Here's a remarkable story in the Los Angeles Times about the Church of Beethoven, which is less than a block off an old alignment of Route 66 in Albuquerque and has its beginnings on the Mother Road. The whole thing is worth reading, but this excerpt captures the place's purpose well enough: It's not really … Continue reading Meditations with music
A pie-in-the-sky place
Longtime roadie Dave Hoekstra of the Chicago Sun-Times takes a closer look at the restored and historic Palms Grill Cafe on old Route 66 in Atlanta, Ill. Apparently the restaurant, in addition to its old-time atmosphere, is making a name for itself because of its pies. And an Albanian immigrant named Lumi Bektoshi, who is … Continue reading A pie-in-the-sky place
Merry Christmas, everyone
A Christmas video
I was surfing around for a Yuletide-themed video that takes place on Route 66, and here's a good one. It's a video by reader and occasional contributor Ace Jackalope. It's of City Hall in Joplin, Mo., with its Christmas displays. Ace writes: This is all the cooler because the building used to be Newman's department … Continue reading A Christmas video
A tribute to Bob
Of all of the obituaries I've read since Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire died last week, this one by the Guadalupe County Communicator in Santa Rosa, N.M., is the best. Those who know anything about the Communicator wouldn't be surprised by the story's excellence. But if you aren't familiar with the newspaper, go here.
More scenes from the Mojave
Claudia Heller continues her ongoing series about Route 66 through California's Mojave Desert. The latest edition focuses on a few tiny burgs in the middle of the desert, including this one little stop I'd forgotten about: Traveling west from Fenner on Route 66 the next stop is Essex. Once a bustling town, it historically offered … Continue reading More scenes from the Mojave
Joplin museum director Q&A
Brad Belk, the director for the Joplin (Mo.) Museum Complex, answered questions from Joplin Globe readers about his proposal for a one-sixth-cent sales tax to move the museum and its contents to historic Memorial Hall. Most of the questions are worth perusing, but his answer from a person who asked why the historic railroad depot … Continue reading Joplin museum director Q&A
Mural at I-44 welcome center has Route 66 theme
A few days ago, the Joplin (Mo.) Globe reported about a new mural at the Missouri Welcome Center on Interstate 44 in Joplin that contains a prominent Route 66 theme and uses old license plates as part of the artwork. The interesting part is after Zane Livengood, a part-time worker at the welcome center, submitted … Continue reading Mural at I-44 welcome center has Route 66 theme
Comprehensive study planned for Route 66 in California
The California Preservation Foundation and the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program are joining forces to begin a first-ever comprehensive study of that state's portion of historic Route 66, according to a news release Monday from the foundation. The study will be completed as a Multiple Property Documentation Form, a format used to nominate groups of … Continue reading Comprehensive study planned for Route 66 in California
Waldmire’s final meeting with his beloved VW
A few days ago, I posted a story about Tom Wanko's unselfish efforts to transport Bob Waldmire's early 1970s Volkwagen minibus from southern Arizona to Rochester, Ill., because he was too ill to drive it himself. I received this eyewitness account from longtime roadie Lynn "Lulu" Bagdon about the minivan's arrival a few weeks ago … Continue reading Waldmire’s final meeting with his beloved VW