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through Rossville as Chicago Street, is one of the
oldest trails in Eastern Illinois. Originally an Indian
path, it became the main route between Fort Dearborn
(Chicago) and Vincennes, Indiana thanks to the efforts
of early pioneer and trader, Gurdon Hubbard, who
utilized it as a commercial artery between his store in
Danville and Chicago. The path became known as
Hubbard’s Trail or Trace, remembered today by a
country club north of Rossville and two markers on
South Chicago Street and by Mann’s Chapel. As the
Eastern section of the state developed, the trail was
made a roadway by the State of Illinois in 1833-34. By
the time of the automobile, the route had retained its
status as the main roadway between Chicago and
Danville.
Highway south of Rossville by Mann's Chapel
Americans became more mobile, entpreters and communities recognized that if the public
could buy a car they would travel distances in it. The Lincoln Highway and the National
Road were two early examples of this program. In 1914, the idea of creating a national
road that would connect the Midwest with the South came up, mostly at the urging of Carl
Graham Fisher. Fisher was one of the promoters of the Lincoln Highway and of the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This proposed route would run from the Canadian border
south to southern Florida, which was just opening up for land speculation and
development. Because this road would cut through the heart of the South, it became
known as the Dixie Highway. In 1915 a Dixie Highway Association was formed and by June
cities along the route were celebrating its opening. Continued development of the Dixie
took place until 1927, when the Association disbanded.
The Dixie Highway utilized existing routes that were improved by state or local funding. It
ran nearly 5,706 miles and had two major branches. The Eastern Branch started at Sault
St. Marie Michigan while the Western Branch started in Chicago. This route followed
Hubbard’s old trace to Danville, which had been designated Illinois Route 1 in 1918 (this
first State Highway to be numbered and funded). Running down Michigan Avenue to the
South Side, the Dixie/Route 1 jogged around to Chicago Heights and then broke out into
the fields of East Central Illinois. Since Rossville’s main street was also Route 1, Rossville
became one of the towns on the Western Branch. North Vermilion Street in Danville was
also the Dixie Highway until it became part of Route 136. At that point the Dixie left Route
One to continue south to Cave-in-Rock Ferry while the Dixie head towards Indianapolis and
then Florida.
The Dixie Highway was originally marked with red and white DH signs usually painted on
telephone poles. These eventually disappeared as the Illinois Route 1 signs appeared. All
along its route the name was applied to sections of streets and businesses.
The one of the most prominent of these was the old Dixie Drive Inn move theatre in
Danville. For years, the “Dixie” name was used more than the Route 1 designation. The
Rossville Press from 1917 on made references to events along “The Dixie.” As promoters
had hoped, the highway brought travelers into the towns along its route and subsequently
business to meet their needs. Two examples of this in Rossville were the Dixie Lodge on
South Chicago Street and tourist camp at Stufflebeam Grove in 1923.
As improvements were made, the route also changed. Four miles north of Hoopeston was
“Deadman’s Curve on the Dixie” were several early accidents took place until the road was
straightened. There was also a dangerous curve in Rossville at Gilbert Street that was also
alimented in 1939. When new highway improvements were made in the late 1930’s, the
Dixie Highway between the 136/119 junctions and Danville shifted to the east. For years
sections of the “old road” could still be seen in the grass running parallel to the “new road”.
One of the last original Dixie Highway Bridges in Vermilion County was at Potter’s Woods
just west of the new North Fork River Bridge. Today, all of these remnants are gone, but
the enlarged right a way on the road’s west side can note the original road. By 1940, all of
the old brick highway had been replaced by concrete.
The Dixie Highway and Route 1st glory days as the route from Chicago to Danville and
points south passed in the late 1960’s. Despite plans to have Route 1 made into a four-
lane highway, the dominance of Interstate 57 as the East Illinois Transportation Route
relegated the Dixie Highway to local and leisure traffic. But with the popularity of cultural
heritage tourism along the old Lincoln Highway and Route 66, a possibility of a new day for
the Dixie Highway may be in order. The Homewood Historical Society on the north end has
started local efforts to promote the route as a tourism corridor.
McFerren Park in Hoopeston
Highway! At McFerren Park
Hoopeston. Done by local artist, Dana
Thomas.
This relic of World War II is a captured
German V-I Flying Rocket Bomb. It is located
just south of dowtown Milford, Illinois near
the school.
217-748-6081
andmac@eqix.net
Links
Dixie Highway Marker at Homewood
Drivin The Dixie Celebration
Hoopeston
Rossville
Danville
