Along 66, August 2020: Brookshire Burns Again, 1000 More Sites and the Launching Pad Closes Until Spring 2021

AUGUST 20-- Brookshire Motel in Tulsa, Oklahoma, set afire again.  This was the fourth time in recent years.  The long-vacant place needs to be torn down, but hopefully someone will save the old sign.

AUGUST 21--  Jim Hinckley adds another 1,000 descriptions of sites to the Route 66 navigator Strip.

When you are approximately 200 meters of the site, you will be alerted.   Something I do not have.

AUGUST 23-- The Launching Pad Drive In in Wilmington, Illinois, will remain closed until the spring of 2021 because of the you-know-what.   But the Gemini Giant remains standing outside.

Sad to hear, but Liz and I aren't going on 66 until this is over anyway.

--RoadDog

Along 66, August 2020: Frank Yellowhorse Dies, Naughty Rihanna, at the Tulsa Neon Sign Park

AUGUST 16--  Frank Yellowhorse, longtime operator of Chief Yellowhorse Trading Post has died at age 87.  He was a member of the Navajo Nation and the post was located at Lupton, Arizona, near the New Mexico border.

An integral part of the Route 66 lore.

AUGUST 18--  Cadillac Ranch goes political in this intense election year.  Pop star Rihanna spraypainted the message "F*** Trump" on one of the Caddies.  Trump supporters then replied to her, not just one one car, but all of them.

Very adult of you, Rihanna.

AUGUST 19--  The Route 66 Neon Sign Park is taking shape in Tulsa, Oklahoma  There are three replicas of classic neon signs installed so far:  Will Rogers Motor Court, Oil Capital Motel and the Tulsa Auto Court.  They are located in a small park at the south end of then historic 11th Street Bridge which once carried 66 traffic over the Arkansas River.

We can always use more neon anything, especially large neon signs like these.  Way to go, Tulsa.

Lighting Up the Night in Tulsa.  --RoadNeon

Along 66, August 2020: The Illinois RnR Museum and Motorheads

AUGUST 13--  The future home of the Illinois Rock and Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet, Illinois, was given landmark status.  It is at 9 Cass Street and was originally a White store and later a Goldblatt's

It has also been several other stores during its life.

So far, no opening date for the museum has been set.

We can always use another museum on 66, especially one about rock and roll (and especially those great 1960s Chicago bands like New Colony Six, Shadows of Knight, Cryan' Shames and Buckinghams.

AUGUST 15--    The world's largest Route 66 sign at Motorheads in Springfield, Illinois, is now up.  Just one more reason to check this place out.  We went there just a few days after it opened.  Later, we had a great time watching the St. Louis Blues win the 2019 Stanley Cup there with a whole bunch of Blues fans.

Springfield is torn between Chicago and St. Louis sports.

--RoadBluesRock

The Other Haunted Place on Route 66, and This is a Whole Road: Route 666

ROUTE 666

U.S. Route 491, formerly known as U.S. Highway 666, was known as the "Devil's Highway" because of the number and a fairly large number of fatalities along its route in New Mexico.

Some drivers have reported being chased by hellhounds -- supernatural canines that represent death in some cultures -- or seeing a ghostly semitruck on fire according to Commercial Truck Trader.

Don't Know That I Would Be Driving It Myself.  --TooScaredDog

Route 66 Has Two Places on Ten Most Haunted U.S. Roads

From the October 20, 2020, Travel and Leisure site "10 haunted roads in the US for ghosts, supernatural creatures and UFO sightings" by Elizabeth Rhodes.

Well.  BOO!!   Just in time for Halloween.

Two of them are on our Route 66 and here they are:

ROUTE 66 VILLA RIDGE, MISSOURI

The Tri-County Truck Stop in Villa Ridge has been abandoned for years except for ghost hunters visiting in hopes of encountering the paranormal.  

According to Commercial Truck Trader, "Visiting  mediums have suggested that the  truck stop is a portal to the other side of eternity, where souls reenter our world and attach their spirits to truckers whom they might possess to drive them home.

And, Liz and I were able to eat there before it closed.  (Might a ghost have been sitting with us?)

So, Where Is the Other Spooky 66?  --RoadBoo

In Case You're Wondering What the Ten Best Roadside Motels Are

 The USA Today newspaper just concluded their contest to choose the 10 Best Roadside Motels.  People were able to vote from a list of twenty motels (see my October   posts for the complete list) and Friday they announced the winners.  Three of the motels were on Route 66 and one was on the Lincoln Highway.

