Dozens protest plan to demolish Classen Circle

Representatives from Braum's got an earful from dozens of people Monday night who protested the Oklahoma company's plan to demolish historic Classen Circle in Oklahoma City to make way for one of its restaurants. However, Braum's reps said the company would move forward with the plan after meeting with its officials to report the details … Continue reading Dozens protest plan to demolish Classen Circle

Two “Women on the Mother Road” sessions slated for this month in Oklahoma

Two Route 66 towns in Oklahoma are hosting lectures and screenings from Katrina Parks' "The Women of the Mother Road" website and film documentary project this month. This first will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Carriage House in the Overholser Mansion at 405 NW 15th St. in Oklahoma City (map here). The … Continue reading Two “Women on the Mother Road” sessions slated for this month in Oklahoma

Community meeting set for Sept. 18 over Classen Circle

A community hearing over the fate of the historic Classen Circle in Oklahoma City will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Crown Heights Christian Church in the city. According to The Oklahoman newspaper, city councilman Ed Shadid announced the meeting late last week. The Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy chain had promised such a … Continue reading Community meeting set for Sept. 18 over Classen Circle

Hearing delayed to rezone Classen Circle in Oklahoma City

A controversial rezoning request that would have led to the demolition of historic Classen Circle and its businesses in Oklahoma City has been delayed at least a month. The Braum's restaurant chain, which requested the rezoning so it could put one of its stores there, agreed to move a planning commission hearing from Aug. 24 … Continue reading Hearing delayed to rezone Classen Circle in Oklahoma City

Plan would demolish Oklahoma City’s Classen Circle

A chain restaurant submitted plans to the city of Oklahoma City to tear down all the buildings in Classen Circle, which includes Classen Grill and other historic businesses. OKCTalk.com broke the news Wednesday. Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores, a popular chain in Oklahoma, wants to build a store there. They have filed to rezone .48 … Continue reading Plan would demolish Oklahoma City’s Classen Circle

Sign stolen from Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City

An old sign at the historic but long-closed Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City was stolen between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Owner John Dunning, who bought the property at 742 W. Britton Road about 12 years ago with plans to eventually restore it, said the sign probably is worth $800 to $1,000, he told … Continue reading Sign stolen from Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City

Willem Bor creates new Route 66 miniatures

Longtime readers probably know of Willem Bor of the Netherlands, who in the last few years has created miniatures of well-known Route 66 landmarks for museums or private individuals. The bad news is Bor contracted cancer and had to cancel one of his upcoming trips on Route 66. The good news is because he's got … Continue reading Willem Bor creates new Route 66 miniatures

Two Oklahoma properties added to National Register

Two areas of Route 66 in Oklahoma recently were named to the National Register of Historic Places, according to an email Thursday from the National Park Service. First, the register recognized the Downtown Claremore Historic District that includes a couple of blocks of Lynn Riggs Boulevard (aka Route 66) and the historic Will Rogers Hotel … Continue reading Two Oklahoma properties added to National Register

Melvena Heisch, Laurel Kane inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

Melvena Heish and the late Laurel Kane were inducted Saturday into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma. The ceremony also celebrated the 90th anniversary of Route 66 and marked two new exhibits at the museum -- one about folk art and another of … Continue reading Melvena Heisch, Laurel Kane inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

A sample of a treasure trove of photos

This new video features a collection of photos taken during the early 1980s by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation along NW 39th Street from Oklahoma City to the suburb of Bethany, before U.S. 66 become decommissioned. According to Rachel Mosman, a photo archivist at the Oklahoma Historical Society, the photos were animated by J.A. Pryse into a video. https://youtu.be/mvcUHhXO9ts In … Continue reading A sample of a treasure trove of photos