from the old millpond. A wooden walkway at lake level was located beside the bridge. The rebuilt mill dam was downstream from the trolley bridge. The local road curved around the upstream end of the lake and crossed the river on a covered bridge built in the mid−1800s. Park buildings and rental boats lined the lake shore. Outdoor activities for visitors included boating, swimming, dancing, roller skating and other amusements. An open−air movie theater showed silent films, and local and touring musical groups such as Bohumir Kryl′s well−known concert band gave performances in the bandstand. There was a zoo for children and refreshments for their parents. The park gradually declined in the late 1920s until it closed in 1931. On 6 April 1934 the covered bridge collapsed overnight. The interurban line was discontinued, and the trolley bridge was replaced by a highway bridge, now Illinois Route 49. In 1998 Bill and Marion Edwards of Homer donated 28 acres of the old park site to the Homer Lake Forest Preserve. The stone abutments of the covered bridge and a stone fountain remain for visitors to seek out. Major highways Illinois State Route 49 Airports and landing strips Homer Airport (historical) Demographics References United States Census Bureau cartographic boundary files External links US-Counties.com City-Data.com Illinois State Archives Townships in Champaign County, Illinois Townships in Illinois