I received a progress report a few days ago from Marianne McNeil Logan, secretary for the effort to restore the formerly long-neglected Triangle Motel on Route 66 in east Amarillo, Texas. The motel has received its Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program cost-share grant and underwent an engineer's inspection. Logan wrote: Two contractors' bids are now … Continue reading Triangle Motel progress report
Category: Preservation
Beg, borrow or swap for a bridge
Pulaski County, Mo., wants to repair the Devil's Elbow Bridge on Route 66 but is short several hundred thousand dollars to do so. So it now may barter its way to keeping the deteriorating 1923 bridge open, reports the Waynesville Daily Guide. What came to light during Thursday's meeting, is county officials may borrow, swap … Continue reading Beg, borrow or swap for a bridge
Illinois historic roads receive byway grants
A reader passed along a news release today from Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) about Illinois receiving grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Scenic Byways program for several of the state's historic highways, including Route 66. Here are the grants that should be of interest to roadies: $60,000 to update the 1999 Great River … Continue reading Illinois historic roads receive byway grants
Senator blocking bill for Route 66 program
I got this e-mail today from David Knudson, executive director of the National Historic Route 66 Federation, about the bill that contains proposal to renew the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program: Well, Senator Coburn is filibustering the bill. It takes a week to break a filibuster and the Senate won't waste the time this year. … Continue reading Senator blocking bill for Route 66 program
Braidwood depot will be moved
The 126-year-old railroad depot on Route 66 and Illinois 113 in Braidwood, Ill., has been donated to the city by its owners. A nearby nuclear plant also gave $30,000 to the city to help defray the costs of moving the depot to Center and Main streets, reports the Joliet Herald-News. While the depot anchors the … Continue reading Braidwood depot will be moved
Five good reasons to renew the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Highly respected Route 66 researcher Jim Ross assembled these compelling reasons to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on why the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program should be renewed for another 10 years. The program is set to end in late 2009. There is legislation proposed to renew the program for another 10 years, but Coburn is … Continue reading Five good reasons to renew the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Historic Tulsa building to be converted into hotel
Tulsa Business Journal reports that the historic Max Campbell Building on 11th Street (aka Route 66) in Tulsa has been purchased and will be converted into a hotel, events center and retail space. Group M. Investments Inc. purchased the historic building, which sits at 11th and Columbia, near the University of Tulsa. The site contains … Continue reading Historic Tulsa building to be converted into hotel
Cataloging the past
Phil Gordon, who lives in Vancouver, Wash., dropped me an e-mail to let me know about an admirable project that he's undertaking -- he's trying to collect and catalog all the linen postcards that were issued along Route 66. He's set up a Web site to list all of these postcards. He has them grouped … Continue reading Cataloging the past
Trainspotting at La Posada
Railroad buff Karl Zimmermann of the Los Angeles Times has written an excellent story about La Posada in Winslow, Ariz., along with the attached Turquoise Room restaurant. The article makes you want to jump in the car and stay for a weekend there.
Senator may block Route 66 Corridor program’s renewal
The well-regarded Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is up for a 10-year renewal by the U.S. Senate. However, one man -- Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) -- is threatening to scuttle the measure. Ironically, Coburn's constituents in Oklahoma have directly benefited from the program, which sunsets in late 2009. More than a dozen owners of historic … Continue reading Senator may block Route 66 Corridor program’s renewal