GUEST COLUMN: Love of the rural way of life

I was born in 1961 and this story took place in the latter half of the 1960s. My mom and dad, my younger brother and I went for a ride in my dad’s old pickup truck, which was from the early 1960s. This truck was a Chevrolet three-quarter ton painted red with white trim and had all the modern features of the day. A straight six-cylinder engine, no power steering, a four-speed manual transmission, a metal dashboard and air vents located by your feet. This truck also had an ashtray located below the AM radio that didn’t work. Since neither of my parents smoked, my dad left it open and put whatever he could fit into it; coins, matches, nuts and bolts, a screwdriver and a few pencils that were usually broke. The truck bed was made of wood and the tail gate was secured by latches and hooks. Painted on both sides was “Hank Walsh & Sons Ottawa, IL.”

Dad drove down the street and turned right onto Columbus Street (Route 23) heading north, but only went a short distance when he turned left onto Fremont Street. This portion of the street is only one block long and parallels the south side of the union-employed Burlington Northern train tracks. Located in the middle of the block and on the south side of the road was Charlie Saar’s home and motorcycle shop. Directly across from that shop and north of the street and train tracks was a small field. Dad told us that he cut and baled hay there numerous times, which I think was owned by John Taylor.

Reaching the stop sign, Dad turned right onto La Salle Street and headed up the hill. My mother pointed to the mansions on our left and said Abe Lincoln stayed in one of them a time or two. The road then curves to the right becoming Caton Road. Mom again pointed to our left and toward the Wallace Mansion, which is located on Lincoln Road. She informed us how he fought and died in the American Civil War and is actually buried only a stone’s throw from his home. A short distance later Dad showed us Mr. Cole’s farm, which was located just north of the guard rail and on the west side of the road. Dad explained that he had a large garden and sold tomatoes and other vegetables from inside his barn. We continued north and stopped at the intersection of North 30th Road and Caton (East 1651st Road).

Dad then drove through the ditch on the northwest corner and into a large field with tall grass/weeds including bushes and small trees. The field was located between North 30th Road and Interstate 80 and Caton East 16th Road. Standing in the tall grass and waiting for my dad was Martin Serena, who was a contractor. They spoke for a bit while looking and walking throughout the field. They eventually shook hands and Dad walked back toward the truck. He then stepped into the truck and again drove through the ditch onto North 30th. We then headed west and stopped at the intersection of North 30th East 16th.

Dad steered the truck to the left onto East 16th Road and headed south. He was driving slow as we looked to our right and watched an airplane speeding down the runway at the Ottawa Airport. A short distance later Dad pointed out some old buildings that were to our right and back off the road. He told us that they were Army barracks and explained that the Army was sent here in the mid 1950s to drive their large vehicles over various types of concrete, which was called The Test Road. This was done before the construction of Interstate 80 to see what type of concrete withstood the test of time, traffic and all weather conditions.

Dad steered left onto Evans Street then turned right and down the hill of Bluff Street, which turns into Poplar Street and then to the stop sign at Norris. We then crossed Norris and pulled into the A&W Root Beer stand. A carhop brought us all a frosty mug of root beer and then we headed east on Norris.

We drove past some of my favorite places, Sam’s Pizza, Alfano’s Pizza and Rusty’s Chicken. The latter was located on the northeast corner of Norris and Chestnut Street. All three businesses smelled very good when you walked inside. Continuing east and on the north side were numerous houses and then the Country School Restaurant. To our right and on the south side of Norris was Sammy’s Bar, Dottie’s Convenient Store and the Silverfross Restaurant. Just east of Clinton and on both sides of Norris was Ryg & Stahly’s Ford tractor dealership and Stan’s Rental. Next to that and on the south side of the road was the Tastee Freeze. You could walk up to the window or drive your car along the east side of the building for your ice cream treat. My favorite was the hot fudge milkshake.

Located on the north side of Norris between La Salle and Columbus was Len Rico’s Restaurant (great spaghetti), a car wash, a house owned by the Dilley family and Marmion’s Sinclair gas station. The south side of Norris between La Salle and Columbus was North States gas station. This business was first located on the southeast corner of Norris and La Salle then moved to the southwest corner of Norris and Columbus.

The north side of Norris between Columbus and Post Street was all houses with the exception of Chapman’s Realty, which was located just west of Post. Located on the southeast corner of Norris and Columbus was a Phillips 66 gas station; the proprietor Mr. Kerwell. Heading east on Norris from Kerwell’s to Post was all houses.

Dad then turned left on Post and we headed home.

The next day I went with my dad to my grandpa Henry Walsh’s farm, which was located on Porter Road. Once there my dad hooked a five-foot weed mower to a mid-1950s Allis-Chalmers tractor. I then rode on that tractor with my dad over to La Salle Street and up the hill to that field. I also enjoyed riding with Dad as he mowed the weeds/grass in that field. My mother and brother eventually showed up, so I got off the tractor and walked through the field with them. Anyone who has ever cut hay, high grass or weeds will know, that sometimes you run over a few rabbit nests. Unfortunately Dad did just that. My mother, brother and I saved a few bunnies, as they scampered throughout the grass. Maybe my love of the rural way of life and conservation began that day.

