Arcadia Round Barn awarded a grant September 16, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Preservation.add a comment
The Round Barn on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla., was awarded a $2,500 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, according to a news release today.
The seed grant funds will be used to develop a preservation plan for the historical Round Barn. This report contains data, historical facts, photographs, drawings, structure assessment, video, and articles on the Round Barn which was constructed in 1898 by a very innovative educator and farmer, William Odor. The barn was restored in 1992 by the efforts of Luke Robison.
Overseeing the grant will be the nonprofit Arcadia Historical & Preservation Society.
Agency will honor restoration of two Illinois Route 66 landmarks September 16, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, Gas stations, Preservation.add a comment
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program soon will honor groups’ work to two historic landmarks along Route 66 in Illinois, according to news releases from the agency.
The landmarks are Soulsby Station in Mount Olive and Sprague’s Super Service station in Normal.
The ceremony for Soulsby Station Society will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24, at 102 S. Route 66 in Mount Olive (map here). From the news release:
Built in 1926 by Henry Soulsby from his own design, Soulsby Service opened as a Shell Oil station. [...] Soulsby Station sat along the original alignment of U.S. Highway 66.
Henry’s son, Russell, returning home from WW II, where he served in the Pacific theater as a communications technician, opened a radio and TV repair shop in the north room of the station.
Soulsby Station served Route 66 traffic until the late 1970s, when Interstate 55 replaced the highway. Russell and his sister, Ola continued to sell gas for the next 20 years, finally closing the business in 1993. Russell died in 1999.
In 2004, the Soulsby Station Society, co-founded by Route 66 author Tom Teague, received a cost-share grant from the NPS to restore the building—one of the oldest filling stations on Route 66.
The ambitious project sought to completely restore the station for use as a museum. Work included placing new joists next to weakened floor joints, restoring original windows and installing a new HVAC and fire and security alarm systems. With Teague’s death in the fall of 2004, the project foundered. But members of the 25-member society came together, volunteering hundreds of hours, and completing the project in August, 2009.
Today, the restored gas station is open for limited tours. A huge Shell Oil sign hangs outside; inside wood shelves are neatly lined with vintage oil, sealant and lubricant containers. Visitors from all over the world drop by to pay homage to Henry and Russell Soulsby and this Route 66 Icon.
The ceremony to honor Terri Ryburn for her work on Sprague’s Super Station will be at Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 305 E. Pine St. in Normal (map here). From the news release:
Constructed in 1931, by building contractor William W. Sprague, the service station sat squarely on the original alignment of U.S. Highway 66. The two-story, Tudor Revival-style structure included a restaurant on the ground floor with living quarters upstairs.
Over the years, a number of operators leased or owned the station, which sold at different times, Texaco, Cities Service, Gulf and Zephyr gasoline. In the 1970s, it ceased selling gas and turned into a bridal shop, cake gallery and catering operation. The pumps were removed in 1979.
Terri Ryburn, a Route 66 author, bought the property in 2006. In 2007, Ryburn received a cost-share grant from the NPS to develop a Historic Structures Report to guide the building’s restoration and funds to replace the roof over the garage and make repairs to the ground floor restrooms. Additional money came from the Town of Normal, which funded the replacement of the building’s main roof; a separate grant from the State of Illinois paid for a new HVAC system. In 2008, Ryburn worked to get the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Ryburn has plans to turn the old Sprague’s Super Service into a visitor center, coffee shop and tea room and a public meeting space. “Even though (progress is now) going much slower, I will get it done,” says Ryburn.
The public is invited to both ceremonies.
Neon signs of Oklahoma City September 15, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Signs.1 comment so far
Here’s a very good video of past and present neon signs in Oklahoma City, some of them on Route 66.
Okiedokiegames, who shot the photos and uploaded the video, seems to have more clips up his or her sleeve. This video is listed as “Part 1″ of “Neon Signs of Oklahoma.” I’m looking forward to more.
A car dealership design out of the past September 15, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Businesses, Vehicles.3 comments
An artist's rendering of the rebuilt Bolin Ford dealership in Bristow, Okla. (Courtesy of John Sanford)
Car dealerships along Route 66 that are considering major renovations, take note — one in Oklahoma is showing how it should be done.
Bolin Ford, a dealership on Route 66 in Bristow, Okla., that was heavily damaged by fire in December 2008, is rebuilding in a style that matches Bristow’s historic downtown architecture and pays tribute to the Mother Road.
“All of the buildings in downtown go back to the 1920s, so we decided to go back to the 1920s,” explained Bolin Ford sales coordinator Kathy Wisotsky about Bolin’s retro design. “And, besides, it’s on Route 66.”
