Eighty-four-year-old Carl Johns, a nursing home resident, was asked if there was anything he wanted to do before he died. He said he wanted to ride in a 1956 Chevrolet. Apparently he always admired the car, but never was able to buy one because of family responsibilities. On Wednesday, Johns received his wish with a … Continue reading Carl’s last ride on Route 66
Category: People
Bill Shea, owner of Shea’s 66 Gas Station Museum, dies at 91
Bill Shea, a longtime owner of a gas station in Springfield, Ill., and then curator of a gas-station museum on Route 66, died in his sleep today at age 91, according to a post on the Shea's Route 66 Museum Facebook page. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Shea started in the gas-station business shortly … Continue reading Bill Shea, owner of Shea’s 66 Gas Station Museum, dies at 91
Seligman Sundries’ year in review
New Year's Eve remains several weeks away, but the good folks at Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Ariz., posted their annual Year in Review video. You'll probably spot a few familiar faces in this clip. https://youtu.be/02nzE4JG_vs Seligman Sundries is closed for its annual winter break, but it will reopen in mid-March or so.
Senator wants to abolish Route 66 Corridor Program
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) is pushing for the dismantling of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program in a publication about alleged government waste in the National Park System, "Parked! How Congress' Misplaced Priorities are Trashing Our National Treasures" (PDF file). In a section titled "Get Your Pork Fix on Route 66," the report says: The National … Continue reading Senator wants to abolish Route 66 Corridor Program
JFK cruised Route 66 in Albuquerque
KOB-TV in Albuquerque found a gentleman in town who used a home movie camera to document President John F. Kennedy and his motorcade going down Central Avenue (aka Route 66) in 1962. The footage had never been seen in public until now. https://youtu.be/9L91QhId0mY KOB's reporter, Chris Ramirez, wrote: The two minute silent film starts off … Continue reading JFK cruised Route 66 in Albuquerque
Lillian Redman’s benediction
Today would have been the 104th birthday of Lillian Redman, longtime owner of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. When she ran the motel, Redman provided each overnight guest a copy of a prayer for travelers. Videographer KC Keefer produced this new video about the prayer and Redman, with historic still photos of the … Continue reading Lillian Redman’s benediction
Owners of Highlander Motel commit suicide
The co-owners of the historic Highlander Motel on Route 66 in Williams, Ariz., committed suicide within days of each other last month, according to media reports in Europe. The husband-and-wife team of Alan Aernoudt and Sandra Driesse of Belgium bought the motel in March 2011. Once they moved there months later, they quickly went to work renovating … Continue reading Owners of Highlander Motel commit suicide
Biography about Cyrus Avery coming next year
Susan Croce Kelly, well-known among Route 66 fans for co-writing "Route 66: The Highway and Its People" with photographer Quinta Scott in 1988, will publish a biography about Cyrus Avery, the so-called Father of Route 66, in 2014. The Avery book will be published by University of Oklahoma Press. Asked to describe her forthcoming volume, Kelly wrote … Continue reading Biography about Cyrus Avery coming next year
“The Mayor of Route 66”
This charming video shows a lot of footage from Seligman, Ariz., but most of it concentrates on one of the town's native sons, Angel Delgadillo. https://youtu.be/0Kl6IiUFUpY Delgadillo sometimes is called "The Mayor of Route 66." Who am I to argue?
Palms Grill will close temporarily after Oct. 25
The historic Palms Grill Cafe on Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Ill., will temporarily close after Oct. 25 because current manager Ronda McBride has contracted cancer and needs to focus on her health and treatments, according to a news release. The restaurant will be open for special occasions and periodic dinner programs by the Atlanta … Continue reading Palms Grill will close temporarily after Oct. 25