Berwyn in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
A Road Well Traveled
The Ogden Avenue Corridor
Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 1, 2020
1. A Road Well Traveled Marker
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A Road Well Traveled. The Ogden Avenue Corridor. This corridor was a gateway into the country’s interior. Several well worn Indian trails were traveled by fur traders and explorers. One trail, the future Ogden Avenue, was improved into a plank toll road creaking beneath the weight of settlers’ wagons and horses. Planks gave way to bricks, and smooth pavement greeted the tires of Route 66 travelers., The Chicago Portage, The corridor was an important portage between Lake Michigan and the Des Plaines River. However, it was often too wet for wagons and too dry for canoes. The “Dismal Nine Mile Swamp,” as it was called, stifled commerce to Chicago., According to one stagecoach traveler, “... the wheels sank to the hubs, and hearts of the drivers sank accordingly; blows and coaxing were alike unavailing to start the tired teams and the settling loads…” Out of the Mud: The Southwest Plank Road, A ten-mile wood plank toll road was opened in 1848 connecting Chicago and Riverside. But it didn’t last. The planks rotted and warped quickly. Commerce migrated to the new I&M Canal and later to the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad., Ogden Avenue: Brick Streets and Route 66, In 1872, the Plank Road was renamed Ogden Avenue in honor of Chicago’s first mayor, William Butler Ogden. Portions of the road were bricked over by 1900 to accomodate the increasing traffic. In 1920, it was paved for smooth car travel., From 1926 to 1976, Ogden Avenue was designated as U.S. Route 66, connecting Chicagoans to Los Angeles.
This corridor was a gateway into the country’s interior. Several well worn Indian trails were traveled by fur traders and explorers. One trail, the future Ogden Avenue, was improved into a plank toll road creaking beneath the weight of settlers’ wagons and horses. Planks gave way to bricks, and smooth pavement greeted the tires of Route 66 travelers.
The Chicago Portage
The corridor was an important portage between Lake Michigan and the Des Plaines River. However, it was often too wet for wagons and too dry for canoes. The “Dismal Nine Mile Swamp,” as it was called, stifled commerce to Chicago.
According to one stagecoach traveler, “... the wheels sank to the hubs, and hearts of the drivers sank accordingly; blows and coaxing were alike unavailing to start the tired teams and the settling loads…”
Out of the Mud: The Southwest Plank Road
A ten-mile wood plank toll road was opened in 1848 connecting Chicago and Riverside. But it didn’t last. The planks rotted and warped quickly. Commerce migrated to the new I&M Canal and later to the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad.
Ogden Avenue: Brick Streets and Route 66
In 1872, the Plank Road was renamed Ogden Avenue in honor of Chicago’s first mayor, William Butler Ogden. Portions
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of the road were bricked over by 1900 to accomodate the increasing traffic. In 1920, it was paved for smooth car travel.
From 1926 to 1976, Ogden Avenue was designated as U.S. Route 66, connecting Chicagoans to Los Angeles.
Erected by Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byways.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the U.S. Route 66 series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.
Location. 41° 49.828′ N, 87° 47.032′ W. Marker is in Berwyn, Illinois, in Cook County. Marker is at the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Elmwood Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Ogden Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6416 Ogden Ave, Berwyn IL 60402, United States of America. Touch for directions.
sectionhead>More about this marker. This is the northernmost of all of the Route 66 wayside exhibits in Illinois. The nonprofit group "Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway" has established 31 wayside exhibits along Old Route 66 in Illinois. Each wayside was placed at a site with historic significance and tells the story of the site’s relationship to Route 66. The interpretive stations use illustrations, pictures, and audio to explore each site.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 552 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 1, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