Wisotsky said a still-standing sign tower for an abandoned Chrysler-Plymouth dealership a couple of blocks from Route 66 in Bristow also served as an inspiration for the Bolin sign tower in the design.
Tulsa architect John Sanford laid out the dealership’s retro look. Wisotsky said the project should be finished in late spring of 2011.
A construction firm that has presided over many projects in the historic downtown of Eureka Springs, Ark., is the general contractor for Bolin.
“Several contractors competed hard for this project,” Wisotsky said, “because they knew it would be an award-winner.”
The fire destroyed a hangar-style repair shop and an adjacent structure. But mostly spared were the architecturally distinctive structures, including the original 1923 Bristow Motor Co. building on the corner. The original buildings can be seen at the left in the artist’s rendering.
Wisotsky gave credit to a number of employees and stakeholders at Bolin Ford for advocating a novel design for the rebuild, including general manager Bill Shattuck.
“We’ve got at least one more idea up our sleeve,” Wisotsky said. “We can’t say what it is right now, but it should be exciting.”
Bolin is under its third generation of family ownership, and has been operating on Route 66 in Bristow for 52 years. Bristow Motor Co. was the first automotive dealership in Creek County.
Route 66 Sodas wins packaging award September 14, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Businesses, Food.add a comment
Route 66 Sodas LLC in Lebanon, Mo., won a Clear Choice Award today from the Glass Packaging Institute in the Carbonated Beverage Category.
From the news release about the awards:
“As always, the entries for GPI’s 2010 Clear Choice Awards represent some of the best in new packaging and show off the great innovation and design talents that keep the packaging industry working at the top of its game,” says Joe Pryweller, Managing Editor at Packaging Strategies. “With the pool of entries so deep, it made the task difficult to identify the winners. Yet, even in this crowded field, some packages stood out for their sheer invention, novel detail, and ability to rise above others on the shelf and exclaim ‘look at me.’”
For Route 66 Sodas, the institute said:
The Folks at Route 66 launched their soda flavors — Root Beer, Orange, Lime, Black Cherry, and Cream — in an updated new package. The combination of the new glass package and the addition of new flavors are making the brand stronger and giving the consumer the perfect beverage choice.
Here’s a video of the winners. The relevant bit is about the 1:55 mark:
I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit thirsty.
(Photo by Burwell Photography)
HOG alert September 14, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, Motorcycles, Road trips.add a comment
The Harley Owners Group’s Motoring the Mother Road event started in Chicago on Sunday and is making its way down the Mother Road.
Route 66 author Michael Wallis is in tow. The group will gather at the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza, aka the 11th Street Bridge, in Tulsa about 9 a.m. Friday.
According to a story in the Pontiac (Ill.) Daily Leader, about 600 motorcyclists had signed up for the event.
So if you live near the Mother Road, keep your eyes peeled. You probably will see quite a sight — and feel it, too.
Observations from a preservation project September 13, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motels, Preservation, Signs.4 comments
Here are a few random thoughts about the sign preservation project that volunteers with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association completed this past weekend at the Lincoln Motel in Chandler, Okla.:
Emily Priddy starts repainting the lettering on the east side of the Lincoln Motel sign after it was scraped.
1. Don’t use household latex paint on an outdoors sign. This advice may seem elementary, but it became apparent during prepping that the Lincoln Motel’s sign had been coated with cheap acrylic. That caused large chunks of it to come off — if it wasn’t already gone — during scraping. Needless to say, the oil-based enamel we used probably will last longer.
Emily is pleased to know the sign re-painting is almost finished.
2. It’s difficult to erect scaffolding when @#$%*& hedges are in the way. The thick vegetation around the motel’s south edge undoubtedly proves useful in blocking noise and headlights from passing traffic. But it sure makes it a pain in gaining access to a preservation project.
Doug Dickman and Emily Priddy put the neon tubing back on the Lincoln Motel's sign.
3. It’s good to have an experienced general contractor help put up scaffolding. Doug Dickman of Chandler was the one who supervised putting the framework together and ensuring the scaffold was on stable footing so we wouldn’t go tumbling 15 feet into the air.
4. The most nerve-wracking portion was not the painting. The most tense moments came when we had to carefully remove the sign’s neon tubing and put it back up again when painting was completed. One wrong move, and you’d shatter a section of letters that would cost at least $100 to replace.
Jerry McClanahan goes to great lengths to repaint a hard-to-reach portion of the sign.
5. It helps to have a sign re-painter who happens to be a daredevil. Jerry McClanahan was willing to go to great heights (literally) and awkward contortions to make sure all of the sign’s hard-to-reach corners were coated.
