Route 66 Icon Destroyed

Fire on Monday destroyed the legendary Pig-Hip Restaurant and Museum, a Route 66 icon located in Broadwell, Ill.

Ernie Edwards, 89, who opened the restaurant in 1937, sat and watched as flames shot through the roof of the 70-year-old building, but grinned for local news photographers and reporters.

Those who ever met Ernie Edwards, know he looks on the bright side. "I've enjoyed it," he told them from his home, which is next door to his business. "I just had a wonderful time. It was the best thing I've ever done in my life."

The Pig-Hip is located about 8 miles south of Lincoln along what now is Interstate 55 paralleling Old Route 66, which is an American Scenic Byway - one of 45 designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 1990, Edwards was among the first to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Route 66 Association of Illinois.

Ernie and his wife Fran closed the restaurant in 1991, but reopened it as a museum in 2003. Originally called the Harbor Inn, Edwards changed it. He said a local farmer came in and pointed to a ham on the stove and ordered "a piece of that pig hip." Thus, he named his ham sandwiches pig hip sandwiches, which he made from fresh, never cured, hams (and only the left hams, if you can believe him) plus a "special sauce."

Edwards likes to talk and regale visitors with tales, like how Gus Belt, the founder of Steak 'n' Shake, sued him over a building Ernie had bought and painted black and white, Steak 'n' Shake's color scheme. The suit was settled out of court and the two became good friends. Similarly, he claims Col. Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken came head-to-head. "He tried to sell me, and I tried to sell him," Edwards recalls. The colonel, according to Ernie, fried up a chicken right there in the Edwards' home.

Edwards is the subject of a biography, for those interested in reading more of Ernie's yarns, including his account of meeting Al Capone: Pig-Hips on Route 66, by William Kaszynski.

Just hours before the fire broke out, Edwards said, he and Fran were in the museum hanging pictures of Illinois governors who had visited the Pig-Hip. Edwards said he and his wife recently had decided to leave the museum to the local historical society.

Officials said the fire broke out about 3:30 p.m. in the rear of the building. The fire chief said the building had two ceilings and three layers of siding, complicating firefighting efforts. An estimated 45 firefighters from at least six area fire departments responded, but could not save much. Only two walls were left standing.

Edwards is to be the chief honoree at Illinois Route 66 Association of Illinois' Motor Tour in June. The event already was to celebrate both Edwards' 90th birthday, and Broadwell's sesquicentennial.

The association is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and enjoying Route 66 in Illinois with members from across the nation and around the world. In addition to the annual Chicago-to-St. Louis motor tour, the association sponsors the Route 66 Hall of Fame in Pontiac.

The association's website sprung to action, reporting the news and responding.

"My heart aches to report what follows," wrote Kathy Miller, publisher and co-editor of The 66 News, the quarterly newsletter for the association. "This is the saddest news that I can remember having to share," she said as she reported the fire on Monday.

By Tuesday, association member Cathie Stevanovich of Pontiac put out the word asking for photos, news clippings, and mementoes.

"Let's surprise Ernie and Fran Edwards with photo albums and shared memory books at the motor tour! Let's share "back" with them our own Pig Hip stories and photos!"

She asked members and anyone interested to look through photo and memorabilia collections, or even just their memories.

"If you don't have a photo but would like to share a memory please write that down and forward either by email or mail to be included in scrapbooks that we'll be putting together. Old newspaper clippings, news stories, etc., whatever you'd like to forward a copy of to be included will be most appreciated."

She asked that these keepsakes be to cathiesb@earthlink.net (please put Pig Hip in the subject line) or mail them to Cathie Stevanovich, Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum, 110 W. Howard, Pontiac, IL 61764. She promised to return photos, if asked, after they are scanned.

The tragic loss is likely to be a topic of discussion on Saturday, March 10, as a Route 66 'preservation meeting' is scheduled in Dwight, Ill. For details, of the association's activities, visit http://il66assoc.org.