A resolution that would rename a portion of Route 1 through Danville after former U.S. House Speaker Joe Cannon has cleared the state senate.
Senator Scott Bennett announced on Tuesday that the senate approved the resolution that was introduced by State Representative Mike Marron. Members of the Illinois House passed the resolution two weeks ago.
Cannon, who was from Danville, served three stints as a member of Congress between 1873 and 1923. He was also the House Speaker from 1903 until 1911, and is the second-longest serving member in that position. One of the Congressional office buildings in Washington, D.C. is named after him, as well as Cannon Park and the now-closed Cannon School in Danville. There is also a sign honoring him across from the Vermilion County Administration Building in downtown Danville.
Route 1 would be designated as “Speaker Joe Cannon Highway” in his honor.
