In recent days, newspapers have profiled three people hundreds of miles apart who are doing their part to try to dress up old stretches of Route 66.
West of Needles, California, the Needles Desert Star reports Jim Nickel — originally from Oregon — has built several monuments to the branches of the U.S. military from the native rocks that litter the desert landscape.
He started making initials from rocks as a form of exercise.
Then he decided he wanted to create a memorial for his long-time friend, Ron, who served in the U.S. Navy for many years but passed away.
Nickel has since kept going. He’s created a monument honoring the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S.A., the U.S. Air Force, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and one for the U.S. Army.
The monuments turned out to be random projects but both Nickel and Starr have connections to the military. Starr’s father was in the Navy for 35 years and retired a Master Chief Gunner’s Mate. Nickel’s father was in the Army for many years.
Their daughter served in the USMC and met her husband, also a Marine. Now the Nickels’ grandsons have joined the military.
The monuments are near the KOA Campground on National Old Trails Highway, aka Route 66, west of town. Hundreds of people have spelled their initials along berms that line the old highway between Needles and Ludlow, but this one is a bit more elaborate.
The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin published a profile on Anthony Gonzalez, who is leading the restoration of the Cucamonga Service Station in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
Gonzalez explained his interest in historic preservation came out of a disaster in downtown Los Angeles 20 years ago.
In the early ‘90s, Gonzalez served as El Pueblo director when many of the buildings there were damaged by an earthquake in 1994.
“It made me realize the importance of trying to maintain and keep these historical building so we can know where we came from,” he said.
Gonzalez is president of Route 66 Inland Empire California. He and the nonprofit group have used many donated hours and donated money to fix up the century-old, long-neglected station along Route 66. It’s hoped the building can be reopened as a museum by summer.
Finally, the Tulsa World reports that former lawmaker Russ Roach of the nonprofit Route 66 Development Group is printing billboards for businesses along the Mother Road in Tulsa.
The vinyl prints are portraits of business owners standing next to classic cars. The prints, adorned with the Route 66 logo, are then showcased near the business.
“That particular category is what I call, ‘Highway Historical,’ ” Roach said about his billboards. “I’m involved in several projects to try to make Route 66 more interesting, viable and more visually attractive.” […]
So far, Roach has printed three signs for local businesses: Tally’s Diner at 4800 E. 11th St., Remote Connections at 1809 E. 11th St. and Lester Sales and Auto Detail at 1543 E. 11th St.
Roach figures if Route 66 businesses in Tulsa can see the benefit in a few promotions to tourists, they’ll take the initiative to do a few themselves and improve the corridor.