Belvidere Café, Motel, and Gas Station, hotel in Illinois, Verenigde Staten van Amerika
The Belvidere Café, Motel, and Gas Station is a historic roadside complex in Litchfield, Illinois, built in 1936 featuring Tudor Revival architecture. It comprises a café with Art Deco interior, four motel rooms with individual garages, a gas station, and a family residence.
The site began in 1929 when European immigrants Albina and Vincenzo Cerolla built a simple wooden gas station with one pump to serve Route 66 travelers. After expanding significantly in 1936 with a café and motel rooms, their children Edith and Lester Kranich operated the business through the 1970s until Interstate 55 construction diverted traffic away from the original road.
The café served as a gathering place for both travelers and locals, who came to eat and socialize in its Art Deco interior. The family's personal hospitality made it a recognized community stop along Route 66.
The site is located on Old Route 66 in Litchfield and is largely inactive today, with occasional room rentals in one motel wing. Visitors should note that the property is not fully open to the public, but the historic buildings can be viewed from the outside.
The Cerolla family employed pianist Mary Levy, whose music and performances made the café a popular entertainment destination with occasional dance events and a jukebox. This dining and musical gathering place was known for Edith's roast beef, pork, and fried chicken, drawing guests who enjoyed the lively atmosphere.
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