The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is sponsoring a clean-up day on Saturday, April 17, at the old Ozark Trail section of Route 66 west of Sapulpa. This project is in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup and Keep Oklahoma Beautiful programs. Work will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m. The association wants … Continue reading Notes from the road
Category: Businesses
Computer pioneer dies
Ed Roberts, a pioneer in the personal computer industry, died today at age 68 after a bout with pneumonia. According to an obituary on TechFlash, Roberts created the early MITS Altair 8800 computer, which inspired Paul Allen and Bill Gates to launch an early version of BASIC and thus giving birth to Microsoft. What does … Continue reading Computer pioneer dies
FedEx takes electric vehicle down Route 66
FedEx has decided to demonstrate its new all-electric urban delivery van with stops along Route 66 from Monday through April 6. It's part of the "Charge Up Route 66" tour. The tour is planning stops in St. Louis, Joplin, Oklahoma City, Amarillo and Albuquerque, in addition to the Mother Road's bookend cities of Los Angeles … Continue reading FedEx takes electric vehicle down Route 66
More than 400 race to the Rocker
More than 400 runners participated Saturday in the 4-mile Race to the Rocker that went on Route 66 from Cuba, Mo., to the World's Largest Rocker at the Fanning 66 Outpost and General Store in the tiny hamlet of Fanning, Mo., according to the Cuba Free Press. Proceeds for the second annual event went to … Continue reading More than 400 race to the Rocker
Grocery in Needles will remain open
The endangered Bashas' store, the only remaining grocery still operating in the Route 66 town of Needles, Calif., will remain open for the foreseeable future, reported the Needles Desert Star this week. The Bashas' chain had filed for bankruptcy months ago, and the closure of the Needles location and nine other stores was part of … Continue reading Grocery in Needles will remain open
Book review: “Route 66 in New Mexico”
Joe Sonderman is primarily known for two things -- as a radio announcer in the St. Louis area, and as a huge collector of Route 66 postcards. But while reading his latest book, "Route 66 in New Mexico" (soft cover, 128 pages, Arcadia Publishing, $21.99), it occurred to me that Sonderman may have met his … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 in New Mexico”
Revival of hotel building in Tulsa begins
The restoration of the historic Max Campbell Building in the 2600 block of East 11th Street, aka Route 66, in Tulsa is starting now. The purchase of the building and the intentions to convert it into a hotel and retail center was announced in late 2008. But I feared that the project went by the … Continue reading Revival of hotel building in Tulsa begins
Skating rink on Route 66 will be converted into a church
The closed Starlite Skate Rink on Route 66 north of Sapulpa, Okla., will be converted into the new home of Sapulpa Life Church effective Sunday, reported the Sapulpa Daily Herald. The church is tailored more to young people, so it's possible the Skate Rink could be used at times for the purpose for which it … Continue reading Skating rink on Route 66 will be converted into a church
Notes from the road
I've tried to glean a deeper look at the crisis in Needles, Calif., over the possible loss of its only grocery store, Bashas'. The grocer chain filed bankruptcy a few months ago, and it is set to close 10 stores in response, including Needles'. This recent story in the Mohave Daily News provides additional information … Continue reading Notes from the road
Devil’s Elbow Bridge gets stabilization grant
This historic but deteriorating Devil's Elbow Bridge that carries an older alignment of Route 66 into Devil's Elbow, Mo., got good news recently. The bridge will receive a grant to help stabilize the structure until more funds can be found to fully repair it. According to the Pulaski County Daily: The historic Devil’s Elbow bridge … Continue reading Devil’s Elbow Bridge gets stabilization grant