Along66 August 2022: Grants in Illinois and Chenoa's Old Alignment

These Along66 blog entries are taken from the Route 66 News blog.  I just pick out the ones I am most interested in.  There is almost always a post every day with pictures and much more information.  So, if you really want to know what's going on along 66 this site is where you want to go.

AUGUST 1

The Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fair gets a $500,000 grant; Old Joliet Prison gets $250,000.

The State Fair plans to use the money to expand their exhibits.  The Old Joliet Prison will use their money on the exterior and illumination.

At the Fair, visitors can walk from Chicago to the Chain of Rocks Bridge.

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AUGUST 3

The City of Chenoa, Illinois,  is considering redevelopment of a long abandoned section of Route 66.  Right now you can drive the four-lane 1946-1977 only.  What theprisoy are looking at is the 1926-1945 alignment.

--RoadDog

Along66 July 2022: New Murals in Oklahoma and Illinois and a New Bronze Statue in Albuquerque

JULY 27

New murals in Route Corridor in Collinsville and Edwardsville, Illinois.  There is also one in Yukon, Oklahoma.  Next to neon, I like murals the best.  Well, also museums.

JULY 31 

Albuquerque dedicates a new bronze statue of the "Breaking Bad" lead actors, Walter  White and Jesse Pinkman.  

This popular AMC show ran from 2008  to 2013.

--RoadDog

Along66, July 2022: Painted Desert Trading Post and the Boots Court

JULY 26

Rescue celebration held at Painted Desert Trading Post site.   About 60 attended.  Located on a remote stretch of Route 66 in  eastern Arizona.  It was in imminent danger of collapse.  The place closed in the late 1950s when bypassed.

The folks are to be congratulated for doing such a good job.

JULY 27

Boots Court Motel in Carthage, Missouri, is now accepting reservations.  As of July 21 they had five rooms open and should have twelve open when finished.  They want it open by the time of Maple Leaf Festival in October.

We stayed there once and want to thank the two ladies for saving the place and the  new owners taking it farther.

--RoaddOg

 

Along66, July 2022: Rockwood Motor Court, Angel Delgadillo and 'Spike'

JULY 20

Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield, Missouri, to relight a replica of its original neon sign on August 13.  It was built in 1929.  It has come a long way from the last time we visited the restaurant and looked at the dump which was the motel part. What a mess.

JULY 22

Angel Delgadillo was inducted into the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame.  Nobody more deserving of that honor.  

JULY 23

The Needles Regional Museum will mark the 47th birthday of "Spike" from the "Peanuts" comic strip.  The mustachiod, hat-wearing brother of Snoopy lives in the desert near Needles according to the strip.

That is one skinny dog.

Happy Retirement Mr. Angel.--RoadDog

Have Fun at Burr Ridge's Route 66-Themed Playground-- Part 4: Get Your Play on Route 66

Why do they make these for kids?

While in the nearby Texas section, you'll see two spray-painted cars half buried  in the ground -- a clever homage to Amarillo's classic public art installation (you know, Cadillac Ranch), a fixture on the modern Route 66 road trip.

Next, in the New Mexico section, kids can bounce atop a recreation of the Blue Hole, a popular stop on the Mother Road featuring a clear blue pool of water, with extensive underwater caves.

In the Arizona portion, children can take a spin on the Wigwam motel-inspired rope structure.  The route comes to an end in California, where a pier-themed area allows you to surf on the turf with a spring balance board.  At the end of the roadway, you'll find a giant 3D Route 66 photo-op sign.

The multi-generational play area is sure to be highly popular with travelers of all ages -- allowing even the youngest road-trip enthusuasts to Get Their Kicks on Route 66.

Open tothe public from dawn to dusk, the Harvester Park Playground is at 15W400 Harvester Drive in Burr Ridge.

You can see the whole thing at mykidslist.com/harvesterpark.

Is 71 Too Old to Play on It?  --RoadYoung

Have Fun at Burr Ridge's Route 66-Themed Playground-- Part 3: Meramec Caverns and the Blue Whale

The level of care and detail can be foud across the whole park, incorporating classic playground amenities and perfectly pairing them with fun and campy Route 66 theming.

Traveling from Illinois to Missouri sections, you'll be greeted by boulders representing the iconic Meramec Caverns.  

As you continue along the rubber playground flooring desugned to look like a two-lane blacktop, you'll find a 60-foot-long zipline, representing the modern interstate, and a rusted Chevy tow truck with cartoon eyes -- inspired loosely by an iconic Route 66 animated film character.  (Wonder who that could be?)

