Lincoln Highway Mural
The Streetscape Mural Committee announced in December of 2005 that DeKalb had been named as one of the first communities to receive a mural from the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition (ILHC) mural program, dedicated to honoring the contributions of travel along the historic national byway. Creston, Aurora and Rochelle, Illinois were also named as recipients of an ILHC mural. Creston unveiled their mural as part of their communities Memorial Day festivities in May of 2006.
Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition is a management agency for the National Scenic Byway. An Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition mural that is presented to a community will reflect the community’s history in relationship to the significance and impact of the Lincoln Highway. The ILHC consulted the Streetscape Mural Committee for input and recommendations in the development of a design for DeKalb that would complement DeKalb’s current mural program. The Mural Committee members researched various historical information about the Lincoln Highway in DeKalb and two committee members employed by the NIU Library, Elizabeth Fenwick and Linda Groat, provided historical images of the Lincoln Highway from the NIU Library’s Lincoln/Net as well as images from the Joiner History Room that helped the artist to create the design.
Jay Allen, of Shaw Craft Signs, was the chosen artist for the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalitions mural program. Mr. Allen is also a member of the Wall Dogs Mural organization that assisted in coordinating the mural program in Belvidere, Illinois and has been apart of several other mural projects in communities throughout the country.
The design depicts an arched monument that was constructed by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce in the early 1920’s. A 1911 Stevens-Duryea Six is shown traveling under the arch with scenes along DeKalb’s Lincoln Highway in the 1920’s and 1930’s as the background. The Stevens-Duryea Six was a right-hand drive car manufactured in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts and its presence in the mural helps to emphasize the importance of early automotive history in the United States. The vehicle and its passengers represent the many different automobiles and travelers that drove the Lincoln Highway. When the Lincoln Highway was established in 1913, towns along the route were encouraged by the Lincoln Highway Association to rename their Main Streets. DeKalb was the first city in the nation to do so.
The Lincoln Highway Mural is installed on what is known as the Ferguson Building on the corner of East Lincoln Highway and North Seventh Street facing east as of October 2006.
