Small settlements sprang up along these routes. Odell included, and this was a major factor when the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis railway service commission chose to follow this route when laying track in the 1850s.

Officially platted in 1856, the original stagecoach route became Waupansie Street. This route connecting to Dwight to the north and Pontiac to the south remained until the 1870s when the railroads and Odell’s importance as a grain collection center made it necessary to move the route to the west. Named West Street, this is the route we still know today.

As the new century approached, West Street became fashionable for new construction. The very prominent John McWilliams Sr. family built a sprawling estate on the Northwest corner of West & Henry Street.

John McWilliams Sr. was an influential man in Odell. Owner of a lumber and dry goods business, he is credited with early developments of the town such as forming the first bank, first library and community building. The family lived here for many years and is most notably remembered as the childhood home of John McWilliams Jr., the father of renowned French chef Julia Child.

Just to the south at Hamilton Street, St. Paul’s chose to build their new church. At its completion in 1902, Odell leaped into the 20th century with its own electric plant. A rare luxury at the time, Odell began lighting important intersections and buildings amazing residents and visitors alike. Continuing with these improvements, West Street was transformed from a dirt road to a brick street.

In 1915, the old stagecoach route was given official status by the state and named “The Pontiac Trail”. This was an early attempt at paving major dirt roads to improve early automobile travel. In 1918, the state once again chose to follow the old trail and renamed the route as Illinois Route 4. This was a more serious attempt at paving the route and creating a defined highway for travelers. This new plan was successful and West Street had its brick concreted over in 1922 during the project. In 1926, Illinois Route 4 was renamed Route 66 and life in the small towns it ran through was never the same again.

The roaring 20s and Route 66 brought with it an intense boom for business in our small town. Service stations, garages, cafes and boarding houses began to spring up all along the route. This boom, while great for the economy also had its downfalls. Prohibition led to the route being referred to as the “bootleggers highway”, running from Peoria to Joliet. Residents knew to watch out as it was common for “runners” to race through town late at night. As more people began to afford cars and travel increased, Route 66 through Odell became increasingly dangerous to the pedestrians and school children trying to cross the road. In 1934, the village enacted a plan to build a tunnel under the road at Hamilton Street. Known as the “subway” to residents, it was used for many years and undoubtedly saved many lives.

1932 saw the construction of the last remaining Standard Oil Station 1940s Service station from the golden era. Built by Patrick O’Donnell in the house & canopy style on the south end of West Street, it was a popular station and hang out through the 1940s. WWII proved to be the beginning of the end of West Streets use. Heavy machinery and military equipment being shipped began damaging the road and a bypass was built in 1947. This bypass, west of town, is now buried under the northbound lanes of Interstate 55. The diverted traffic signaled the end as many businesses began closing and being torn down, leaving nothing but memories of Rt. 66.