Several stretches of original pavement of Route 66 were designated as among the Most Endangered Places in Preservation Oklahoma’s annual list.
The endangered Route 66 stretches mentioned by the organization were:
- Ribbon Road near Miami
- Canadian County east of Fort Reno
- Washita County southwest of Clinton
Here’s what Preservation Oklahoma stated about the original pavement:
As Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, there are some alignments with the original pavement that are endangered. The Ribbon Road, an early alignement of Route 66, stretches from Miami to Afton. That portion of the road was built in 1922, becoming part of Rt. 66 in 1926. It’s the only stretch of original 9 feet wide pavement on the entire route.
A portion of the route from Fort Reno to Calumet and a portion southwest of Clinton are also included due to the original pavement.
Why It’s Endangered: With the road reaching 100 or more years old, maintenance is needed like any other road. However, resources of the counties maintaining those portions don’t always facilitate true preservation of the original concrete. Additionally, more travel has brought requests to widen the road, which destroys the original pavement and curbing.
Other endangered properties listed this year in the Sooner State:
- The Commerce Building, Okmulgee
- Walters Depot, Walters
- Lodge Laska, Oklahoma City
- Covenant Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City
- Bert McCarty Furniture Building, Ponca City
- Ingalls Hotel, Ingalls
- Historic Cemeteries: Bruner Cemetery-Seminole and Earl Cemetery-Mannsville
Since 1993, Preservation Oklahoma has recognized historic sites across the state at risk of demolition or deterioration, raising awareness of the need to protect Oklahoma’s historic resources.
While inclusion on the list does not guarantee protection or funding, it can be a component in mobilizing support for the preservation of historic sites.
“Our goal with the most endangered list is to bring awareness to properties that need preservation and are endangered in some way,” POK Executive Director Shelley Bierschank said in a news release.
“That awareness may open new avenues of preservation to these locations, as it has with locations that have been listed in previous years. I’m especially proud of the community involvement in nominating these locations. Many of these sites have been fundamentally important to their community for many decades, and have the potential to be important parts of those communities well into the future.”
(Image of the Sidewalk Highway, aka Ribbon Road, near Miami, Oklahoma, by Rhys Martin via Preservation Oklahoma)