This version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66," performed by the 1970s pub rock band The Count Bishops, is aces. However, I wish the video maker would have limited the double- and triple-vision effects to a few seconds, instead of the whole video. It looks like the Mother Road after a five-day bender. Sigh.
Veterans Day tribute
Here's our tribute to the soldiers from Route 66 towns who've died in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. ILLINOIS Chicago Staff Sgt. Oscar D. Vargas-Medina, died May 1, 2004 1st Sgt. Edward Smith, died April 5, 2003 Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps, died March 17, 2004 Pfc. Torry D. Harris, died July 13, 2004 Sgt. Sirlou … Continue reading Veterans Day tribute
Parking lot closed near Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
I was afraid this might happen, and it appears my fears were realized. The St. Clair County Journal in Illinois reports that the parking lot on the Missouri side of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was closed by Trailnet a few days ago. The pedestrian bridge, which once carried Route 66 over the Mississippi … Continue reading Parking lot closed near Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
All for the sake of the punchline
KOB-TV reports that a couple driving from Grants, N.M., to Albuquerque pulled into the parking lot of the Route 66 Casino because the woman was going into labor. With the help of a police dispatcher on the other end of the phone line, the father helped his wife deliver the baby right there. Mother and … Continue reading All for the sake of the punchline
Route 66 museum coming to Carthage courthouse
This has been in the works for a while, but appears a Route 66 museum will be installed at the historic Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, Mo., by sometime next year, according to the Carthage Press. Eric Kellstadt, senior transportation planner with the Joplin office of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said MoDOT auditors and … Continue reading Route 66 museum coming to Carthage courthouse
Headless body found in tow truck
Route 66 News usually doesn't post news about murders, shootings and other run-of-the-mill police matters along the Mother Road. But this incident on Route 66 in Pontiac, Ill., is too bizarre to ignore. From the Bloomington Pantagraph: PONTIAC -- No foul play is suspected in the death of a 54-year-old man whose decapitated body was … Continue reading Headless body found in tow truck
An interesting idea
The Urban Land Institute gave the city of San Bernardino, Calif., some suggestions on how to revitalize its downtown. The suggestions ran the gamut of more green spaces, denser development and mixed use of residential, retail and office development, among other ideas. Not all of the city's aldermen agreed, and provided the San Bernardino County … Continue reading An interesting idea
Route this way
Fundogteam, a bunch of German Frisbee dog aficionados, drove down Route 66 in Arizona and spent a lot of time at Hackberry General Store. The music is "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith and Run-DMC. I'm not sure why it works, but it does.
American Express gives money for Route 66 preservation
American Express, in conjunction with the World Monuments Fund, announced today it was giving $150,000 for an economic study to help sustain historic Route 66. Excerpts from the news release: This initiative, which is part of the American Express Partners in Preservation initiative launched in 2006, is focused on sustaining historic sites in the face … Continue reading American Express gives money for Route 66 preservation
Mural City
KETC-TV in St. Louis produced a good segment about the Route 66 town of Cuba, Mo., and its dozen murals. The remarkable thing is the murals aren't simply decorative. They represent real events and real people. Listen to the man get emotional as he tells about the Cuba men who went off to war, and … Continue reading Mural City