When we went Sunday afternoon to the open house at the Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., tour guide Ron Hart of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce said about 500 people had already visited the historic Route 66 business over the weekend -- a number that astounded him and the motel's new owners. The open house … Continue reading Open house at the Boots Motel, pre-renovation
Category: Preservation
A tour of the Boots Motel
This excellent video by blogger Ace Jackalope was shot during this weekend's open house of the Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo. https://youtu.be/dq7_uT-NIEE Ron Hart of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce is the one showing Ace around one of the motel's rooms -- and the tunnel system underneath. Sisters Priscilla Bledsaw and Debye Harvey bought the … Continue reading A tour of the Boots Motel
Three Route 66 sites receive Tulsa Preservation awards
Three sites on Route 66 in Tulsa were among the 13 honored today by the Tulsa Preservation Commission's Outreach Committee, according to an article in the Tulsa World. The annual awards are given to projects that "demonstrate good stewardship of a historic resource, increase awareness and access to a historic resource, or save a historic … Continue reading Three Route 66 sites receive Tulsa Preservation awards
Notes from the road
I've got a few short items that I need to pass along. One is that the 100th Meridian Museum in Erick, Okla., received a new paint job a few weeks ago. The museum can be seen pre-face-lift here. Locals told us it was repainted by Jimmy Webb -- a local painter, not the famous songwriter who … Continue reading Notes from the road
From eyesore to eyeful
Ed Klein at Route 66 World made a very good video about the recent repainting of an abandoned gas station in Tucumcari, N.M., into an old-time Phillips 66 station. https://youtu.be/EaXNYHfwid0 I've been told that the Tucumcari volunteers will repaint another building in the coming weeks.
Abandoned church may be converted into senior housing
The long-abandoned St. Mary Carmelite Catholic Church in downtown Joliet, Ill., may be converted into senior-citizen housing instead of being demolished, reported the Chicago Tribune. Chicago-based Celadon Holdings has plans to renovate the church and develop a 60-unit residential facility with the top units enjoying the gothic ceiling of the church, said Scott Henry, a Celadon principal. [...] Plans … Continue reading Abandoned church may be converted into senior housing
Pale Blue Whale
Do not adjust your computer screen. No, the Blue Whale has not died, so you're not seeing a ghost. And the Blue Whale hasn't turned pale because he saw a giant harpoon. But the Route 66 landmark in Catoosa, Okla., is undergoing an extensive repair and repaint job by Bill Haynes Co. of nearby Tulsa. … Continue reading Pale Blue Whale
Restoration work begins on Luna Cafe sign
Restoration work on the vintage neon sign at the Luna Cafe in Mitchell, Ill., began Thursday when it was removed and taken to a restoration shop in St. Charles, Mo. Jim Thole of the Route 66 Association of Missouri says it will take six to eight weeks to restore the sign. He thinks a relighting … Continue reading Restoration work begins on Luna Cafe sign
A bridge that died from a lack of upkeep
Big machines are tearing down the historic Bird Creek Bridge that carried U.S. Highway 66 near Catoosa, Okla. A more nondescript bridge will replace the deteriorated but distinctive 1936 truss bridge. Soon, one-half of the scenic Twin Bridges vista will be gone forever. It didn't have to be this way. A report by two engineers … Continue reading A bridge that died from a lack of upkeep
Sisters take possession of Boots Motel
Two sisters officially took over ownership on Wednesday of the Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., pledging to reopen at least part of the 1939 property by spring. Debye Harvey of Georgia and Priscilla Bledsaw of Illinois had the electricity and water turned back on at the Route 66 property, and will spend the rest of this … Continue reading Sisters take possession of Boots Motel