6. It helps to have a sign re-painter who actually has artistic experience. McClanahan has worked as an artist for many years, and his steady hand and knowledge became useful during the course of the project.
7. You can actually keep painting during a rainstorm. It’s not recommended, obviously, to do an entire repainting project during a downpour. But oil-based enamel isn’t going to be affected much by moisture if just a few brush strokes remain, as we discovered on Sunday.
8. The motel’s new owners seem committed to upgrading the property. They told us that the rooms would be renovated in the coming weeks and the cabins’ exteriors will be repainted. Considering the motel was built in 1939, it can use all the TLC it can get.
9. During a preservation project, you’ll use muscles you never knew you had. Emily and I are still feeling sore a full day after the project. But seeing the results makes it worth it.
Charity motorcycle ride sees impressive growth September 13, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, Motorcycles, Road trips.add a comment
I’ve posted information about the Temple Street Route 66 Challenge fund-raiser for the Temple Street Children’s University Hospital in Dublin on this site before.
But I never dreamed that this charity motorcycle ride from Chicago to Santa Monica was this successful. Tony Toner, writing for the Irish American News, has the details:
In the world of fundraising, the Temple Street Route 66 Challenge has established itself as a true phenomenon, one which has raised in excess of $3 million from their four previous visits and where on the 26th of September next some 100 participants will arrive in Chicago and the next day commence their venture down the Mother Road of America for the fifth time since 2002. [...]
The Irish 66’ers took Route 66 into their very being during their first visit in October 2002. They knew they’d be back, to quote a famous Californian Governor. And so in 2004, 2006 and 2008, they charted this ‘forgotten’ road and now possess the secret formula for their successful bi-annual Charity Challenge, enabling all participants to partake in its magic.
According to the article, this year’s challenge will raise more than $500,000.
Our man in Santa Monica September 13, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Businesses, People.2 comments
Here was an unexpected treat: The folks at FavoriteRoad.com interviewed Dan Rice, owner and operator of the 66-to-Cali souvenir shack on the Santa Monica Pier.
These videos were posted late Sunday.
Missouri holds new meeting for Route 66 bridge September 12, 2010
Posted by Ron Warnick in Bridges, Preservation.2 comments
(Note: see time correction below)
Norma Bolin, who’s best-known for her “Route 66 St. Louis Cookbook” and the recently released “Route 66 St. Louis,” dropped me a note over the weekend to let me know that the Missouri Department of Transportation made a last-minute change on a public meeting regarding the Route 66 bridge at Route 66 State Park near Eureka.
The meeting will be about 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Eureka High School at 4525 Highway 109 (map here). Bolin says the meeting’s purpose to see whether there is public support for preserving the bridge.
Bolin wrote in an e-mail:
… MoDot’s press release says it is an open house style meeting to discuss the historical preservation process and the timeline for making a decision on the next step for the bridge. Its position is that it continues to look for someone else to take over the liability and responsibility for the bridge, and if no one is found then the bridge will be removed. MoDot’s wording makes it sound like there is nothing new and does not appear urgent.
They do not offer any other alternatives to show public support or to participate in this last minute meeting such as sending comments via email, etc. However, anyone wanting to do so should direct comments to Andrew Gates, community relations specialist at MoDot. I found his email address on a different and unrelated MoDot press release Andrew.gates@modot.mo.gov and would encourage the entire Route 66 community to send an email of support for the bridge (and send a copy to) Don Fink of the Route 66 State Park ( don.fink@dnr.mo.gov )
The Route 66 Bridge at the state park was closed to all traffic a few months ago after MoDOT officials determined it was unsafe and said it probably will have to be demolished. Trailnet, which acquired ownership of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis and turned it into a pedestrian and bicycle trail, has shown interest in possibly acquiring the Route 66 Bridge, but nothing definite.
I reckon that quite a few locals would be interested in keeping the bridge. Route 66 Park’s main offices remain easily accessible. But the closing of the bridge has essentially cut off visitors from the rest of the park, requiring a convoluted route on county roads and Interstate 44. The lack of a bridge has greatly hurt the park’s viability.
Still, it would be a good idea if members of the Route 66 community would e-mail Andrew Gates and Don Fink and tell them that there are plenty of good reasons to keep the bridge around.
If the bridge can’t be saved, it adds another chapter of misfortune to that area. Route 66 State Park sits on the former site of Times Beach, which was evacuated and abandoned in the 1980s because of accidental dioxin contamination.
UPDATE: A Friends of the Meramec River Route 66 Bridge page has been set up on Facebook.