The legendary blizzard of 1956 February 4, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in History, Weather.add a comment
I stumbled today onto this story in the The Courier of Montgomery County, Texas, about a freak blizzard that struck the Plains of New Mexico and Texas on Feb. 4, 1956.
The storm blanketed snow from Amarillo to the north, Tucumcari, N.M., to the west, and Wink to the south. Even El Paso got 5 inches of snow. But here’s the excerpt that made me gasp:
At first light on Feb. 5, the snow was 14 inches deep in Amarillo, but Texas’ northernmost city had gotten off light compared to nearby Vega. The small community halfway between Amarillo and the New Mexico line was buried beneath an unbelievable 61 inches – a state record that stands to this day.
I can’t even comprehend that much snow in the Plains. Last year about this time, portions of the Grand Lake area of northeastern Oklahoma experienced 50 inches of snow. But that accumulated over several successive storms — not in one shot like Vega’s.
The next time you’re in Vega, you ought to ask old-timers about that storm. I bet you’ll hear a few interesting stories.
The NOAA’s Monthly Weather Review published a story a few weeks later about the storm. You can read a PDF of the article here. It contains a lot of material that’s interesting mostly to meteorology geeks. But this except tells how historic the storm truly was:
The snow depth broke records of 50 years duration, and the combination of snow, cold, and winds caused blizzard conditions and considerable hardship. At least 18 deaths were attributed directly to the storm. The normal life of the area was completely paralyzed during the storm and there were still transportation difficulties up through February 14. Highway travel was stopped as drifts blocked the roads and even intercity buses suspended operations after several buses were stranded and the passengers rescued by tractor.
The Courier also told this stirring story that involved the border town of Glenrio, Texas, now a ghost town:
Early in the morning of Feb. 5, Continental Trailways driver John Hearon pulled out of the Amarillo bus station with 16 passengers, two children and 14 adults, and headed west in the blinding blizzard toward Tucumcari, New Mexico.
Less than 10 miles from the Texas-New Mexico boundary, the bus slipped off the icy asphalt and into a snow-filled ditch. Presuming it was only a matter of time until help arrived from Tucumcari, the driver stayed with his worried passengers.
At half past two that afternoon, Hearon decided he had no choice but to go for help. That meant walking eight miles through waist-deep snow to tiny Glenrio on the New Mexico side of the state line.
“I fell down at least three times but I knew I had to get up and go on,” Hearon later said from a hospital bed. “I was afraid to stop because I knew I would never start again.” [...]
It was 11 o’clock that night, when Hearon at last saw the lights of Glenrio. Exhausted, snow-blind in one eye and nearly delirious, he collapsed 200 yards from his destination.
The only thing John Hearon could think to do was to whistle. Off in the distance, someone heard his distress call and within minutes his ordeal was over.
Three “Land of Enchantment” highway patrol cars followed a road grader to the stranded bus. The anxious passengers were cold and very hungry after their 21-hour wait, but they were alive thanks to their dedicated driver.
El Garces makes slow progress February 4, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motels, Preservation, Railroad.add a comment
It’s been slow, but the Needles (Calif.) Desert Star reported this week that the effort to restore and eventually reopen the historic El Garces hotel, restaurant, and railroad depot in Needles is making progress.
The stumbling point has been whether the Federal Transportation Administration will approve a joint operating agreement between El Garces LLC and the city, or some other arrangement.
Alan Affeldt, owner of La Posada in Winslow, Ariz., and lead developer of the El Garces project, sent a recent email that clarified things :
Now FTA has to decide if the City can be a partner with anyone (like me, which is very challenging but possible) or if the city has to do it themselves (which is highly unlikely).
Most importantly, FTA has to decide if the City can transfer (sell) title to the property to a private party (like me) if certain USE conditions/restrictions are met.
Everyone thinks they should allow transfer, without which the rehabilitation cannot be financed, but FTA has statutory obligations to protect the public interest in the project grants.
It is alas not a simple problem, but we seem to be getting closer to an answer which will make the options clear to all the parties.
We should hear something by spring…
It should be noted that Affeldt isn’t an unproven or fly-by-night operator. His revival of La Posada is one of the greatest success stories of the Southwest. His track record should carry a lot of credibility.
El Garces opened as a Harvey House hotel and restaurant in 1908. It closed in 1949. The older alignment of Route 66 goes right by the landmark. Efforts by Affeldt to restore El Garces began in 2007, but were put on hold in 2011.
