Here's a story from KSN/KODE in nearby Joplin, Mo., about residents of Miami, Okla., trying to finish the restoration of the historic Coleman Theatre, which sits on Route 66. The interesting angle is that they are trying to finish the job that George Coleman Sr. started in 1929: "[Coleman] loved theater; [he] built this whole … Continue reading Coleman Theatre tries to finish what it started
Category: Preservation
News nuggets from the Route 66 Summit
I was unable to attend the Route 66 Summit before the Route 66 Festival set for this weekend in Litchfield, Ill. However, Peter Stork, an Illinois Route 66er was there and filed a detailed report for the Route 66 yahoogroup. Go there if you want to see the report in full. However, I gleaned a … Continue reading News nuggets from the Route 66 Summit
Treasure unearthed at the Rock Cafe
Dawn Welch, owner of the historic Rock Cafe on Route 66 in Stroud, gives a little TLC to a treasure she found buried under the rubble at the restaurant, which burned May 20. Sound quality on the video isn't great, but Cars fans will be excited to see what survived the fire: Friends of the … Continue reading Treasure unearthed at the Rock Cafe
Senator urges renewal of Route 66 Corridor program
Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., asked for a renewal of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program during a Senate subcommittee hearing on Tuesday. The program, which provides cost-share grants and other assistance to historic Route 66 businesses, is scheduled to end in 2009. Domenici's bill would extend the program another 10 years. The legislation number is … Continue reading Senator urges renewal of Route 66 Corridor program
Eagle Hotel owner pays off city debt
The owner of the historic Eagle Hotel along Route 66 in Wilmington, Ill., has paid the $45,000 he owed the city plus a very small amount of interest since his contact expired in May, reports the Joliet Herald News. Owner Bill Scales failed in to live up to an agreement to rehab the 19th-century building … Continue reading Eagle Hotel owner pays off city debt
Braidwood to move historic depot
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
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