The iconic Route 66 will hit the century mark next year. Before it became the "Mother Road" it was Illinois Route 4. And on it was a rest spot for those early motorists on the south side of Bloomington.
“This transition period, the early to mid-1920s, was the golden age for the tourist camp, these very early campgrounds for vacationers in the early automobile era. Tourist camps were sprinkled along what was Illinois Route 4 and then became U.S Route 66,” said Bill Kemp, librarian at the McLean County Museum of History.
Tourist camps were made possible through the rise of the internal combustion engine in the early 20th century and its affordability for upper middle class and then eventually middle-class Americans.
“The drives in Forrest (sic) and Highland Parks are being dragged and prepared for oiling. This will probably be done today unless rain prevents,” reported The Pantagraph on June 30, 1925.
It was also the era of the "Hard Road" movement, which saw muddy tracks converted to compacted gravel thoroughfares, and eventually paved roads.
“In 1923 Illinois will boast of having paved 1,000+ miles of roadway. The State of Illinois dispatched some 200 horse-pulled graders to help develop new, paved or graveled roadways. Five of those horse-pulled graders were dispatched to McLean County,” said Kemp.
The automobile changed virtually everything in American society, from the economic structure to American labor to dating practices of young people. The automobile certainly transformed leisure time.
“The automobile and hard roads, for the first time, really give Americans the independence, the ability to travel significant distances on their own without being tied to a railroad and its timetable and its depots. The idea we take for granted today that you can stop anywhere, that you can travel basically anywhere, was revolutionary. And vacations would never be the same,” said Kemp.
Before the conception of the motel or even the motor court, there were tourist camps, or what were also known as automobile camps. Weary automobile travelers could pitch a tent or sleep in a new-fangled machine — the pop-up camper pulled by an auto.
“Forest Park tourist camp is enjoying a constantly growing reputation among the tourists from all over the country,” The Pantagraph reported on June 30, 1925.
Kemp said one of the more popular tourist camps in this area was Forest Park, south of Miller Park on the west side Bloomington.
“I enjoyed this camp very much, especially since we stayed in St. Louis the night before. That was terrible. Here, you feel that real courtesy is extended to you,” said Capt. Lathan H. Collins of Fort Riley, Kansas, on June 30, 1925.
The City of Bloomington ran Forest Park tourist camp with some financial support from the Association of Commerce, later the Chamber of Commerce.
Forest Park did not have cabins or cottages. Those came in the 1930s at other tourist camps.
“Cabintown tourist camp, for example, which survives today as Cabintown Road on the southwest end of Bloomington. In the same area, you had the Six Points tourist camp, which had nine cottage structures. Chenoa, it was said, had a tourist camp of converted cottages from former chicken brooders or chicken houses, which were large enough to convert to tiny cottages,” said Kemp.
Services provided at Forest Park included water, wood for fires, cook fires, tables, restrooms. They had electric lights and outdoor stoves. There was a site superintendent by the early to mid-1920s and by the late 20s.
“Despite the rain Sunday afternoon, a large number of cars were registered at the park. A total of 47 cars were entered on Mr. Weaver’s register and the rain turned many back who had planned to picnic at the park. A large party from Peoria picknicked (sic) at the park,” wrote the Pantagraph on June 30, 1925.
By 1926 there were more than 5,300 of these roadside tourist camps in the U.S. and some 200 in Illinois. Most in Central Illinois were strung out along what would (in late 1926) become Route 66.
“Normal had a very popular tourist camp at near the corner of Beech and Pine streets at the north end of Normal. This tourist camp and gas station would later be known as Manning’s. It was popular, of course, because it was right along Route 66 for tourists and vacationers, but also for those who were visiting those staying at the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Children's School nearby,” said Kemp.
Forest Park
Green trees, shady lanes, cozy little nooks,
Sunbeams, pretty flowers, rippling little brooks,
A pleasant place to sit and rest
Beneath its spreading trees
A tranquil spot to think about
The birds, the flowers, the bees.
A little lunch, a quiet smoke
A chat, a rest, a walk
Congenial companionship
New pleasantries to stalk.
Just a place you'll ne'er forget
In fact, you'll like to stay
But need is always pressing
And makes us go away.
William H. Snyder, Scranton PA
written for Mr. and Mrs. John Mackey, park supervisors
The Pantagraph, Sun June 2, 1929
McHistory is a co production of WGLT and the McLean County Museum of History. Charlie Schlenker produced this episode.
