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Historic Route 66 station to be business
By Scott Miller
scottmiller@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL — Few may remember Route 66 running along Pine Street in Normal, fueling a thriving business district that has waned over the decades.

Terri Ryburn wants to refresh everyone’s memories and bring back business there. She bought the 75-year-old Tudor Revival-style gas station, restaurant and garage, most recently Hodge’s Bridal, at 305 Pine St., and plans to remodel it into a Route 66 visitor center, gift shop, restaurant, bed and breakfast and tea room.

She’s already got the two-story, 3,600-square-foot building accepted for the National Register of Historic Places because it’s one of few Route 66 gas stations in the country with an owner’s apartment and a tenant’s apartment on the second floor.

“It’s really unique,” said Mike Taylor, manager of the national Route 66 Corridor Preserve Program, saying he knew of only two other Route 66 gas stations in the country with living quarters. “The one in Normal is really incredible because of its size.”

Ryburn paid $220,000 for the building last September, according to the Normal assessor’s office.

“I traveled the road when I was 5. My dad moved us from Bloomington to California, and I never forgot it. It was quite an adventure for a kid,” recalled Ryburn, a retired Illinois State University employee.

That trip steered the rest of her life. The dissertation for her doctorate in history centered on tourism along Route 66. She’s written books on the subject, including a travelers’ guide to Route 66 in McLean County. She’s driven the road from Chicago to L.A. “at least three times.”

She’s even been a “Route 66 celebrity of the day” at the Illinois State Fair for her writings and work with several Route 66 associations.

“Once I get out of Bloomington-Normal, people seem to know me,” Ryburn said.

Now, she owns a gas station dated back to the 1930s, likely 1930 or 1931 because the building was erected shortly after the road, then Illinois 4, was designated Route 66 in 1926.

At that time, Pine Street was a main entrance to Bloomington-Normal, and businesses lined up to be the first visitors saw when driving into town, said Greg Koos, executive director of the McLean County Museum of History.

The road lost traffic when what is now Veterans Parkway opened on the east side in the early 1940s, Koos said.

The station Ryburn bought hasn’t pumped gas since 1971, and it’s housed many tenants: a cab company, a welding shop, a car rental company, a bridal shop and others.

Through the many years and owners, the building deteriorated badly.

“They didn’t spend money to maintain it, but they didn’t spend money to change it either, which is good if you’re trying to restore it,” Ryburn said. “It maintains its historic integrity.”

The only changes were the addition of a kitchen and banquet hall in 1948, and a second garage with a lift was added in 1967, Ryburn said.

As her husband, Bill Sanders, aptly said, “she has her work cut out for her.”

The roof leaks. Daylight sneaks through one of the brick walls. The paint, likely lead-based in many areas, is peeling. Some of the windows are broken. Drop-ceilings and paneling must be removed to return the building to its historic charm. Ryburn plans to gut the kitchen and some of the bathrooms. She also will renovate the two apartments upstairs to use for the bed and breakfast.

She estimates the renovation as at least a two-year project.

To reach the building’s original look and feel, with accurate signage, gas pumps and other characteristics, Ryburn is looking for photos of the original gas station or stories of the building. Anyone with information can e-mail Ryburn at tlrybur@ilstu.edu.

When she’s finished, Ryburn jokes about calling that section of Normal the “Upper East Side.”

“This neighborhood needs a point of pride,” said Ryburn, who lives nearby.

She’s trying to establish a Pine Street business association to preserve the Route 66 history and promote business. It’s a mixed-used neighborhood with both older and newer homes and businesses.

Take a look
Terri Ryburn-LaMonte is excited about the renovation of the former service station on Route 66 in Normal. The gas price signs are just a few of the items left from the former business. (Pantagraph/LORI ANN COOK)
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Reader comments on this story - 12 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

B-N Road Junkie wrote on May 8, 2007 12:06 PM:

" No. I think of the movie 'Cars' also. (Well, you could snip off the beginning and ending nonsense and just give me the Route 66 part). If you like Cars and you like history, pick up Michael Wallis' book and/or film 'Route 66: The Mother Road." Out of all the books/films, his is tops. Another two great Route 66 books originated right here in Central Illinois, one being the late Tom Teague's (Springfield) 'Searching for 66.' Good travelin' to all! "

Townie wrote on May 8, 2007 11:31 AM:

" I can't blame the council for their efforts. The buildings on Beaufort were not kept well by previous owners. What is happening in Uptown Normal is a good change. I am grateful to Mrs. Ryburn for this project. I hope visitors and locals support it better than the coliseum. Am I the only one reminded of the movie "Cars" when reading this article? "

almost 50 wrote on May 8, 2007 11:31 AM:

" You GO GIRL!!!!! "

conflict wrote on May 8, 2007 11:16 AM:

" On one hand we celebrate route 66. Meanwhile Normal tears out some of the last vestigages of it locally. They ripped out a nice piece to put in the bridge at towanda avenue and they are ripping out more as they tear up Beaufort. It will soon be forgotten, and the younger generations will be disinterested. It is funny that the Town of Normal acts like they care about history but are the first to destroy it. Like clock work over the last 25 years the town has demolished the history locally and hang on to one oddly placed uptown house as their commitment to the past. "

B-N Road Junkie wrote on May 8, 2007 11:03 AM:

" They mention two other surviving gas-station-with-living-quarters type of structures on Route 66. One would be Lucille's (the late Lucille Hammons) store in Hydro, Oklahoma. It is a house-with-canopy design with part of the living area serving as the actual canopy. Originally, a gas station/motel, the building served as a liquor store in later years. If anyone can think of the third such facility on The Mother Road, please post. "

Good luck wrote on May 8, 2007 10:38 AM:

" I wish you all the best. Can't wait to stay in the bed and breakfast! "

Great wrote on May 8, 2007 9:19 AM:

" Love that building. I used to go out of my way to come into town on old 66 for the scenery. "

History wrote on May 8, 2007 9:10 AM:

" What with the town council determined to destroy the small town charm of downtown Normal (sorry... "Uptown Normal"), it's refreshing to see someone trying to preserve the history and character of the town. Bravo Ms. Ryburn! And here's hoping they don't come along in a couple of years and try to drop a high-rise hotel on your business. "

Awsome, wrote on May 8, 2007 7:27 AM:

" Best of luck to ya! "

Great Idea wrote on May 8, 2007 6:54 AM:

" I'm a Rt. 66 fan, and I travel the road on my car or motorcycle every chance I get. I think the renovation of this station is a great idea! I'll be keeping an eye on the progress and will stop in for a visit as soon as it is complete. Good luck Ms. Ryburn!! "

Coupe62 wrote on May 8, 2007 6:40 AM:

" If restored properly, This station could become the biggist Route 66 attraction, between Chicago and St.Louis. A real piece of R.T.66 history. It will listed in all the Rt66 tour guides. I think it will be fabulous...... "

Tockers57 wrote on May 7, 2007 11:29 PM:

" This is a really neat idea! Can't wait to see how it turns out. I wish these folks good luck and lots of success!!! There are more Rt. 66 fans out there than we know.... "
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