Dwight in Livingston County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Mom and Pop Motels
The Paulsen-Strufe Motel
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 30, 2020
1. Mom and Pop Motels Marker
Titles have faded but marker is still somewhat readable.
The Strufes
In 1952, John and Dorothy Strufe purchased the business and called it the Strufe Motel. After remodeling and enclosing the carports in 1959, they renamed it the Arrow Motel.
The Paulsens
The motel began in 1935 as a gas station owned by Danish immigrants, Marlin and Metha Paulsen. They built five cabins with carports and called it Paulsen Court.
A Family Affair
The Strufe and Paulsen children grew up here. Running a motel was truly a family affair, from washing and hanging sheets to pumping gas. Everyone helped out.
The Paulsens and Strufes named rooms after female family members: 1-Rita, 2-Peggy, 3-Carol, and so on. Repeat travelers would remember which “girl” they had stayed in the last time through.
(side quote:)
“The job I remember liking the least was the daily laundry. Sometimes the clothesline would fall down and I had to wash everything all over again.”
this page online
Erected by Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway.
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 1935.
Location. 41° 5.421′ N, 88° 26.371′ W. Marker is in Dwight, Illinois, in Livingston County. It is at the intersection of Old U.S. 66 and South Street, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 66. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 320 S Old Rte 66, Dwight IL 60420, 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 walking distance of this marker: Welcome to Dwight (approx. Ό mile away); Full Service on Rte 66 (approx. Ό mile away); Dwight, Illinois (approx. Ό mile away); The Windmill (approx. 0.6 miles away); A Well Connected Village (approx. 0.6 miles away); War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); 1879-1979 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Shifting Roadways (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dwight.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Ambler-Becker Texaco Station, Dwight, Illinois (was approx. Ό mile away but has been permanently removed).
More about this marker. This is one of four "Wayside Exhibits" in Dwight erected by the Illinois
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 30, 2020
2. Mom and Pop Motels Marker
Marker is next to private property
Credits. This page was last revised on March 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,044 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
