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Lincoln, Illinois: Phone Booth on a Roof

Local lore says that the phone booth -- which is on top of city hall -- was installed for Civil Defense air raid spotters during the Cold War. Ring-ring, duck and cover!

Lincoln City Hall

Address:
700 Broadway St., Lincoln, IL
Directions:
On the roof of Lincoln City Hall, three stories above the ground. Best seen from the corner of McLean and Broadway Sts, which is six blocks south of Hwy 121/10 and two blocks east of Chicago St.
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Phone booth on roof.

Phone Booth on a Roof

Story behind the Phone Booth on a Roof: it was placed up there around 1951/52. When bad weather was approaching, the newest unmarried firefighter was sent to the roof to look out for bad weather/tornado activity. This practice continued until the early 1980s, when weather radar was developed and improving.

[Tim Martini/Exploring The Obscure, 11/06/2015]

Phone booth on roof.

Phone Booth on Roof

We were advised in Lincoln that the rooftop phone booth was used by weather spotters to keep an eye on storms and then phone information to news media.

[Deb Nies, 08/19/2011]

"Hello, Channel 23? I'm about to be struck by lightning!"

Phone Booth on Roof

Clark Kent wouldn't need to get a running start to fly from this phone booth, located on top of City Hall in Lincoln, IL. Evidently there was a civil defense program that used the City Hall roof in the 1960's. It's not currently used (except for the weird guy in the tights).

[Al Tauber, 05/09/2006]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Lincoln Watermelon MonumentLincoln Watermelon Monument, Lincoln, IL - < 1 mi.
Tiny ChurchTiny Church, Lincoln, IL - < 1 mi.
Honest Abe CourthouseHonest Abe Courthouse, Lincoln, IL - 1 mi.
In the region:
Pig Hip Restaurant Memorial Rock, Broadwell, IL - 7 mi.

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