Getaway to Lebanon, Missouri

From the July 202 417 Magazine by Jamie Thomas and  Zachary Raines.

That great Route 66 town in Missouri.

A list of things-to-do while you're there.

**    Boswell Park:  Three large Route 66 murals, Camp Joy cabin and, of course, the Nelson Dream Fountain.

**  Route 66 Museum and Research Center:  In the Lebanon-Laclede County Library.  Recreations and lots of Route 66 history.

**   Mother's Garden:    Small park with fountains and walkways.

**  June  & Beyond Boutique:  An amazing variety of clothes.

**  Madison Street Grill:    Lunch or dinner.  All sorts of great steaks and seafood.

**  Float the Niangua River:    Four to 14 miles, two to eight hour trips.

--RoadDog

Ten Great Places to Stream Through Cities-- Part 2

Again, these are cities with cruises of some sort.

4. MILWAUKEE RIVER-- MILWAUKEE-- many themed cruises. Even a beer one. After all, it was alcohol that made Milwaukee famous. We've walked along it in places. Los of bars.

5. RIDEAU CANAL-- ONTARIO, CANADA-- part of a network of lakes, rivers and canals between Kingston and Ottawa. Goes through a lock system built in 1832. Haven't been here.

6. JAMES RIVER/KANAWHA CANAL-- RICHMOND, VIRGINIA-- Tour through Richmond's past and present, from the Civil War to modern skyscrapers. Also one and a quarter canal walk. Haven't been here, either.

7. PROVIDENCE RIVER-- PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND-- gondola rides through old and new Providence. Next time out to New England.

Last Three Coming Up. --RoadDog

Ten Great Places to Stream Through Cities-- Part 1

Cities throughout the United States located along rivers have become aware of the tourism and commercial possibilities of them.

The August 28th USA Today had a half page devoted to ten such places.

"Rivers and canals helped great cities grow--and many are spurring waterfront redevelopment with cruises and tours. Kit Kramer, president of the International Downtown Association gave her list of great places.

1. RIO SAN ANTONIO-- SAN ANTONIO-- Probably the best-known river walk. We went to this one, but couldn't find it at first until we realized it was below street level. Definitely will go back here.

2. HUDSON RIVER-- KINGSTON, NY-- Fall foliage is special and looks like it did when the Hudson River School of painting memorialized it.

3. BRICKTOWN CANAL--OKLAHOMA CITY-- And, this city is on Route 66. We haven't been here yet, though. Name for the old warehouse district.

And Chicago has been doing a lot with its riverfront these days.

More to Come. --RoadDog

Methodist Campground- Des Plaines, Illinois

The recent flooding in the Chicagoland area may be just what the historic 32 acre Methodist Campground needs to stave off the flooding problems and deterioration of many of the historic cottages and structures, many dating back to the late 1800s.

The Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois placed the campgrounds on the Top Ten Most Endangered list in 2003, where it still remains. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It dates to 1830s and has been at its current site since 1865. Many of the cottages, meeting halls, and a hotel were built between the 1880s and 1920s.

Located in Des Plaines by the Des Plaines River, (near Algonquin Road) the area has frequently been inundated with floodwaters. It is hoped that forthcoming money will enable the cottages to be raised.

I had never heard of this place before, although I did live in Des Plaines for a year back in the early 1970s. Sounds like a site that definitely should be saved. A search of the internet showed that a lot of meetings are held there.

Sept. 19th Chicago Tribune- "Flooding may help old religious camp" by Liam Ford.

Here's Hoping for the Money. --RoadDog

Let's Use that Riverfront

Cities and towns across the US are discovering that there is money to be made in their riverfronts. And that is not to mention the great aesthetics of a water view. Chicago is among these with it's mile-long Riverwalk between Lake Shore Drive and Franklin Street. This is Mayor Richard M. Daley's project, and yesterday, he announced that seven summertime businesses were going to be opening along it.

Five of them will be outdoor cafes offering food from French to hot dogs. There will also be a bicycle rental place.

Mayor Daley sees this as only the beginning and I would imagine he hopes to have something along the lines of San Antonio's famed River Walk. That was an impressive place when we visited it.

One problem to be overcome are the bridge structures between the two roads. Plans are for eight under-bridge pedestrian walkways extending 15-20 feet out into the river. Each one will cost an estimated $5 million.

Chicago Tribune July 7- "Chicago Riverwalk gains food, services" by Gary Washburn.

Nothing like a Water View. --RoadDog

What Do You Call a Steamboat on Dry Land?

"Oops, the Captain Missed that Last Turn", "Did You Say Port or Starboard?", or even "How Dry I Am".

In the case of Winnecone, WI, it would be museum. Well, actually, the Winneconne Historical Society's Steamboat House. Not much remains from the years when the best way to get from point A to point B in Wisconsin was by river or lake. Those were the days before roads. This is the single largest relic in the state from those days.

This old steamboat, or possibly the conglomeration of several old steamboats into one structure, now sits high and dry in Winneconne's Marble Park.

It has a vague history. Researchers know it has been on land for a long time, first as a private residence in Butte Des Morts, and then as a summer resort. It was moved at the cost of $150,000 to its present site.

Pride of workmanship is very evident in the oak woodwork in the grand salon. Part of the ship is believed to be from the Levander Choate II, built 1906-1907. There are 60 windows that have been meticulously restored. The current structure is 37 feet wide and 67 feet long and goes to two stories.

From the Oshkosh, Wi., Northwestern.com, June 27th, by Patricia Wolff. A picture accompanied the article.

Winneconne also seceded from the state of Wisconsin back in the 1960s or 70s when the town was inadvertently left off state road maps. The slighted community offered to join Canada and several other countries.

Downtown, along the Wolf River, there is a bar/restaurant called Fin and Feather that is shaped like a steamboat as well.

Now Proudly Back on the Map, Winneconne, Wi. --RoadDog