Missouri town painting fire hydrants in a Route 66 theme

The Route 66 town of Sullivan, Mo., is embarking on an unusual art project where its fire hydrants are being repainted to commemorate a landmark or city along the Mother Road, reported the Sullivan Journal.

Although the highway runs from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., the mural project will cover that distance from the city limits at Oak Grove Village (Springfield Road) to the western edge of the city along the South Outer Road near Landers Road.

“Thousands of people travel Route 66 every year,” says City Administrator J.T. Hardy. “This gives them something historical and something from our community.” It also gives travelers a reason to stop. Hardy believes that Sullivan needs to have an identity – such as the murals in Cuba and the giant rocking chair at the Fanning Route 66 Outpost. […]

The project is wholly funded by an adopt-a-hydrant system, with area businesses, churches, and organizations footing the approximate $100 per hydrant. In return, the sponsor receives recognition on the city’s website.

The City of Sullivan’s website contains photos of several finished Route 66 hydrants, including a Chicago-themed one (seen above), the Gemini Giant of Wilmington, Ill.; the Polk-A-Dot Drive-In in Braidwood, Ill.; and the sights of Bill Shea’s gas station museum, Abraham Lincoln, and the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Ill.

The website indicates that the City of Sullivan will repaint 27 fire hydrants in all along Route 66. The next hydrants to be painted will commemorate the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Ill.; the Gateway Arch and Old Courthouse in St. Louis; and Meramec Caverns and Jesse James in Stanton, Mo.

Sullivan also runs an Adopt-A-Hydrant program for non-66 streets, including one that pays tribute to St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial.

UPDATE: The Sullivan Independent has published an article about Lora Dickerson, the woman who is painting many of the hydrants.

(Hat tip: Jan Reed and Ron Hart)