Mt Olive, IL
October 16, 2023
Mt. Olive is home of the Soulsby Station, which sold gas on Route 66 for 65 years beginning in 1926. It claims to be the oldest gas station on the Mother Road.
Mother Jones' Grave is located just off Route 66 in Mt. Olive. Mary Harris Jones, known as Mother Jones, was a community organizer and labor activist primarily for miners. She was co-founder of the Industrial Workers of the World. She once was called "the most dangerous woman in America" because of her success in organizing miners' unions. She is burried in a miners' cemetary with miners killed in the "Battle of Virden" that occurred during a strike in the early 20th century.
Alternate Westbound Route
Westbound
Staunton
from Mt Olive:
- From Main St. in Mt. Olive, follow Old Route 66 out of town for about 1.8 miles to the next Stop sign.
- Go left on US Hwy 66 and follow for about half a mile.
- Go right right at the 1930 - 1940; 1940 - 1970 Route 66 signs. following 1930 - 1940 Route 66 through Staunton to the Junction with Hwy 4.
Alternate Eastbound Route
Eastbound
Litchfield
from Mt Olive:
- From Hwy 138 in Mt. Olive, go right by the Dollar Store onto Old Route 66 to see Soulsby's Service Station on your immediate right.
- Turn around and go straight on Route 66 toward Litchfield
- Go right at the first Stop sign following Route 66 toward Litchfield (there is no sign directing you to Litchfield, but you will be going the right way.
- When approaching Litchfield, go right following the 1930-40 Route 66 sign onto N 10th Ave then bear left onto 1930-40 66 and follow it all the way through town.
- At the Stop sign showing the end of 193 -1940 Rout 66, go right on Route 66 1940-1977 (Frontage Rd).
