Here's another closed gas station in Tucumcari, N.M., that's been repainted to help dress up the town a bit. This station, which is nearly finished, is made up to look like a petrol stop from the long-defunct Whiting Bros. chain. Richard Talley, owner of the Motel Safari and one of the volunteers in this townwide … Continue reading Another dressed-up station in Tucumcari
Category: Preservation
Munger Moss Motel sign refurbished
Here's what the newly reconditioned neon sign for the Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Mo., looks like now, after a relighting ceremony on Saturday night. The elaborate sign never actually went dark. But it was showing its age, as this photo from last year displays. Some of the neon tubes or bulbs had broken, shorted, … Continue reading Munger Moss Motel sign refurbished
Springfield, Mo., will renovate town square
The city of Springfield, Mo., will begin renovations on its Park Central Square in downtown after a 4 p.m. Friday ceremony to restore it to the original 1970s design by acclaimed urban architect Lawrence Halprin, according to a news release from the city. The square is where various Route 66 alignments on East St. Louis … Continue reading Springfield, Mo., will renovate town square
Group asks for nominations of endangered roadside places
The Society for Commercial Archaeology is seeking nominations for its Falling by the Wayside: Ten Endangered Roadside Places list for 2011, according to an e-mail from the group today. Some information from the press release: Roadside places eligible for inclusion will be those that fall within the scope of SCA's stated interests and mission:architectural elements … Continue reading Group asks for nominations of endangered roadside places
Dressing up a defunct property
In an effort to beautify its Route 66 corridor, volunteers in Tucumcari, N.M., have been repainting defunct gas stations to resemble gas stations of the past. The photo above -- made to look like a Texaco station -- has just been completed. And at least two more are getting face-lift. One of the volunteers, Motel … Continue reading Dressing up a defunct property
Pontiac museum may come to Pontiac, naturally
In this story Friday in the New York Times about the dying Pontiac vehicle brand, which officially ends tomorrow, I stumbled on this intriguing passage: “You hate to see them go, but they were floundering and couldn’t find their place in the market,” said Tim Dye, who owns 21 Pontiacs from various eras and a … Continue reading Pontiac museum may come to Pontiac, naturally
A virtual tour of the Mother Road
The World Monuments Fund in 2007 listed Route 66 as one of the most threatened historical sites in the world. Now, the group has hired a company to to create a virtual tour of a small section of the Mother Road. It is hoped that these virtual programs can be expanded to include many other … Continue reading A virtual tour of the Mother Road
Round Barn will host a fundraiser
The historic Round Barn in Arcadia, Okla., will host a fundraiser starting at noon Nov. 6 -- mostly for general improvements to the structure and its facilities, but also possibly for a settlement the barn may pay if a nearby billboard is to be removed. According to the Edmond Sun: All of the money raised from the … Continue reading Round Barn will host a fundraiser
Centennial farm on the Mother Road
The Journal-News in Hillsboro, Ill., posted a fascinating story about the Manske-Niemann farm, which sits on Route 66 south of Litchfield, Ill., and dates back more than 150 years. The farm is listed as a Illinois Department of Agriculture Centennial Farm, was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, and has been listed on Landmarks … Continue reading Centennial farm on the Mother Road
Moving day
Here's a video from The Oklahoman of the 66 Bowl neon sign being dismantled and taken away last week. It's a final chapter of the historic 66 Bowl, which was recently sold to the Spices of India grocery store. The bowling alley's content's were auctioned shortly after that, with the JYD team buying the sign … Continue reading Moving day