Fast forward to 2018 and taking that same route in my pickup truck; a 2011 Chevy crew cab. This truck has all the modern features offered today: a V-8 engine, power steering, automatic transmission, power windows/door locks and a plastic dash. It also has an AM/FM radio that works plus a CD player. There is no ashtray, but does have a few storage compartments for my coins, matches, nuts and bolts, a screwdriver, a pen and yes a broken pencil. The truck bed is made of metal and an easy-to-use handle opens the tailgate. A bit fancy for what I’m used to, but very nice.

Now on with the story, which again began on Fremont Street. Charlie Saar passed away many years ago and his motorcycle shop has been closed for at least 50 years. Mr. Saar was inducted posthumously into the La Salle County Motorsports Hall of Fame that I founded in 2014. I do not know who resides there today, but Rick and Tina Navarro lived there for many years. The property across the road and train tracks to the north, I mowed in the mid-1990s with my John Deere tractor and six-foot weed mower. Soon after many houses were built in that small field.

Turning right onto La Salle and heading up the hill, I did not know anyone who lived in those mansions when I was a kid, but today I know quite a few. Steering right onto Caton and looking left, the Wallace Mansion is still standing and looks to be in good shape. I do not know who owns it today, but back in the 1980s it belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Dee Crowley. Mr. Cole’s house and barns were razed many years ago. Today numerous houses are located from his farm north to North 30th Road. The field my dad mowed and where he met with Mr. Serena was developed shortly after, becoming Bona Terra subdivision.

The Ottawa Airport closed and became Skydive Chicago. They eventually built a new airport that is located north of Dayton. The Army moved on when construction began on I-80. The old barracks are still standing and may belong to Thrush Sanitation. The Bluff Street hill was not in good shape when I was a kid or young adult, but has since been revamped and is in very good shape today.

The A&W Root Beer stand closed and was razed, then Koolie’s Banquet Hall was built and closed after many years in business; today it’s Festivities Unlimited. Sam’s Pizza and Alfano’s Pizza, which are both family owned, are still going strong. Rusty’s Chicken closed and numerous businesses have come and gone in that location. Today Starved Rockers Music. A few houses were razed to make way for the Chamois Car Wash and Polancic’s Meat Market. The Country School Restaurant closed and was razed; today Casey’s Gas Station. Sammy’s Tap has changed names numerous times; today Angel’s Pub.

Dotties store closed, becoming the Hickory House which also closed after many years in business (I still miss their great food). The Silverfross closed, becoming the Department of Motor Vehicles, then Lindy Gerties Restaurant, which also closed. Today Terry’s Auto House sits on those locations.

Ryg and Stahly’s moved west of town on U.S. 6 and eventually closed after many years in business. Their old location is now the Hair Studio and the HiWay Restaurant’s parking lot. The Tastee Freeze unfortunately closed and was razed; today a parking lot.

Len Rico’s Restaurant closed after many years in business; today Edward Jones Investments. The car wash closed, becoming Sieg’s Auto, which also closed; today Route 6 Pro Wash. The house where the Dilley family lived was razed; today it’s fenced in and belongs to Jefferson School. Marmion’s Gas Station closed and from then to present numerous businesses have been located there, including Car-X Mufflers. North States Gas Station closed and was razed; today Duffy’s Auto.

The house that was located on the northeast corner of Norris and Columbus became McConville Realty, which was in business for many years; today Steve’s Bakery. Numerous houses were razed to make way for Family Video. They eventually moved to the strip mall near Kroger North; today CVS Pharmacy. Chapman’s Realty and numerous houses were razed to make way for Advanced Auto. The south side of Norris from Columbus to Post was all houses with the exception of Kerwell’s Gas Station, which eventually closed and was razed; today Kenn Motors. The houses from Kerwells to Post were all razed at different times to make way for McDonald’s, Burger King, Bianchi’s Pizza and Pizza Hut. The only people I knew who lived in any of those houses was the Fogerty family. Their two-story house was razed to make way for Pizza Hut.

Structures may come and go and everything changes that’s for sure. But my rural way of life, trucks, tractors and conservation are rooted deep inside of me; just like my family, friends and faith are.

I hope I jarred some memories and informed both young and new people to the area as well.

A little background...

Throughout my dad’s lifetime he owned a total of nine trucks including a blue 1967 Chevy three-quarter ton. From my first truck to present I have owned 25 trucks, 22 4-by-4s and three 2-wheel-drives, including a blue 1967 Chevy three-quarter ton. I also inherited my grandpa’s tractor and mower.

In 1988 I introduced my first and biggest event Hank’s 4 x 4 Jamboree. This event was picked the top 30 best truck show in the United States by Petersons 4-Wheel and Off-road Magazine. I have also hosted numerous tractor shows as well.

I have been fortunate to have written 15 songs. One of them is titled “Old Trucks,” another is titled “What Drives Me Wild (tractors n trucks n a whole lot of country stuff).”

HANK WALSH III is a lifelong Ottawa-area resident and owner of the American Sportsman Show and Hall of Fame as well as the La Salle County Motor Sports Hall of Fame