The Nite Spot Cafe along an old section of Route 66 in Fairmont City, Illinois, made the Landmarks Illinois' annual Most Endangered Historic Places list. Landmarks Illinois explained the reason for the list: The purpose of the list is to focus attention on sites threatened by deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds, or inappropriate development … Continue reading Nite Spot Cafe in Fairmont City makes Illinois endangered places list
Category: Preservation
Donations sought for possible cost-share preservation grants
Roamin' Rich Dinkela this week launched a campaign to raise matching donation dollars for possible cost-share grants from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to help rehabilitate or stabilize the Painted Desert Trading Post in Arizona and the Gasconade River Bridge in Missouri, plus also offering money or elbow grease to preserve what's left of … Continue reading Donations sought for possible cost-share preservation grants
Trail of Tears Memorial in Missouri reopens
The Trail of Tears Memorial and Herbal Gardens near Jerome, Missouri, reopened Earth Day to the public after months of extensive restoration work by new owner Marie Ryberg, nearby artist Chris Richardson and other volunteers. About 75 people braved rainy weather to attend the ribbon-cutting with Waynesville Chamber of Commerce officials at the entrance. Jax … Continue reading Trail of Tears Memorial in Missouri reopens
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival comes to an end
The annual World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival Birthday Party & Car Show in Collinsville, Illinois, is ending after the longtime co-organizers said they "were just done" and wanted to "move on to do other things." In a Facebook message Sunday night, co-organizer Mike Gassman posted: The Catsup Bottle Executive Committee is announcing that the annual World’s … Continue reading World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival comes to an end
Hundreds of volunteers help clean up Joliet prison
Hundreds of volunteer labor-union members descended on the historic Joliet Correctional Center in Joliet, Illinois, last weekend to help clean up the long-neglected property. The Joliet Patch estimated 200 to 300 skilled tradesmen were at the 160-year-old prison over the two days, along with volunteer labor from Homer Tree Care to remove trees and brush. … Continue reading Hundreds of volunteers help clean up Joliet prison
Anniversary celebration of The Mill’s reopening set for April 29
The first anniversary of the reopening of The Mill in Lincoln, Illinois, into a local museum will be celebrated Sunday, April 29, with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. that day. The weekend also will feature the fifth annual Bike Blessing at 1 p.m. April 28 at the VFW/Foxhole Pub & Grub at … Continue reading Anniversary celebration of The Mill’s reopening set for April 29
Water project may endanger Bonanza Springs in Mojave Desert
For years, Cadiz Inc. has sought to pump tens of billions of gallons of underground water from the Mojave Desert and pipe it to thirsty Southern Californians. Given the desert's arid landscape, people may shrug and say "So what?" to that piece of news. But experts now have told The Desert Sun in Palm Springs … Continue reading Water project may endanger Bonanza Springs in Mojave Desert
Wilder’s rooftop neon sign glows again
The rooftop neon sign for Wilder's Steakhouse in Joplin, Missouri, glowed again for the first time in at least 25 years during a relighting ceremony Saturday night. Brad Nickson, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, posted this short video of the relighting of the animated neon sign on Instagram: A post shared by Brad … Continue reading Wilder’s rooftop neon sign glows again
Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop
The Route 66 Chamber of Commerce recently announced it seeks to move into the historic Dale's Ole 66 Barbershop in Joplin, Missouri. The main building also will host an art gallery. The chamber stated on its GoFundMe campaign and on a separate website that Dale's would would be restored so the chamber could use it … Continue reading Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2018 grant season
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced this week it is taking applications for its 2018 cost-share grants -- possibly for the last time before the program sunsets next year. Applications for the cost-share grants will be taken through May 10. More details may be found here. The federal program, under the auspices of the … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2018 grant season