Wigwam Motel in Rialto named to National Register February 3, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motels, Preservation.1 comment so far
The Wigwam Motel on Route 66 in Rialto, Calif., was placed on the National Register of Historic Places effective Jan. 3, according to an email Thursday afternoon from the National Park Service.
The Wigwam, which features individual motel cabins in the shape of tepees, was nominated in late 2011; its inclusion on the National Register was a near-certainty.
According to the Wigwam’s website:
The California Wigwam Motel was built within the city limits of San Bernardino in 1949, a period when citrus groves flourished. The motel would later acquire a Rialto postal address, creating confusions as the property actually sits in San Bernardino. [...] This location would mark the final of 7 Wigwam Motels that were constructed. The motel’s village-style arrangement of nineteen 30-foot-tall tepees made from wood framing, concrete and stuco draws much admiration from all generations. Each individual wigwam is carefully equipped with all the traveler’s essentials with grounds that includes of grass area, an outdoor barbecue grill, and kidney-shaped swimming pool.
The mastermind behind this retro motel was a clever man by the name of Frank Redford, who was heavily influenced by the native Indian culture. He would bring his imagination to a reality in the early 1930s explained in the following section.
A total of only seven Wigwam Motels were built throughout the nation, of which three managed to remain preserved. Two of the last three remaining rest along historic Route 66 in the states of Arizona and California, while the other rests in Redford’s home state of Kentucky.
The other Wigwam Motel on Route 66 mentioned is located in Holbrook, Ariz., and it also is marvelously preserved.
The Kumar Patel family doesn’t give itself nearly enough credit for their role in the Wigwam’s preservation. It purchased the motel nearly 10 years ago, when it had declined into a by-the-hour establishment (with an infamous “Do It in a Tepee” sign). The Patels chased out the bad element, cleaned up the interiors, and welcomed Route 66 travelers with open arms.
In the fall of 2011, the Wigwam’s Facebook page posted photos of workers blasting off years of old paint on the cabins’ exterior so they could repaint them in the original hues. The oft-updated page also contains plenty of other roadie delights, including Kumar showing off the premium cigars he favors.
(Vintage photo of the Wigwam Motel courtesy of 66postcards.com)
The heap behind Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree February 3, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Movies, People.add a comment
The Disney Parks Blog took a behind-the-scenes look at Larry the Cable Guy, aka Mater from the 2006 Disney-Pixar film “Cars,” recording a voice-over.
Disney needed Larry’s pipes for Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, one of the rides featured in Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure:
Cars Land is based on the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs from “Cars.” Cars Land is set to open sometime this summer.
Let’s make Route 66 a National Historic Trail February 2, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Highways, History, Preservation.6 comments
It’s time for the Route 66 community to talk to congressmen about eventually designating the Mother Road as a National Historic Trail, under the auspices of the National Park Service.
Of the eight states where the old highway traverses, six have attained Byways or All-American Road status for Route 66. A seventh — California — soon will gain that status as well. (Texas remains the only holdout.)
A rendering of what a Route 66 National Historic Trail might look like.
With that in mind, it’s time for Route 66ers to set sights on a new and bigger goal — getting National Historic Trail status in time for Route 66′s 100th anniversary in 2026.
The benefits of a National Historic Trail designation for Route 66 are:
— Better and more consistent directional signs. Signs directing travelers to Route 66 are scattershot or even nonexistent in several areas, much like America’s road system was before highway federalization in 1926. The lack of signage remains travelers’ No. 1 complaint about Route 66, according to the recently released Route 66 Economic Impact Report. Attaining Historic Trail status would require better signage throughout the route, largely solving that persistent problem.
— Boosting local economies. With a National Historic Trail designation, the greater number of Route 66 travelers would give an economic shot in the arm for many communities along the route. The Economic Impact Report says Route 66 generates $127 million annually to the U.S. economy. As a Historic Trail, that figure could rise to $200 million and above.
— More preservation of historic properties. Because of the subsequent increased economic activity of a Route 66 National Historic Trail, this would give more incentive to maintain or enhance historic properties. Route 66 travelers want to see landmarks from a bygone era. With more of those travelers, most of those owners will keep their historic places shored up.
Nearly 20 trails exist under the National Historic Trail Act. Nearly all were deemed historically relevant in the 19th century and even before. Route 66 would become one of the few trails in the National Park Service that hearkens to the 20th century. And it instantly would be the most famous of all the trails.
