There's an excellent article in the Daily Oklahoman about Larry Nance, a photographer based in El Reno, and the impact he's making with local preservationists. It's advisable to read the whole thing. But the gist is that Nance as a child suffered from epilepsy, and was unable to stay at Route 66 landmarks such as … Continue reading Photographer’s work inspires preservation
Category: Preservation
Restaurant will use old Phillips 66 station for catering
Cheever's Cafe in Oklahoma City needed more catering space. So the owners purchased a cottage-style Phillips 66 gas station at 401 Northwest 23rd (aka Route 66) and are converting it, reports the Daily Oklahoman. The onetime Phillips 66 station — one of only two of the original designs left in the city — was bought … Continue reading Restaurant will use old Phillips 66 station for catering
NPS honors Atlanta’s Route 66 efforts
Two program managers for the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, under the auspices of the National Park Service, honored the town of Atlanta, Ill., for its ongoing Route 66 preservation efforts regarding the historic Palms Grill, reported the Lincoln (Ill.) Courier. “When Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985,” a Park Service brochure explains, “many of … Continue reading NPS honors Atlanta’s Route 66 efforts
Notes from the road
A few things that should be of interest to most roadies: Roadside America has revamped its Web site. Not only did the purveyors of roadside oddities give it a spiffier design, but there's a new blog, more animation, new tools and more videos. Route 66 roadie Mark Potter reports that the Hot Dogs and Hot … Continue reading Notes from the road
Extension denied for Eagle Hotel
After the Eagle Hotel's owner failed to show up, the Wilmington (Ill.) City Council unanimously voted to reject an 18-month extension that he requested for the historic property off Route 66, reports the Joliet Herald News. Eagle Hotel owner Bill Scales had been working to restore the property for seven years and had requested another … Continue reading Extension denied for Eagle Hotel
Unleash the money
Last August, the state of Illinois allotted $1 million to help Livingston County, Ill., to restore the old Illinois State Police Headquarters on old Route 66 in Pontiac. However, there's been a snag, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, said the governor’s office has yet to provide Livingston County with either the … Continue reading Unleash the money
New windows for The Mill
The Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County announced this week it had secured a grant to install new windows at The Mill, a historic restaurant on Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill., that will be converted into a tourism center. New windows doesn't sound like much. But there are 40 of them in The Mill … Continue reading New windows for The Mill
Route 66 stretch may be added to National Register
A section of old Route 66 on the southeast edge of Springfield, Ill., has been recommended by a state advisory panel to the National Register of Historic Places, reports the Springfield Journal-Register. According to the article, it's a 1.3-mile section of road between East Lake Shore Drive and New City Road, south of the lake. … Continue reading Route 66 stretch may be added to National Register
The saga of the Eagle Hotel
The Chicago Tribune has just published an exemplary article about Bill Scales' efforts to renovate the historic Eagle Hotel on Route 66 in Wilmington, Ill., and the city's growing impatience over the long-delayed project. Check it out.
El Vado redux
Now that the dust has settled on the City of Albuquerque's seizure of El Vado Motel to protect it from destruction by a developer, here are a few thoughts: -- Send a thank-you note to Mayor Martin Chavez. He is a relatively popular leader of that city, so his stance on any issue carries weight. … Continue reading El Vado redux