The City of Braidwood, Ill., has purchased a lot across from City Hall, where it will remove a historic railroad depot that dates to 1867, reports the Joliet Herald News. The owner of Berkot's Foods give the city the building with the stipulation that it be moved. The grocer needs the property cleared for more … Continue reading Braidwood to move historic depot
Category: Preservation
McKinley Bridge opens to bicycles and pedestrians
The McKinley Bridge, which is part of an old Route 66 alignment that connects Venice, Ill., to St. Louis, opened to bicycle and pedestrian traffic on Saturday, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. More details: The bikeway is the newest addition to a 600-mile network of recreational paths the Great Rivers Greenway District calls the River … Continue reading McKinley Bridge opens to bicycles and pedestrians
Super weird
From today's San Bernardino (Calif.) County Sun: Four Italian men from an international film crew were showered with a superheroic welcome Friday at the San Bernardino headquarters for Juan Pollo Restaurants as they stopped by the corporate offices and museums. Each was dressed as a comic-book hero.Decked in Robin, Captain America, Flash Gordon and Superman … Continue reading Super weird
A glimpse of a 1948 road trip
Here's an explanation for this amazing YouTube video: In 1948, the Osborn family loaded up their vehicle and headed for West Virginia. Their starting point was Redlands, CA. The film was shot in 1948 with an 8mm movie camera. Back in those days, Route 66 was one of the major west-east routes, thus the theme … Continue reading A glimpse of a 1948 road trip
Work day scheduled at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Friends of the Mother Road have scheduled a work day starting at 9 a.m. Saturday to do some landscaping around the Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs and other Route 66 artifacts at Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Ill. It's advised to bring shovels, iron rakes and weed trimmers. Also, the group is also going to box … Continue reading Work day scheduled at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program may be renewed
The Cibola County Beacon in New Mexico passes on what could be extraordinarily good news: Judging that a federal program to preserve aspects of historic Route 66 is helping breathe new life into rural America, U.S. Senator Pete Domenici has offered legislation to ensure its continuation for another decade. Domenici has introduced the Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program may be renewed
Pit stop for Model T drivers
The Model T Club of Southern California and other Ford enthusiasts made a stop Wednesday at Gary Turner's re-creation of the Gay Parita gas station on Route 66 near Halltown, Mo., reports the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader. The club is in the middle of driving across the country to commemorate the Model T's 100th anniversary. Much … Continue reading Pit stop for Model T drivers
Santa Monica Pier soon will mark 100 years
The Santa Monica Pier, which for many travelers serves as the symbolic end of Route 66, is marking the 100th anniversary of when construction on it began. The Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram published an interesting history about the pier, including these nuggets: It was originally built to help carry raw sewage out into the ocean. … Continue reading Santa Monica Pier soon will mark 100 years
Century-old Grand Canyon business will close
Verkamp's Curios has operated on the edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for 102 years -- even before Arizona became a state. However, Verkamp's will close in September, and you can blame a good chunk of that on the federal government, reports the Canadian Press: The family's final chapter at the canyon … Continue reading Century-old Grand Canyon business will close
Historic gas station placed on National Register
The National Park Service announced this week that the old Sprague's Super Service gas station, at 305 Pine St. in Normal, Ill., was named to the National Register of Historic Places, effective April 25. The circa-1930s station is now owned by Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who hopes to eventually convert it into a bed-and-breakfast, … Continue reading Historic gas station placed on National Register