In the Oklahoma section of the park, you'll discover a climbing tunnel that pays tribute to the classic Blue Whale roadside attraction.

--RoadFun

Have Fun at Burr Ridge's Route 66-Themed Playground-- Part 2: The Sears Tower Again

Your journey on the playground starts along a tiny version of The First Hundred Miles where kids can scale The Tower -- a multi-tiered jungle gym that's festooned with faux steel girders and radio towers, looking like a certain iconic Chicago structure near the start of Route 66.  (You think it might be that tall bulding that used to be called Sears Tower?)

The Tower, which is one of the park's most detailed showpieces, allows kids to climb to the "utilities system" of the building (in reality, the lowest tier of the jungle gym of the jungle gym), where they can spin simulated water valves and activate mock, oversized electrical switches.

The next two levels feature slides decorated with local interstate signs. One modest-sized slide is perfect for any younger kids, while the second slide provides a more thrilling experience at nearly triple the length and double the height.

And I Still Refer to it as the Sears Tower.  --RoadPlay

The Johnsburg, Illinois, 9/11 Ceremony-- Part 1

I am writing the 9/11 stories today since I wasn't able to yesterday.

Yesterday, the weather especially didn't cooperate.  It rained pretty much all day, at times quite hard.  Accumulation in Chicago was at 3 inches and I'm guessing from water collected in sone containers in my yard, about 4 inches here. 

And, it was quite windy.  On he morning I took my English flag down (Queen Elizabeth) and decided not to put the U.S. one up.  The wind blew down my NIU Huskies banner on the front porch.

I went out on the driveway and got my Sunday Chicago Tribune and paging through it, did not see one article about 9/11.   I was surprised.

I had read in the Northwest Herald newspaper (for McHenry County) that a group in Johnsburg, Illinois, were going to post U.S. flags between the bank on Johnsburg Road and the Johnsburg Library.  Since that is just four miles from home I decided to go to that.

Part 2  continued today on my Down Da Road I Go Blog.  

--RoadDog

Have Fun at Burr Ridge's Route 66-Themed Playground-- Part 1

From the September 10, 2022, Northwest Herald, Illinois by Ryan Searl.

This is part of the weekly "The First Hundred Miles" series on Route 66's first one hundred miles from Chicago.

Route 66's newest point of interest is introducing visitors of all ages to the history and fun of this legendary roadway.

The Burr Ridge (Illinois) Park District has created an immersive new play landscape themed after some of the top attractions found along Route 66.  It is located in Harvester Park, just a stone's throw from historic Route 66 and conveniently close to I-55, County Line Road and Illinois Route 83.  

This amazingly detailed park is already a hit with residents with its homage to a trip along the Mother Road.  Park goers are treated to  to an interactive cross-country journey encompassing several pieces of children's play equipment-- all immaculately designed to look like popular roadside stops.

I wonder if it would look weird to see a 71-year-old oldster playing on some of that stuff?

--RoadPlay

Some More on the Chicago Coins Band-Box

From yesterday's post.  Again, go to You Tube and type it in.  It is a neat video showing the actions the figures take.

Chicago Coins Band-Box were made from 1950-1952.  Deposit a coin in the jukebox and the curtains will open and watch the animated manikin musicians play a tune by the "World's Smallest Band."  It was used in conjunction with a jukebox and when a record was played, the drapes would open and then close after the record is finished.

Chicago Coins marketed it as  a speaker that looks like an orchestra.

In 1985,  Brad Frank, owner of Brad Frank Restorations took control of the Chicago Coin Trademark after the court ordered bankruptcy.  He continued manufactiring replacement parts for the over 600 arcade machines manufactured under the  Chicago Coin Trademark.

The website has a list of places you can see it in action, but unfortuantely, I wasn't able to get it to come up.  I wonder if the one at the Pancake Hut in Carthage, Missouri, is being sent to him for restoration?

E-Bay had an ad for it back in the 1950s and it cost a big sum for then, $104.80.

The Fifties Store has one advertised as restored and costing 12,500 pounds.

--RoadDog

Along66, July 2022: The Chicago Coins Band-Box

JULY 14

The Chicago Coins Band-Box in Carthage, Missouri's Pancake Hut has been shipped to California for restoration.  If you're wondering what I'm talking about, it is a robotic band that would come to "life" with a coin deposit.  Only, it hasn't been operational for many years.

It dates back to the early 1950s and has been at the Hut since 1979.

