Before “The new superhighway”, 11th street was the road that would go the farthest south out of Rockford without hitting gravel. Highway 51 also brought people into the Forest City from places south such as St. Louis, Springfield, Bloomington, LaSalle, Mendota and even Rochelle! Naturally just south of the city limits is where our “hotel district” used to be.

On 11th Street the Ho Jo’s is the remaining holdout in an area that included a Holiday Inn and many top hotel/motel chains as well as some Mom and Pops. They were just waiting for travelers entering Rockford from parts below. Some didn’t make it all the way north and stayed at the New Mill. Several restaurants were ready for tourists before they approached Sandy Hollow. I remember many a steak dinner at Nino’s and you can’t forget Manzullo’s.

“The New 51” was open for biz in the mid ‘80s. It ended up being Interstate 39 and I believe the other TV channels were jealous after that. Uncle Ron says it was built so Zeke Giorgi didn’t have to drive through school zones on his way to Springfield. Sometimes Ron just makes stuff up. Anyways, on Highway 251, the last bastion of the 51 days is Club 51. Last time I was there I saw motorcycle skid marks on the floor. Yes, the good old days. What were your memories?