About 10 days ago, I participated in a conference call with National Park Service officials about the possibility of making Route 66 a Historic Trail. Also there were Kaisa Barthuli, program manager of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program; Jim Ross, a prominent Route 66 historian; and Michael Wallis, author of “Route 66: The Mother Road” and chairman of the Route 66 Alliance.
Aaron Mahr, superintendent of the National Historic Trails in the Intermountain Region, said during the call that Route 66 boasts “thousands” of high-potential historic sites, while the 2,000-mile El Camino Real, in comparison, totals maybe 100.
Mahr said property rights would continue to be respected even if Route 66 became a Historic Trail. “There is a clause in the Trail Act where the federal government can purchase land, but only from willing suitors,” he said. “There is absolutely no threat to land owners from the federal government.”
Mahr said the initial study of Route 66 in the early 1990s concluded that the Mother Road qualified for Historic Trail status. But the public rejected the idea at that time because of potential federal involvement.
However, the goodwill generated in subsequent years by the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program has lessened those concerns.
“The Corridor Preservation Program has done a marvelous job demonstrating that government involvement can be a good thing,” Ross said, who acknowledged he was one of those skeptics.
Generally, a feasibility study is required before a National Historic Trail is designated. However, John Conoboy, a retired National Park Service manager who help draft the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program legislation, said a feasibility study is not needed. Conoboy says the 1990s study already shows that Route 66 meets the criteria. Therefore, Route 66 can avoid a costly, time-consuming step to attain Historic Trail status.
Conoboy and Mahr agreed that Route 66 stakeholders need to ensure the noteworthy alignments of Route 66 (such as the 1926-34 loop that went to Santa Fe) be represented in the National Historic Trail.
Conoboy said NPS trail administrators also should avoid putting too many interpretive centers or kiosks along the Mother Road.
“You want the mom-and-pops to tell the story,” he said, “to keep the essential character of Route 66 alive.”
But those are future concerns. What’s needed now from the Route 66 community is to discuss the National Historic Trail idea at association meetings and at roadie gatherings. Route 66 fans should bring up the idea to local congressmen, especially in the states where Route 66 exists.
(The U.S. House of Representatives website has a handy page where you can look up and write to your congressman here.)
Write lawmakers a letter, or talk to them at constituent meetings. You might be surprised how much they might like the idea. For instance, Mahr says U.S. Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma is an enthusiastic backer of National Historic Trails, especially the Trail of Tears Historic Trail due to his Chickasaw Indian heritage.
It would be ideal if a majority of Route 66′s states landed sponsors in Congress for Route 66 Historic Trail legislation. However, it’s not crucial. The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program bill was shepherded into law by one lawmaker from New Mexico. Even with just a few legislators on board, it can still be done.
I will write Route 66 state associations, asking them to support this idea and contact their U.S. representatives and senators about it. The National Historic Trail idea already has drawn support from the Route 66 Alliance, the National Historic Route 66 Federation, and the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.
This can get done. We just need to be persistent. And if you have other ideas to speed this proposal along, let me know in the comments section.
Bill would eliminate National Scenic Byways program February 1, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Highways, Preservation.8 comments
A transportation bill proposed by U.S. House committee chairman would eliminate the National Scenic Byways program, according to an email from an official with the Route 66 Association of New Mexico.
Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced legislation Tuesday that would repeal the byways program, according to an email from Vickie Ashcraft of the association.
Sure enough, the American Energy and Infrastructure Act of 2012 contains this text on Page 201:
(k) NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM.—Section
8 162, and the item relating to that section in the analysis
9 for chapter 1, are repealed.
Six of the eight Route 66 states have attained Byway or All-American Road status for Route 66. The program has given out thousands of dollars in grants to help Route 66 tourism over the years.
Supporters of the Byways programs are urged to contact the committee and ask the panel to eliminate the program’s repeal language. One letter to the committee was forwarded to me; you can use part of this excerpt if you wish:
With a national effort to implement new efforts to attract international visitors and create jobs, we cannot put at risk a proven tool like the system of 150 All-American Roads and National Scenic Byways. [...]
The Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway, as well as the other federally designated roadways across the U.S., have been an integral part in developing and strengthening the economies of our country’s rural and metropolitan communities.
