ROCHELLE — The Lincoln Highway Association invites people to rediscover the original Lincoln Highway and the quaint towns along the way with its annual Lincoln Highway Buy-Way Yard Sale to be held Aug. 7 – 8.

The longest yard sale thus far, this year’s event stretches across Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Highlights in Illinois include citywide sales in Rochelle and Ashton.

Area residents are welcome to participate, even those who do not live directly on Lincoln Highway. Reusable Lincoln Highway Buy-Way yard sale signs are available for purchase for $8 at Ray’s New and Used Merchandise, 316 N. Sixth St., Rochelle.

Special ad rate

The Rochelle News-Leader is also offering a $15 special yard sale advertisement, which will appear in editions published Aug. 4 and 6. Deadline for this ad is Aug. 3.

For maps and more information on sales, please visit the Lincoln Highway Association, call the National Tourism Headquarters in Franklin Grove at 815-456-3030, send e-mail to lincolnhighway2010@yahoo.com, or call the Illinois Lincoln Highway Association State Director, Kay Shelton at 815-748-7211.

The sponsor of the yard sales, the Lincoln Highway Association, is a charitable organization open to all and it can trace its roots back to the original organizers of the Lincoln Highway.

Begun in 1913, the Lincoln Highway was the first coast-to-coast improved highway and it remains the largest memorial to President Abraham Lincoln. It begins in Times Square, New York City and ends near the Golden Gate Bridge, in San Francisco. In Illinois, it passes through the cities such as Chicago Heights, Matteson, Frankfort, New Lenox, Joliet, Plainfield, Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, Maple Park, Cortland, DeKalb, Malta, Creston, Rochelle, Ashton, Franklin Grove, Dixon, Sterling, Morrison, and Fulton.

For individuals, organizations, neighborhood groups, or cities who would like to plan a yard sale or community-wide event for next year, the Lincoln Highway Buy-Way in Illinois will happen on Aug. 6 and 7 of 2010.