Towns and Nature: Shorewood, IL: Lost Texaco and Standard Gas Stations on US-66 at US-52

Friday, July 3, 2026

Shorewood, IL: Lost Texaco and Standard Gas Stations on US-66 at US-52

Village of Shorewood posted two photos with the comment:

#ShorewoodILThrowback when Route 66 went through Shorewood!
Many of us know the iconic role Route 66 plays in American history. Established in 1926 as part of the nation’s first Federal Highway system, the 2,400-mile route stretched across two-thirds of the continent serving as a vital transportation corridor that connected communities, businesses, and travelers across the country.
According to Route 66 history, Alternate US Route 66 went through Shorewood from 1940 to 1967. That intersection of IL 59 (then called Route 66) and Jefferson Street (US 52) is still the heart of our Village logo and inspired the name of the Crossroads Fest.
At that time, the area was primarily agricultural with a small cluster of service stations and summer cabins at the Crossroads. Many of those summer cabin residents would later form the Shorewood Beach Homeowners Association and eventually help lead our community’s incorporation in 1957.
So, as travelers made their way along “America’s Main Street,” they passed a riverside community that offered a summer retreat from city life. What began as summer cabins and farms would eventually grow into the thriving community we know today, a place where people, opportunities, (and roads!) continue to meet at the crossroads.

Michael Lambert: Actually, after its opening in December 1939, the route from Lemont thru Plainfield, Shorewood, and Channahon that continued to Wilmington was the official U.S. ROUTE 66 and Alternate U. S. Route 66 (66-A) was the former alignment that went through Joliet.

Bob Cardwell: That's a 1949 Ford in the picture it looks kinda old there picture is probably around 1955.

Bob Reichenbach: Anyone know about what year this is.

Pat Gabrielson: Bob Reichenbach 1950s Andersons Texaco gas station and restaurant NW corner of 52 & 59. Gas station where Burger King is now. Trailer court behind it. Also Standard Station on SE corner. Tavern to the east of gas station. Small strip center south of gas station. 50s-60 era. [The comments are very contradictory as to which corners these station were on. I agree with Pat that Texaco was NW and Standard was SE. But Burger King and the trailer court are in the NE corner.]