Byways are extremely important today as an international tourism marketing tool and will become even more important with the advent of the Corporation for Travel Promotion/Brand USA efforts to regain our lost share of international travel and create jobs. Claims of international significance for our byways are indeed substantiated. The new organization set up to market the US to international visitors, Brand USA, has a chart showing its marketing plan. One of the four experience pillars Brand USA is targeting is the Great Outdoors – and Byways are prominently listed along with National Parks. In fact to a considerable extent, Byways fit into all four pillars. We have $200 million available to attract visitors and create jobs through this initiative – Abolishment of the proven and successful National Scenic Byways Program would take away one of the prime marketing assets for countless communities and regions.
Abolishing the National Scenic Byway Program would be devastating to our Byway, our state and th entire country. Our Byways have done incredible work and made great strides to impact tourism, economic development and transportation under the National Scenic Byway Program. Byways across the country have leveraged the National Scenic Byway Program designation to obtain funds from other federal, state and local funding resources to make a significant impact on American transportation, our visitor-based economy, on community livability and protection of our natural resources – just to name a few.
It might also be a good idea to refer to the recently released Route 66 Economic Impact Report when writing the committee. It makes a very good case on why historic preservation is a very efficient cog in the U.S. economy.
UPDATE: The National Scenic Byways Foundation has instructions on who to write and how on its home page.
Arizona Route 66 restaurant destroyed by fire; owner killed February 1, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Restaurants.1 comment so far
A natural gas explosion is believed to have started an explosion and fire that destroyed Linda’s Cafe & Deli in Golden Shores, Ariz., and killed its owner last Thursday, reported the Mojave Daily News.
The body of the restaurant’s owner, Ronald Lee Hansen, 58, of nearby Topock, Ariz., was discovered by firefighters as they tried to control the blaze.
The restaurant was at the 12900 block of South Oatman Road, aka Route 66.
An explosion reportedly occurred at 7:44 a.m. Thursday. Officials think the blast was caused by a gas leak, possibly from a water heater. Firefighters think Hansen was alone at the time of the fire.
Linda’s Cafe was decorated in a Route 66 diner style, and was listed in the Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide, published by the National Historic Route 66 Federation.
Admiral Twin rising again February 1, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Theaters.3 comments
Those who doubted whether the Admiral Twin Drive-In theater in Tulsa would rise again after a devastating fire in September 2010, take a look at this:
That’s a big concrete structure at the bottom, where the new concession stand and bathrooms will be. The steel skeleton of the big double screen is rising from that. These pictures were taken about noon Tuesday. A few more beams were added later that day.
I walked over to the concrete structure and shot this image of the inside:
More steel beams for the double screen were strewn around the Admiral Twin’s grounds. Clearly, more work will be done.
It’s doubtful the Admiral Twin will reopen in time for the usual beginning of the season in April. Word is that the theater’s owners are shooting for a July reopening instead.
The drive-in first opened in 1951, and its second screen was built a year later. Even as the number of drive-ins in the United States dropped over the decades, the Admiral Twin continued to show first-run movies.
In addition to its association with Route 66, the Admiral Twin served as an inspiration during a scene in Tulsa native S.E. Hinton’s famous novel, “The Outsiders.”
“Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 5 January 31, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Road trips, Television.2 comments
Here’s the fifth installment of Japanese television’s “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” which chronicles a singer and actor’s trip down the Mother Road last fall.
He goes from Oklahoma City to Amarillo, Texas. I’m glad he got to see wild turkeys in western Oklahoma. And he didn’t attempt the Big Texan 72-ounce steak challenge, but close.
Looking forward to the next episode. He’s going to be a cowboy, albeit briefly.
Driving the Mother Road the hard way January 30, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Road trips, Vehicles.add a comment
In 2004, Brian McKay decided to re-create the Okies’ exodus from the Dust Bowl by driving his 1930 Nash automobile on Route 66.
The key difference was that McKay didn’t start in Oklahoma — he started at Route 66′s eastern starting point in Chicago. He was determined to accomplish the 2,400-mile journey without any modern conveniences. And he planned to drive 35 mph, a typical speed during that era.
Here’s a video from that time that recently surfaced about McKay and his Nash:
It took 50 days, but McKay made it to the end of Route 66 in Santa Monica. Probably the most trying time of the journey was in the California and Arizona deserts. The dry air made the Nash’s wooden spokes shrink, and the tires wobbled dangerously. At one point, McKay soaked the wheels overnight in the Colorado River before departing for the Mojave Desert.
A day-by-day accounting of McKay’s trip can be found here and here.
I was saddened to learn from the video that McKay died of cancer in 2010. He was a true road warrior — one who tried (and succeeded) in something that few of us would even attempt.
His 1930 Nash is on display at the Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.