Down Da 66--Atlanta, Il Library 100--Fishin' 66 in Ok-- Route 66 on Frasier

Down Da 66-- Some stuff going on along the old road.

1. Atlanta, Il. Library Turning 100-- The Bloomington Pantagraph reports that the octagon-shaped library is reaching the century mark. It is the social center of the community and also serves as the Route 66 Welcome Center. Celebrations are planned throughout the year.

I was fortunate to get to tour it and the downstairs museum back when the Illinois 66 Association had a Motor Tour and it was inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2005, I think.

Former librarian Ruth Gordon believes the octagon shape came about to improve lighting with more windows for natural light. It was designed by Bloomington architect Paul Moratz and dedicated March 28, 1908. Before that, the library had been housed in various buildings around town. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The clock tower is a new addition to the grounds, but a good fit. It was built in 1982 to house a 1909 Seth Thomas clock that was originally at the Atlanta High School which was torn down in 1980.

The library holds 13,200 books and the basement museum was created in 1973. It will be moving to the nearby Downey Building later this year.

2. Lake Overholser, Ok.-- Three new ponds have been made as part of Oklahoma's "Close to Home" fishing program. They are located on the west side of the lake in the Route 66 Park.

They have been stocked with channel catfish and bluegill sunfish. This spring, large mouth bass will be added to the mix. Stocking began two years ago and one is accessible to wheelchairs. Road access is only to one pond right now and the catch limit is up to six channel cats a day and no limit on bluegills. Large mouth bass will be catch and release only.

3. Route 66 on Frazier-- A few weeks ago, I was watching an episode of Frasier from its first season on Lifetime. Frasier, Daphne, Martin and Niles rented a Winnebago to see America, but they'd be on interstates. Frasier intentionally missed a turn-off so they could go where the road took them. They got into a discussion about Jack Kerouac and Route 66. Niles even put on a baseball hat and turned it backwards to show he was in the old road spirit of adventure.

Keep on Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog