Towanda in McLean County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Pure Oil Truck Stop
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 29, 2020
1. Pure Oil Truck Stop Marker
Ahead of you is the former location of the Delco Truck Stop, a historic landmark opened in 1952. Three years later, the name changed to Pure Oil Truck Stop with gasoline selling at 17.9 cents per gallon. Pure Oil also featured a restaurant that served meals ranging from ham and beans to meatloaf. Between 1952 & 1960, the restaurant offered lunch specials for $1.20 and a bottomless cup of coffee for a nickel available any time during its year round twenty-four hour service. Sleeping quarters were available for 75 cents per night for truckers who fueled at the truck stop.
In 1963, Eddie Baize became owner/operator of this stop. In 1965, Pure Oil merged with Union 76, and the truck stop became Eddie's Pure/Union 76 Truck Stop. With its location relative to Chicago and St. Louis, this truck stop, in its prime, averaged 30 customers per hour.
In 1976, due to interstate highway site requirements and sewage treatment regulations this facility closed its doors. It had provided a home for truckers, and they became part of the fabric of Towanda. Today Pure Oil will be remembered as a significant feature of Historic Route 66.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles
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Location. 40° 34′ N, 88° 53.994′ W. Marker is in Towanda, Illinois, in McLean County. It is on Old U.S. 66 west of North Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located off the Route 66 Bike Trail, and near the Fast Stop gas station. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 204 N Jefferson Street, Towanda IL 61776, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 1954 Route 66 Alignment (within shouting distance of this marker); 1926 Route 66 Alignment (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dead Man's Curve (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Dead Man's Curve (approx. 0.2 miles away); Henderson's Standard (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fern's Cafe (approx. Ό mile away); End of the Journey (approx. 0.7 miles away); Bloomington Airport Former Site (approx. 4.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Towanda.
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 29, 2020
2. Pure Oil Truck Stop Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 2,247 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 9, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
