Those who've traveled the Mother Road know that the restoration of the historic Coleman Theatre Beautiful in Miami, Okla., has been ongoing for years. That restoration is one big step closer to being complete because of a $250,000 grant, theater director Barbara Smith told the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. "The grant will complete the balcony project, … Continue reading Grant will finish Coleman Theatre restoration
Category: Preservation
Saying goodbye to a friend
Dot Leavitt, owner of Dot's Mini Museum in Vega, Texas, passed away this morning, reports Linda Drake, manager of the Oldham County Chamber of Commerce. Linda describes Dot as "a dear, sweet lady that loved Route 66 and all the people that traveled the road." Dot -- pictured above with Jim Conkle during a visit … Continue reading Saying goodbye to a friend
La Posada de Albuquerque will be closed a while longer
Last we heard, La Posada de Albuquerque, which was closed for renovations in 2005, was going to reopen sometime in spring 2007. Now it looks like the reopening isn't going to happen anytime soon. According to Duke City Fix, owner Gary Goodman is asking the city for $9 million in industrial revenue bonds to continue … Continue reading La Posada de Albuquerque will be closed a while longer
El Vado demolition permit will likely be rejected
A few weeks ago, Richard L. Gonzales filed for a certificate of appropriateness for demolition of the historic El Vado Motel in Albuquerque. At the time, I expressed doubts such a certificate would be issued. That opinion has been reinforced after I received a report by Maryellen Hennessy, the city's senior planner for the Landmarks … Continue reading El Vado demolition permit will likely be rejected
Firm chosen to restore De Anza motel
Big news out of Albuquerque: The city has chosen a developer to renovate the historic De Anza Motor Lodge on Route 66 (shown above in a vintage postcard), according to the New Mexico Business Weekly. The city purchased the motel three years ago for $1 million in the hopes a developer would come in and … Continue reading Firm chosen to restore De Anza motel
Historic and — so far — unused
The former Illinois State Police District 6 headquarters, a unique gun-shaped building built in 1941 on Route 66 near Pontiac, likely will receive a designation on the National Register of Historic Places, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. But the future of the building is uncertain. It sits unused now, as it has plumbing and roof problems. … Continue reading Historic and — so far — unused
The Mill — then, now and in the future
Geoff Ladd of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County was kind enough to send some photos of The Mill, a long-neglected restaurant and tavern on Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill., that eventually will be shored up. Here's what The Mill looked like in 1946: Here's what is looks like now: Here's an artist's … Continue reading The Mill — then, now and in the future
The Mill preservation group asks for help
Today, I received a news release from the fledgling Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Lincoln County in Illinois about its efforts to acquire and renovate the long-neglected The Mill restaurant/tavern on Route 66 in Lincoln. Most of the details about The Mill saga in recent weeks have already been reported here. However, the news release … Continue reading The Mill preservation group asks for help
Spraker Service Station demolished
Laurel Kane passed on bad news today about the historic Spraker Service Station along Route 66 in Vinita, Okla.: The Spraker Service Station in Vinita, OK, which just a few weeks ago was the subject of an email writing campaign advocating its preservation, is no more. As I drove through Vinita on my way to … Continue reading Spraker Service Station demolished
Media picks up on El Vado story
The Albuquerque Journal has picked up the story about owner Richard Gonzales filing an application to demolish the historic El Vado Motel. Much of the backstory has already been covered on this site. But there's this excerpt: To get the demolition permit, Gonzales will have to show the city Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission that … Continue reading Media picks up on El Vado story