On Friday, the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program of the National Park Service announced its cost-share grant awards for 2007. These grants cover 50 percent of the cost of historic properties' preservation efforts or programs about Route 66. John Osterman Gas Station, Peach Springs, Ariz., $28,000 grant. From 1929 until its recent closure, the station … Continue reading Route 66 preservation grants announced
Month: September 2007
Cyclist takes Route 66 for fallen firemen
I stumbled upon this report from an Albuquerque television station about Laddie Williams of Augusta, Ga., who's cycling east across the U.S.A., including Route 66, to raise money for the families of nine firefighters who died in a blaze in Charleston, S.C., in June. It was the worst loss of life for firefighters since the … Continue reading Cyclist takes Route 66 for fallen firemen
At least they’re not going to the cemetery
Route 66 is hosting a caravan of cars on its way to a show in Elk City, Okla. It's not just any cars. They're funeral hearses. At lot of these car owners showed up Friday in Galena, Kan., according the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. And here's a funny anecdote from the story: Redmond said he has … Continue reading At least they’re not going to the cemetery
Notes from the road
I ran behind on getting caught up with news from the Main Street of America on Thursday. So here's the latest, in small bites: Rod Harsh of Visit66.com was shown by the Carthage (Mo.) Press installing new directional signs to help guide travelers down the Mother Road. Many travelers get lost in that part of … Continue reading Notes from the road
POPS was a’poppin’ in its first month
POPS on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla., was a big hit business-wise, according to a report in the Daily Oklahoman. Let us count the ways: POPS sold 45,000 specialty soft drinks, plus another 15,000 fountain drinks. That's equivalent to a dozen sold-out NBA games at Ford Center in nearby Oklahoma City. POPS' manager anticipated sales … Continue reading POPS was a’poppin’ in its first month
More scenes from the Route 66 Rendezvous
Quite a few videos have popped up on YouTube from the recently completed Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino. Here is a Best of Show vehicle, which is a semi-truck (!): Here is the Best of Show motorcycle: And here is the winner of the freestyle division in the burnout contest. Watch a Jeep disappear … Continue reading More scenes from the Route 66 Rendezvous
Getting ready in Springfield
The sixth annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Ill., isn't until next weekend, but the Springfield Journal-Register is already hyping it up. A few changes: First, after a two-year hiatus, the sock hop is back in the Prairie Capital Convention Center with Frankie Avalon as the headliner. Tickets are $16 to $26. … Continue reading Getting ready in Springfield
Long-distance walker update
Remember Detlev Henschel, the fellow who was trying to walk east across North America on old trails and highways, including Route 66? Well, he's now in Belfast, Maine.
Don’t try this at home
Some lads from the U.K. not only visited the Blue Whale on Route 66 in Catoosa, Okla., but decided to strip down to their swimming trunks and dive off the whale's tail into the spring-fed waters below. The caretaker, Blaine Davis, was undoubtedly not around at the time; he doesn't allow swimming. And based on … Continue reading Don’t try this at home
Cool Springs Camp damaged by storm
A severe storm in early September damaged the restored Cool Springs Camp on Oatman Road, aka Route 66, between Kingman and Oatman, Ariz. Cool Springs owner Ned Leuchtner said the storm ripped off part of the roof and dumped about two inches of rain on parts of the store's interior. Fortunately, he said, the artifacts … Continue reading Cool Springs Camp damaged by storm