Route 66 Happenings

1. A new million dollar interpretive has opened in Chandler, Ok., in the old 1937 Armory Building. It was slated to be torn down, but a group organized and fought to keep it. This place is heavy on videos and interaction so should definitely be worth a stop. I just love it when historical preservation prevails.

2. I talked with the owner of Scotty's Route 66 Bar and Grill back in April at the Route 66 Association of Illinois meeting in Pontiac. He has only had the place for a few years, but tirelessly works to increase the public's knowledge of Hamel, located near St. Louis, and its role in Route 66 history. His place was an old tourist home back in the 30s.

I told him how much I enjoyed the stop we had there on the 2005 Motor Tour. He said he was trying to get the town to have another festival, and I see that they will have one June 10th, which will coincide with the 2007 Rt 66 Association of Illinois' Motor Tour.

3. Speaking of the Motor Tour, it will be June 8-10 and will feature a stop at the late-great Pig Hip Restaurant Museum, which unfortunately burned down this past March. However, 91 year old owner and official "Old Coot of Route 66", Ernie Edwards will host a get-together and have his famous Pig Hip sandwiches, something I've always wanted to have, but, alas, have never had. The place closed down in the early 90s because, as Ernie said, "The equipment was getting old and so was I. So I decided it was time." He ran this popular stop from 1937 to 1992. Sad to say, I will again miss the opportunity as I have to work elsewhere on the 9th.

4. The Chicago Tribune reports that the famed Chicago Athletic Association has met upon hard times with membership having dropped from 3000 to about 545 today. It also faces some major financial shortfalls. Currently, there are plans to sell both buildings they own, the ornate 11-story building at 12 S. Michigan and the 18-story building at 71 E. Madison to a developer for $31 million. The developer plans to have a $75 million renovation to create a 185 room high end hotel.

Currently, there is a bitter dispute going on among the members which, in the past, included such notables as Cyrus McCormick, A.G. Spaulding, William Wrigley, Jr, andRing Lardner. Women were admitted starting in 1974.

I used to belong to the Chicago Civil War Round Table and they held monthly meetings there, and that is quite an ornate and impressive place. I'm glad to hear the developers inten to renovate and not tear down the structures.

Keep on Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog