Longtime readers may remember a story from two years ago where Durelle Pritchard of Pontiac, Ill., decided to do something different about getting rid of a nuisance pine tree in his yard. Instead of chopping down the tree, he had a chain-saw artist whittle it into the shape of an old-fashioned gas pump. Pritchard's house sits … Continue reading Still tree-mendous
Category: Gas stations
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 10 grants
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced 10 cost-share grants totaling more than $103,000 to Route 66 businesses, according to a news release today from the program. Many of the grants went to renovating or improving historic properties along the Mother Road. The awardees are: Hualapai Tribal Route 66 Interpretive Project, Peach Springs, Ariz. ($10,000 grant, $10,000 … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 10 grants
Casino will be built at Twin Arrows area
The Navajo Nation is building a Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort at the Twin Arrows exit near Route 66 in eastern Arizona, reported the Arizona Daily Sun today, with an anticipated opening of May 2013. The casino will be located north of the Twin Arrows exit off Interstate 40. The newspaper said: The Twin Arrows … Continue reading Casino will be built at Twin Arrows area
The story behind Ambler-Becker Texaco
Here's the latest of the Route 66 Stories video series for Illinois. This one's an interview with Phil Becker, longtime operator of the Ambler-Becker Texaco station in Dwight. https://youtu.be/dBYY2Ze05x0 The station no longer operates as a gas station, but has been converted into a visitors center.
A visit with Bill Shea and his gas-station museum
A few films about Bill Shea's Gas Station Museum in Springfield, Ill., have made it to the Internet over the years. But this one by Josh Hester is the best I've seen: Shea's Route 66 Gas Station Museum from Josh Hester on Vimeo. The thing that makes this film different is it concentrates more on … Continue reading A visit with Bill Shea and his gas-station museum
Why would a unique gas station not be an appropriate gateway?
A developer wishes to build a uniquely styled gas station at an intersection in Plainfield, Ill., where the Lincoln Highway and Route 66 meet. However, planning commissioners and residents are balking at the plan, reported the Plainfield Patch. A Go-Tane station once stood at U.S. 30 (the Lincoln Highway) and Illinois 59 (Route 66). The station went … Continue reading Why would a unique gas station not be an appropriate gateway?
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch among Illinois Hall of Fame inductees
https://youtu.be/lh_uI2hDmZA Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Ill., is among the inductees into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame for 2012, according to a story today in the Bloomington Pantagraph. The other honorees are Elmo and Eula Quinn of Quinn's Shell station in Bloomington, gas station owner Samuel Reichert Sr. of Plainfield, and Roger Gray of Gray’s … Continue reading Henry’s Rabbit Ranch among Illinois Hall of Fame inductees
Arizona’s Route 66 gets $700,000 grant to find problem gas stations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $700,000 grant to identify problematic abandoned gas stations along Route 66 in northern Arizona, reported KNAU, a public radio station. The grant will be used in Flagstaff, Winslow and Holbrook, as well as sites in Coconino and Navajo counties. Many of these long-closed gas stations' underground tanks … Continue reading Arizona’s Route 66 gets $700,000 grant to find problem gas stations
Design students help owner of historic gas station
A group of design students provided concepts for the owner of the historic Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Ill., reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. It's an understatement to say the station's owner was pleased with the designs: Illinois State University design students brought tears to Terri Ryburn’s eyes Wednesday when they presented concepts for three … Continue reading Design students help owner of historic gas station
Faces of Route 66 in Illinois
Pounds Media recently videotaped interviews with several Route 66 veterans for Central Illinois Tourism and the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway. Today, several of those clips were posted on the Internet. First is Ernie Edwards, longtime owner of the Pig Hip Restaurant in Broadwell, Ill.: https://vimeo.com/39277870 Nick Adam, longtime owner of the Ariston Cafe in … Continue reading Faces of Route 66 in Illinois