Retro -- Relive the Route, a group that aims to improve historic preservation and tourism in the Edgewood and Moriarty area of New Mexico, is selling a limited-edition T-shirt that will help raise the funds to restore the signs at the only surviving gas station of the Whiting Bros. chain. The group received a $3,700 … Continue reading Limited-edition T-shirts raises money for Whiting Bros. sign restoration
Category: Gas stations
U-Drop Inn will swap out neon lighting for LEDs
The historic U-Drop Inn gas station in Shamrock, Texas, soon will replace its neon lighting with durable LED tubing after a hailstorm destroyed most of the neon in May. The change -- if successful -- might signal the eventual replacement of notoriously fragile neon with LEDs on scores of historic signs on Route 66. After … Continue reading U-Drop Inn will swap out neon lighting for LEDs
A concert between two Packards
Here's The Road Crew, performing Bobby Troup's best-known song between two Packards at Afton Station in Afton, Okla. This was during the International Route 66 Festival weekend in nearby Joplin, Mo. https://youtu.be/FYTqfmMnoTQ
Totem Pole Trading Post marks 80th year
The Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Mo., is marking its 80th year on Route 66, although the current longtime owner may not hold it for much longer, reported the Rolla Daily News. A bit of history from the newspaper: "We are the last original mom and pop store left on this historic road," said owner Tim Jones who … Continue reading Totem Pole Trading Post marks 80th year
Historic gas station in Oklahoma City torn down
A cottage-style gas station in Oklahoma City that dated to the beginnings of Route 66 was torn down in recent weeks to make way for a fast-food restaurant, according to the OKC Central blog, which is affiliated with The Oklahoman newspaper. The long-closed station stood at Pennsylvania Avenue and Northwest 23rd Street (aka Route 66). … Continue reading Historic gas station in Oklahoma City torn down
A look back at Lucille Hamons
Bob Hall, who used to work at KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City, posted this report from 1988 about Lucille Hamons, owner of Lucille's service station on Route 66 in Hydro, Okla. This is interesting to watch, mostly because it was before Michael Wallis' best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road" was published, kick-starting Route 66's renaissance. https://youtu.be/8Gr8KrSRYn4 … Continue reading A look back at Lucille Hamons
More work on the Midway Trading Post
We recently passed along a report about a group of volunteers sprucing up the long-closed Midway Trading Post on old Route 66 between Moriarty and Edgewood, N.M. The work continued this week, which this great-looking Route 66 shield painted on a boxcar sitting on the property, painted by Willy Fisher. This video is in time-lapse: … Continue reading More work on the Midway Trading Post
Volunteers clean up Midway Trading Post property
About 60 volunteers recently cleaned the long-closed Midway Trading Post on old Route 66 between Edgewood, N.M., and Moriarty, N.M. https://youtu.be/Nw_b3R-mfGM The cleanup was done under the auspices of the RETRO -- Relive the Route committee. Roger Holden, who leads the committee, said this about the Midway: It was built around 1945 and served as … Continue reading Volunteers clean up Midway Trading Post property
Cucamonga Service Station supporters win tax break
A group that wants to preserve the historic Cucamonga Service Station in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was awarded a property-tax break from the city, reported the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. The money saved will be used to help restore and maintain the Route 66 landmark, the group said. The group hopes to turn the site into … Continue reading Cucamonga Service Station supporters win tax break
Bill Shea Gas Station Museum now open by appointment
Bill Shea's Gas Station Museum along Route 66 in Springfield, Ill., is now open by appointment with help from the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau after being closed for much of the late winter and spring. The increasingly frail Shea, 91, was admitted to a nursing home in December. His son, Bill Jr., closed the … Continue reading Bill Shea Gas Station Museum now open by appointment