Oddball central Illinois

Here’s a list of a few area sites taken from the book. Descriptions are not word for word, but recounted and abbreviated, with none of the humor and wit found in the book. We think Quincy merits mentioning. A mere two-hour drive away, it makes an interesting day trip.

Birthplace of the Corn Dog, Cozy Dog Drive In, 2935 S. Sixth Street. If you haven’t heard of Ed Waldmire, Jr., you probably haven’t been in Springfield long enough. He came up with the idea for this tasty little treat during WWII while stationed in Oklahoma. You can sample his recipe at this eatery filled with memorabilia, souvenirs and other good food for purchase, such as a delicious bowl of chilli.

(Open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 525-1992.)

General Santa Anna’s Leg and Lincoln Target, Illinois State Military Museum, 1301 N. MacArthur Blvd. Check out this museum that houses Illinois militia and Illinois National Guard artifacts. It also houses a couple unique artifacts – the artificial leg of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and the wooden target board that President Abraham Lincoln used to test fire the Spencer rifle in 1863. (Open Tuesday through Saturday 1-4:30 p.m., 217-761-3910.)

Haunted Greenwood Cemetery, 606 S. Church St., Decatur. Legend has it that years ago a flood from the Sangamon River displaced more than caskets, bones and stones from this burial ground. In the supernatural mix since, visitors have seen strange flickering lights and roaming specters, including the ghosts of eight Native Americans murdered there in the 1820s. (Free and open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 422-6563.)

Tomb for Accordions, near Oak Ridge Cemetery N. Monument Ave. entrance, where the road forks to Lincoln’s tomb, you can’t miss the elevated tablet of Roy Bertelli, master of the accordion. Having always dreamed of getting a burial spot in ORC, Roy did. Shortly after its purchase though, he received a letter from the cemetery that there was a mistake, and he had to give it back. Instead, Roy had a memorial tablet erected. Rumor has it he would sit on top of the tomb and play the accordion. (Gate hours are 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. through March and until 8 p.m. April through Oct. Free entrance.)

Villa Katherine, 532 Gardner Expressway, Quincy. For those who love a good tale and a bit of foreign architecture plopped in the middle of the prairie, this Moorish villa is a must see. Home of George Metz, he commissioned the building in 1900 after traveling for two years in northern Africa. It is now home to the Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. (Open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 800-978-4748.)