The Bristow Historical Society in Bristow, Oklahoma, is seeking a grant so it can dismantle a 100-foot-tall Chrysler Plymouth tower sign and reassemble it on Route 66.
Public Radio Tulsa talked to Historical Society Program Director Joe Trigalet and his wife, Linda, about the project:
“We’ve bought a property that’s actually on Main Street, which is Route 66,” Joe Trigalet said. “We’re planning to move the tower to Main Street.”
The Chrysler sign currently sits a block away from Route 66. To make the move, the sign would have to be broken down piece by piece and put back together again.
The tower was designed by 24-hour auto shop owner and flamboyant showman Grover Hubert “Red” Beard.
Back in 1949, the 20-ton neon beacon first lit up the night in the Creek County community. But now it sits dark despite its stature.
The sign went dark during the 1950s.
The grant should cover 70% to 80% of the moving costs. They hope donations cover the rest. The historical society should know next month whether it gets the grant.
If the society wins the grant, the Trigalets estimated it would take four to six months to move the tower sign. That would put its completion in early 2026, which is Route 66’s centennial.
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This is actually a very bad idea. The location is an important part of a historical building.
Fred from The Netherlands