Car show with a $1,000 payout
THE RECENTLY RESTORED Joliet Army Ammunition Plant Guardhouse is located one mile east of Route 66 along South Arsenal Road, near the village of Symerton. The guardhouse once stood as the security checkpoint for White Circle Group 60 where the headquarters and 48 other buildings, including housing, were known as the Elwood Ordinance Plant. The restoration was donated by union labor members of the Three Rivers Construction Alliance.
Photo by Eric Fisher
If everything goes according to plan, the Village of Symerton may experience something it rarely sees — a traffic jam.
And Mayor Eli Geiss couldn't be happier about it.
The tiny Will County community of roughly 106 residents is preparing to welcome car enthusiasts, Route 66 travelers and history buffs alike on Thursday, July 16, when it hosts Symerton's Route 66 Road Show Car Show, an event designed not only to celebrate classic automobiles but also to showcase a newly restored piece of local history.
"We're hoping for a big turnout," Geiss said. "This is an opportunity to bring people into Symerton, celebrate the Route 66 centennial and highlight a landmark that many people don't even realize exists."
The event is being made possible through a $10,000 grant from the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority (JADA), which awarded funding to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 while promoting attractions tied to the region's rich history.
For Symerton, that attraction is the recently restored Joliet Army Ammunition Plant Guardhouse located along South Arsenal Road, near the village.
The festivities will be held in the village park. Vehicle owners will compete for $1,000 in cash prizes, with awards of $500, $300 and $200 going to the top three favorite vehicles.
Read more in the July 8 print edition of the Free Press Advocate in stores and by subscribing.
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815 476-7966 | 111 S. Water Street, Wilmington, IL 60481
