A 103-year-old Russian Orthodox Church on Route 66 in Benld, Ill., will be converted into a monastery -- instead of being razed -- because of declining attendance, reported the Springfield State Journal-Register. Mindful of Holy Dormition’s rich history, but acknowledging a declining membership and church rules that say an unused building must be torn down, … Continue reading Benld church will be converted to monastery
Category: History
In the middle of the road
The Monett (Mo.) Times published an article about a local native, Jerany Jackson, who is in the middle of helping the Route 66 Association of Missouri organize public hearings so that Route 66 in Missouri can attain All-American Road status. The article is useful, not only explaining the many facets of tourism and history of … Continue reading In the middle of the road
Notes from the road
The Pontiac Walldog Committee, which has helped beautify downtown Pontiac, Ill., with a series of murals and related festivals, now wants to open a Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum in Pontiac, according to news release from the city's tourism department. The primary purpose of the museum is to pay homage to the men and … Continue reading Notes from the road
Joplin puts museum proposal on ballot
By a 7-2 vote, the City Council of Joplin, Mo., agreed to place a sales-tax referendum on the April ballot to fund the Joplin Museum Complex's proposed move to historic Memorial Hall, according to the Joplin Globe. Voters will be asked to authorize a special museum sales tax of one-sixth of a cent to pay … Continue reading Joplin puts museum proposal on ballot
Williams may change street’s name to Route 66
Tucked away in a story posted today by the Williams-Grand Canyon News about the Williams, Ariz., city council was this little item: Council members also discussed whether to change the name of Mountain Man Trail to Route 66, or "Old Route 66," during the Jan. 14 meeting, but decided to table the matter for discussion … Continue reading Williams may change street’s name to Route 66
“I have a dream”
(This was originally posted three years ago. It's appropriate to repost it for the holiday.) This is the full version of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. So what does King have to do with Route 66? Well, there's this passage: There are those who are asking the devotees … Continue reading “I have a dream”
Harvey House in Barstow to mark centennial
The historic Harvey House in Barstow, Calif., is set to mark the 100th anniversary with a series of events and celebrations this year, according to the Desert Dispatch. The celebration is expected to kick off with a Harvey House Farmer’s Market Day on the third Saturday of every month until September, according to Sielski. Sielski … Continue reading Harvey House in Barstow to mark centennial
This old road (continued)
The post and video about an obscure 1930s or '40s alignment of Route 66 near Kingman, Ariz., sparked interest in readers. Here's the video again, if you missed it: The road, I surmised, would have gone south all the way to the hamlet of Harris, Ariz., had the driver kept going on a primitive road … Continue reading This old road (continued)
This old road
This is interesting. YouTube poster jimvegas00 has posted a video of him driving a 1961 Volkswagen Beetle on an alignment of Route 66 near Kingman, Ariz., that predates the 1940s. You don't see this segment documented very often. He told me how he got to the alignment in Kingman: Heading west on 66, at 4th … Continue reading This old road
Notes from the road
The historic Riviera Restaurant on Route 66 in Gardner, Ill., reopened on New Year's Eve. Check out this story in the Batavia Sun about it. However, there is one potential snag that will be worth watching: The new owner is dealing with a request from the Gardner Fire Department to put in an expensive commercial … Continue reading Notes from the road