Our sincere thanks to Keith A. Sculle for writing this piece and providing the accompanying photos.
By Keith A. Sculle
A few blocks south of the Illinois State Fairgrounds, where Route 66 in Springfield turns from a diagonal (Peoria Road) into a north-south street (N. 9th Street), progress made its way in late-August-early-September 2012. Five veteran buildings were readied for demolition so that the unsafe bend in the road could be converted into a curve. It will permit safer sight-lines. On the west side, a two-story building (most recently The Sazerac restaurant), a tiny motel (built c. 1960), and a two-story brick building were readied to be razed.
Capitol City Motel sign, looking north (February 2012)