As Memorial Day approaches, do yourself a favor and read this amazing story from the Chicago Tribune about a schoolteacher who guided his students to identify worn tombstones of once-forgotten Civil War soldiers at a cemetery overlooking Route 66 in Odell, Illinois. The Tribune also created a video about the Operation Gravestone project, which likely will make … Continue reading Class project helps identify Civil War tombstones in Odell cemetery
Category: Preservation
Ritz Theatre in Baxter Springs to reopen next month
The historic Ritz Theatre in Baxter Springs, Kansas, will reopen in July after it underwent nine years of renovations by a local couple. The Joplin Globe reported: A retired Caterpillar manager, Ron Puckett, 74, did much of the work himself after the couple bought the building at the northwest corner of 12th Street and Military … Continue reading Ritz Theatre in Baxter Springs to reopen next month
Your vote may help the Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is one of 20 national parks that could receive a grant, but it needs votes to get it. More from the news release: In honor of the National Park Service’s Centennial, we at the National Trust for Historic Preservation have joined with National Geographic and American Express for Partners … Continue reading Your vote may help the Gateway Arch
New Mexico aims to help old theaters
The state of New Mexico is trying to fix up movie theaters in small towns not only for the sake of historic preservation, but also to give an economic boost. The Associated Press reports: An economic development program, similar to efforts in Iowa and Illinois, seeks save the often-forgotten facilities [...] with help on refurbishing … Continue reading New Mexico aims to help old theaters
Joplin’s Jewish temple soon will mark its centennial
The United Hebrew Congregation of Joplin, Missouri, will hold an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. June 12 to mark the 100th anniversary of its uniquely designed Jewish temple, situated on Route 66. Historic Murphysburg Preservation Inc., a group dedicated to preserving the historic Murphysburg residential district in Joplin, is partnering with the congregation for … Continue reading Joplin’s Jewish temple soon will mark its centennial
The result from the photo session at the Meramec River Bridge
On Saturday, Route 66 fans and preservationists were invited to the Route 66 State Park office near Eureka, Missouri, for a photo shoot at the Meramac River Route 66 Bridge for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “This Place Matters” campaign. Here is the result: The photo also is being used in the GoFundMe page for the bridge. Various … Continue reading The result from the photo session at the Meramec River Bridge
City buys Sprague Super Service station
The city council of Normal, Illinois, on Monday night approved a deal for the purchase and maintenance of Terri Ryburn's Sprague Super Service station on Route 66. Ryburn posted on her Facebook account shortly after the vote: Well, it's official. The Town of Normal council voted tonight to buy my building; I will get to … Continue reading City buys Sprague Super Service station
City may buy Sprague Super Service station
The city of Normal, Illinois, will vote Monday on whether to buy and keep up Terri Ryburn's historic Sprague Super Service station on old Route 66. The Bloomington Pantagraph reported: The council will consider a $458,000 investment, including $229,000 to buy the property, $200,000 to improve the building and $172,000 to buy and renovate an … Continue reading City may buy Sprague Super Service station
National parks likely will offer naming rights
The Painted Desert in Arizona won't be renamed the Sherwin Williams Painted Desert anytime soon. But many other things will be up for grabs when the National Park Service begins to look for naming rights for many parts of its facilities. The Washington Post this week published a story about this development. Hard up for money because of flat funding from … Continue reading National parks likely will offer naming rights
New plan suggests Gasconade River Bridge will be saved
It appears the Missouri Department of Transportation will repair and reconstruct the closed Gasconade River Bridge that carries old Route 66 near Hazelgreen, Missouri, instead of a new bridge being built in its place. A draft of the state's 2017-2021 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program was released late in the week. It isn't set in stone, but page 16 of … Continue reading New plan suggests Gasconade River Bridge will be saved