A donation fund was set up called "The Pancake Fund."

The Pancake Hut is within walking distance of the Boots Court motel.  I ate there back when we stayed at the Boots and admired the Band-Box and would have been happy to drop my coin in to see it in action.

Glad they're getting it fixed.

You can go to You Tube to see what one looks like in operation.

Hope to see it in action next time in town.

--RoadDog

Along66, July 2022: Betty Wheatley and Allen Threatt Sr Join the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

JULY 11

Betty Wheatley and Allen Threatt, Sr. inducted into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall ofFame.

The ceremony was held at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton.

Betty Wheatley owned the Dairy Ranch Drive In in Afton for more than four decades.

Allen Threatt founded the Thtreatt Filling Station, one of the first black-owned gas stations that would serve black autoists who would be refused service at many other places.  The station was constructed in 1915 and at one time sold Conoco products.

I am so glad that work is planned for the station which was falling into disrepair by the time we drove by it.

It is important not to overlook the trials and tribulations of Blacks on the Mother Road.  I am glad the Green Book has gotten so much publicity.

--RoadDog

Eight Record Stores You Won't Be Driving To Anymore

From the MeTV Staff, August 29, 2022.

Back in the late 70s and during the 1980s we sure had a whole lot of record store chains.  I just couldn't drive by one without wanting to stop and I often did.

Eventually, one company, TransWorld Entertainment bought out most of these.

I did most of my shopping, of course, in the Chicagoland area.

*  Stores I remember going to.

*CAMELOT MUSIC

*COCONUTS:  Started in Chicago but branched out bto other states.

*PEACHES RECORDS & TAPES:  Remember the wooden fruit crates you could buy?

STRAWBERRIES:  New England

*SAM GOODY:  Mall chain and one of the last of these stores around.

TAPE WORLD

*TOWER RECORDS:  The best of all, but none close to me other than Chicago.

TURTLES:  From the Atlanta area and southeast.

Also, I remember Musicland which most every mall had one.  I also used to like to look for CDs at Best Buy and Circuit City.

Flipping Through the Albums.  I Loved That.  --RoadDog

Along66, July 2022: Boots Court Up for NRHP

JULY 10

The Missouri state council is to consider Boote Court's nomination for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

The Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation will meet July 15 to  determine its inclusion on the  NRHP.

Boots Court is on Carthage and was built in 1939  at the "Crossroads ofAmerica" the intersection of Route 66 and Route 71.

We were fortunate enough to already get the chance to stay there and a big thanks to the two lasdies responsible for saving it.  And, now the new owners appear to be on trek to improve the place even more.  Nothing like sitting in one of those metal chairs in front of the office to get your in depth Route 66 experience.

Update.  It was recommended.

--RoadDog

For Any of You Who Are Into 1972

If you're like me, the music of 1972 is important.  This was a college year for me, split between the University of Georgia and a transfer back to Northern Illinois University to finish my senior year.

Today, Bob Stroud will be hosting his annual ode to summer 50 years ago and will be playing the songs on our radios and in our record collections fifty years ago in September 4, 1972.

The top two songs in Chicago for tomorrow, fifty years ago, according to powerhouseWLS were "Brandy" by Looking Glass and "Long Cool Woman" by the Hollies, and I'm sure he'll play those two.

It will be streaming on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive from 9 am to noon CDST and again at 9 pm.

Give it a listen.  I'll be recording it on cassette tape.

Fifty Years Ago?  Can It Be That Long Ago?  --RoadOld

Arizona's New Digital Route 66 Passport

From the August 31, 2022,  City Sun-Times  "Arizona Office of Tourism launches digital Route 66 Passport heading into Labor Day weekend."

Route 66 has long held a place in the hearts of travelers near and far, its legendary status catering to lovers of Americana, nostagia and the feel of the open road.  Now all this is being introduced to a new generation of fans via the digital Route 66 Passport from the Arizona Office of Tourism.

From Topock 66 on the Colorado River in the west to The Painted Desert Trading Post in the east plus miles of famous sights, shops, eats and towns in between, the free digital passport makes planning a Route 66 trip  easier than ever.  

And, there's even the chance to win prizes by uploading photos through the passport.

The passport is being issued during the bsy Labor Day weekend.

"Route 66's  colorful history, quirky attractions, lively dining and beautiful landscapes are the types of treasures that beg to be shared," said  Debbie Johnson,  director of the Arizona Office of Tourism.

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Just don't forget the old-timey paper passports.

--RoadDog