The Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission last week landed two state grants totaling $450,000 to redevelop the Peoria Road/Ninth Street corridor and a plan to promote Route 66 in the county. The State Journal-Register in Springfield reported: For Sangamon County, this translates into $250,000 for a study of the Peoria Road/Ninth Street Corridor between Cook … Continue reading Illinois gives $450,000 in grants for Springfield’s Route 66 corridor
The Museum of Neon Art last week rescued the iconic House of Spirits signs that stood in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles after a major fire closed the business. The museum, based in nearby Glendale, California, also accepted the donations of the liquor store's storybook house with the crooked chimney, white picket fence … Continue reading Museum rescues House of Spirits sign from Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles
Albuquerque's mayor this week vowed to provide assistance to downtown businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic and riots during police brutality protests. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the city has contracted with minority-owned Glass on Wheels to replace an estimated $200,000 in windows that were broken during the protests. There is no timeline when the … Continue reading City of Albuquerque to provide aid to businesses affected by COVID-19, riots
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered the shutdown of bars, movie theaters, gyms and water parks Monday for at least 30 days because of a surge of coronavirus cases in that state. “Our expectation is that our numbers next week will be worse,” Ducey said, according to the Associated Press. Arizona health officials reported 3,858 more … Continue reading Arizona imposes new restrictions because of COVID-19
California's governor on Sunday ordered the closing of bars in seven counties, including Los Angeles County, because of an upsurge in coronavirus cases. State officials also have urged eight other counties, including San Bernardino County, to close their bars, reported the Los Angeles Times and other news outlets in the region. The order came two … Continue reading California closes bars in Los Angeles County because of coronavirus
Prolific author Stephen H. Provost this spring released two books barely two months apart about the early history of American roads and the so-called golden age of U.S. highways. "America's First Highways" delves into the pre-1926 era when the nation's main roads -- including a precursor to Route 66 -- were named and not numbered. … Continue reading Books review: “Yesterday’s Highways” and “America’s First Highways”
Route History, a former gas station in Springfield, Illinois, that tells the African American experience of Route 66 and acts a souvenir shop, recently earned an $80,047 grant from the state. The grant from the Illinois Minority-Owned Business Capital and Infrastructure Program will the owners help buy the property, improve its grounds, add two staff members … Continue reading Route History shop in Springfield awarded an $80,000 grant
The Meteor City Trading Post eventually will reopen for the first time since 2012 after its new owners have received a hand up from nearby Route 66 businesses and enthusiasts. The Arizona Daily Sun in a feature story recounts the three-year saga of Joann and Michael Brown of Indiana, who bought the abandoned and vandalized … Continue reading Meteor City Trading Post being restored with a little help from their friends
Last week, Tim Landes of TulsaPeople magazine sat down for a chat with Mary Beth Babcock, owner of the Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66 shop in Tulsa. For the uninitiated, the gift shop in a repurposed gas station at 1347 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) not only commissioned its own Muffler Man fiberglass … Continue reading A chat with Mary Beth Babcock, owner of Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on Route 66
Firestone Complete Auto Care, a fixture along Route 66 in downtown Albuquerque since at least the early 1930s, closed and its classic neon sign was hauled away about a month ago. The auto-repair shop was at Seventh Street and Central Avenue (aka Route 66). Downtown Albuquerque News (subscription required) reported: In response to questions, Firestone … Continue reading Vintage Firestone station in downtown Albuquerque closes
