July 16, 2025
Local News

Then & Now: Lincoln Highway Marker – New Lenox

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Affectionately known as “The Main Street Across America,” the Lincoln Highway has inspired many tourists, travelers and towns along the coast-to-coast roadway to keep the legacy of Carl Fisher’s pioneering spirit alive. Since Fisher’s death in 1939, the Lincoln Highway has remained a persistent memory in the minds of many.

In the early years, sections along the roadway were only marked by posts, poles and handwritten signs. In time, there was a need to develop a better marking system to aid the traveler along the highway.

Some of the first markings were simple, merely red, white and blue bands painted on a pole. Later, a more official-looking symbol consisting of a red, white and blue rectangle with the letter “L” and the words “Lincoln Highway” were used.

It was not until the late-1920s that the Lincoln Highway was officially marked and dedicated to the memory of Abraham Lincoln. On Sept. 1, 1928, groups of Boy Scouts across America helped to place approximately 2,436 new concrete markers at sites along the route.

Weighing more than 220 pounds each, the new reinforced concrete markers measured 18 inches wide at the base and were tapered to just 8.5 inches at the top. The entire marker was 36 inches in height. The concrete markers carried the Lincoln Highway insignia, a blue directional arrow and a bronze medallion of Lincoln’s bust with the words, “This Highway Dedicated to Abraham Lincoln.”

The exact position of each marker was determined by a plan laid out by Gael Hoag, Field Secretary of the Lincoln Highway. According to his plan, the markers were placed along the outer edge of the right-of-way at important crossroads, minor crossings, and at other intervals along the road to assure the motoring public they were on the correct road.

While some of these concrete markers still can be found at their original positions along the route in many states, others since have been relocated or lost forever to road enhancements, neglect or indifference on the part of local highway departments.

Still, others belong to private collectors and others have been moved to museums or been placed in positions of honor in Lincoln Highway towns across the country.

Although there only are a very few remaining in Illinois, two still can be found in Will County. One is located in the courtyard of the Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, and the other is in front of Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox.

The then image shows a typical road sign found along the roadside in the early years of the Lincoln Highway. The now image shows an old concrete marker in front of Lincoln-Way Central High school.