazing and influential family. This house demonstrates this perfectly. It is open for tours, but reservations are supposedly required. We didn't have a reservation, but were treated to an extremely detailed tour by the guide, who lives on the premises. The house was one of the first fully electrified in the region, in 1910, thanks to the ingenuity of one of the Funk progeny. Another amassed a staggering collection of minerals. Yet another invented hybrid corn. Neat stuff.
Atlanta Public Library clock
There is a neat clock near the public library in Atlanta, IL. It is an 8-day, hand-wound clock, and works perfectly.
Daughter of Former Clock Winder
This nice lady, a lifelong resident of Atlanta, shared some facts about the clock with me. Interestingly, her dad had been the former clock-winder many years ago, when he was the custodian.
Cozy Drive In
Cozy Drive In is the birthplace of the corn dog, and famous Route 66 landmark. I had one for breakfast the next day. It was pretty good, as corn dogs go :)