CHRISMAN — The fire that ravaged the Frostop drive-in June 29 hit the community hard, and the owners committed to re-build and are doing so in short fashion.

Co-owner Sue Lawlyes said clean-up and construction has been progressing on the Frostop in earnest since the fire swept through the little diner that has been a mainstay in the village since 1954.

“Everything was a total loss,” Lawlyes said. “All our older equipment was completely destroyed.”

The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical, which Lawlyes said is a problem that has been alleviated because of the installation of all new wiring and appliances.

There are lots of other changes to the little drive-in too, though the skeleton of the stand remains much the same. Also unchanged is the signature Frostop root beer mug sign that continues to be perched out front towering above Illinois Route 1.

The overhang awning for cars has been extended and new windows were installed. An area where the carhops rest between waiting on customers was renovated and became part of the actual building. A flip-top counter also will help with the flow of orders coming in and going out.

“The girls won’t get quite as wet when they go out to wait on a car,” Lawlyes said.

An inside wall near the cooking area was moved back two feet, an extra doorway was installed to make for a second entrance and all the equipment was downsized, making it a more energy efficient outfit and giving more floor space.

“I’m still holding out to open if the weather holds up,” Lawlyes said.

The seasonal business would normally close Oct. 10, but Lawlyes said she’d like to extend that timeframe this year. Construction is expected to be finished the end of September or beginning of October, right around normal closing time.

Lawlyes feels getting the stand open for a bit this fall will give them a chance to work out the “kinks” of the new arrangement and equipment, and will also help out financially.

“If I could be open eight weeks or so, that could give us some time to make any changes before the beginning of next year,” Lawlyes said.

She’d also like to be open through harvest, because being open is good for both the Frostop and the farmers.

“They spend money here,” Lawlyes said. “They come in and take food to the fields.”

The community has overwhelmed the family with both well wishes and financial support. A fund was started at the First National Bank of Chrisman for donations to help the Frostop rebuild. Also, a classic car club from Paris has pledged to hold a show and benefit next spring at their grand opening.

“We had insurance,” Lawlyes said. “However, when you go through something like that, you find out you’re underinsured.”

Not only have local Frostop fans come to their aid, but a fellow Frostop friend from LaPlace, La., has conducted two 50/50 raffles, and will donate the proceeds to them.

Terry Toler, owner of the LaPlace Frostop, said at least $340 was going to be sent to the Chrisman Frostop as a result of the raffles. She said they personally matched the pot.

The two Frostop’s became friends via Facebook early in 2010. Toler was putting together a blog about Frostop history and current events, http://laplacefrostop.

blogspot.com/, and made fast friends with the Chrisman crew.

“With the Internet now, a lot (of Frostops) are popping up on Facebook, so it’s nice to see each other,” Toler said.

When Toler heard about the late June fire, she felt compelled to help out.

“It just upset me enough that we wanted to do something for them,” Toler said.

Toler said the LaPlace Frostop was built by her grandfather in 1958, then run by her father beginning in 1973. Similarly, the Chrisman Frostop has largely been run by the Riggen family, since 1961.

“When they can stay in the family that makes all the difference in the world,” Toler said.

Toler estimated that 14 Frostops remain in the country, with six being in the New Orleans area. However, she said they actually were founded in the Springfield, Ohio, area, not in the Deep South.

One area Lawlyes said they are researching is what other Frostop’s do about root beer dispense. The Chrisman Frostop used a vintage root beer barrel to disburse its special formula of root beer, but it was damaged beyond repair in the fire.

The family owns two other barrels and hopes to make one operational barrel from the parts of the three. However, Toler said she uses a current soda fountain for her root beer formula and it does well for her popular restaurant.

Lawlyes said moving the root beer from the barrel to the soda machine may be necessary.

None of the taste will be lost, just some of the nostalgia of the old barrel.

Something that wasn’t lost in the fire are the recipes unique to Riggens’ Frostop. That’s because Lawlyes said they are cemented in the heads of herself and her 88-year-old mother, Rena Riggen.

Lawlyes said she’s been at the drive-in every day while construction progresses and is excited about all the new ideas that have been installed there.

“I just can’t wait to get back to work,” Lawlyes said.