A 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Aire has sat on a pole at 2412 Clear Lake Ave. in Springfield, Ill., for 17 years. Locals call it the "Chevy on a stick," and Route 66ers are fond of seeing that landmark during excursions through town. Now that the car dealership that it presided over has moved, the "Chevy on … Continue reading “Chevy on a stick” faces iffy future
Category: Businesses
Ghost in the machine
The Williams (Ariz.) News reports that something tripped the surveillance video at Twisters '50s Soda Fountain and Route 66 Place during the wee hours of Oct. 16, when the business was closed. It wasn't a burglar or a short in the camera system itself, as there was something visible on the film, a floating white … Continue reading Ghost in the machine
Historic Tulsa building to be converted into hotel
Tulsa Business Journal reports that the historic Max Campbell Building on 11th Street (aka Route 66) in Tulsa has been purchased and will be converted into a hotel, events center and retail space. Group M. Investments Inc. purchased the historic building, which sits at 11th and Columbia, near the University of Tulsa. The site contains … Continue reading Historic Tulsa building to be converted into hotel
Illinois Hall of Fame taking nominations
Here's a news brief from the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph: The Route 66 Association of Illinois will take nominations for its Hall of Fame from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28. Nominations must include qualities, deeds and history on Route 66. To qualify, nominees must have made significant contributions to the character or history of the Illinois … Continue reading Illinois Hall of Fame taking nominations
Architecture firm honored for Route 66 espresso stand
AIA Seattle formed a team to recognize up-and-coming and innovative architectural firms in the region. Twelve were selected, and one has a link to Route 66, according to the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. And one of the 12 was: Chadbourne + Doss Architects used two cargo containers to create a delightful espresso stand called … Continue reading Architecture firm honored for Route 66 espresso stand
Election Day for Atlanta
Nov. 4 is the day that Americans will choose a new president. It's also the day in which the residents of Atlanta, Ill., are considering a property-tax hike to boost the operations of a new museum. From the Lincoln Courier: Residents in the Atlanta Public Library District will be asked to approve a tax levy … Continue reading Election Day for Atlanta
Preservation Conference tour heads into Kansas
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe ran into a group from the National Preservation Conference in Tulsa that was touring Oklahoma's eastern end of Route 66, plus the Mother Road in Kansas. Among the sights taken in were the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla.; Afton Station in Afton, Okla.; a stretch of the old 9-foot-wide highway, the … Continue reading Preservation Conference tour heads into Kansas
Notes from the Preservation Conference
I attended a couple of Route 66-related seminars and took a stroll in the exhibition hall on Wednesday during the National Preservation Conference at the Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa. Here are a few news items that should be of interest to roadies: -- I ran into Albert Okura, owner of the Juan Pollo restaurants … Continue reading Notes from the Preservation Conference
A look at the Illinois Route 66 master plan
Yesterday, the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project released a proposed Interpretive Master Plan executive summary, which seeks to "enhance and to promote economic opportunities" to communities on historic Route 66 in Illinois. The plan was written by the University of Wisconsin's Schmeeckle Reserve Interpreters of Stevens Point. The entire 32-page document can be viewed here, … Continue reading A look at the Illinois Route 66 master plan
Open house at the Rose Bowl
Saturday afternoon was an open house at the Rose Bowl Events Center, a distinctive Route 66 bowling alley in Tulsa that was closed for a few years but has reopened as a music venue. At least the Rose Bowl is back to its pink color. Because of a noncompete clause with the previous owners, the … Continue reading Open house at the Rose Bowl