Here is the list of the Top Ten Motels:

1.  Coachman Motel in South Lake Tahoe, California

2.  Lincoln Motor Court in McMann's Choice, Pennsylvania (or is it McManns Choice?)

3.  The Sunset Motel in Brevard, North Carolina

4.  Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona

5.  Roadrunner Lodge, Tucumcari, New Mexico

6.  The Vagabond Motel in Miami

7.  Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico

8.  Hotel Palms in Atlantic Beach, Florida

9.  Astro Motel in Santa Rosa, California

10.  Sandman in Santa Rosa, California

But, Wait, Munger-Moss, Boots Court and the Wagon Wheel weren't even in the original twenty.  

Something Wrong Here.  --RoadMoss

Route 66 Ranks Three in USA Today's Ten Best Roadside Motels Contest, Lincoln Highway Has One

The voting is over in the USA Today's contest to determine the Ten Best Roadside Motels.  The voting started with a total of twenty motels and people were able to vote online.

ROUTE 66 MOTELS

#4  Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona

#5  Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico

#7  Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari

LINCOLN HIGHWAY 

#2   Lincoln Motor Court in Mann's Choice, Pennsylvania

Way to Go Old Roads.  --RoadMotel

Along 66, August 2020: Route 66 Centennial Bill Goes to the House and the Giant Rt. 66 Sign in Springfield, Illinois

AUGUST 11--  The U.S. Senate has advanced the Route 66 Centennial bill, but it must be reconciled in the U.S. House of representatives before it goes to President trump for his signature.   Go Bill.  Go Bill!!

AUGUST 12--  Route 66 Motor Heads will dedicate the "World's Largest Route 66 Sign on Friday.

And this one is a big one.  It is mounted on two sixty-foot poles that once held a Stuckey's sign.  The bar and grille is in a former Stuckey's and is located at 600 Toronto Road.  You can get off I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois, then go just a short distance west and you're there.

Ace Sign Company is making this huge sign.  They have also restored the old Sonrise Donuts sign and the Bel Air Motel's sputnik sign in Springfield as well as the Art's Motel sign in Farmerville and the Tropics sign in Lincoln.

Two great new organizations that we have on the Mother Road, both dedicated to the preservation and furthering of all things fun and enjoyable on 66.

Great Job, Guys!!  --RoadDog

Along 66, August 2020: Steak 'N Shake, Totem Pole Park and Oklahoma Rt. 66 Museum

AUGUST 9--  Steak 'N Shake using Route 66 shirts with the revival of their carhop service.  Just the thing for these virus times.  After all, the chain started in Illinois on Route 66.  Founded by Gus Belt in Normal, Illinois,  in 1934.

AUGUST 10--  Celebration set for Saturday for completing of Totem Pole Park restoration.  That restoration has been going on for five years now.  A lot of work has been done on the 90-foot tall totem pole at Ed Galloway's near Foyil, Oklahoma.

There will also be a free bluegrass concert at the festivities.  

Always a worthy several mile detour off Route 66 if you are in the area.

AUGUST 11--  The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton will be marking its 25th anniversary.  They claim to be the largest more museums.

--RoadDog

Along 66, August 2020: Palms Grill Closes and Burro Removal in Arizona (Oatman)

AUGUST 3--  The Effects of COVID-19 closes Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta, Illinois.   It closed on Sunday and is owned by the Atlanta Public Library who hope that anew management team will take over running the place.

They have had three operators in the ten years it has been open.  Hopefully it will reopen again soon as it is a real trip back into time.  We ate there last year when we found that another one of our favorite places in nearby Lincoln, the Bonanza Sirloin Pit, had closed.  

We're still sad about that as their food was great and then there were those fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies and huge rolls.  They used to brag that "Our Rolls Are Too Good to Be Throwed" as a knock at some other place.

AUGUST 5--  A car show fundraiser for the Route 66 Museum in Victorville, California, raised $16,000.

AUGUST 7--  One thousand wild burros will soon be removed from Arizona's Black Magic Mountain Range.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management says the burros have overpopulated and damage the range.  Of course, we are also talking about Oatman's famed little beggars (well, DEMANDERS I should say).

They will be put up for adoption, so if you ever wanted a spoiled little semi wild burro, now's your chance.  Those not adopted will be put up at an off-range facility.

These burros are the descendants of burros used in the old gold mines a century ago.  When the mines closed, the burros were turned loose.  They overpopulated because they have no natural predators.

And, as we all know, they roam the streets of Oatman and are a huge tourist draw.  Hopefully, they will keep some of the Oatman burros.

Just Don't Figure You're Going to Get By Without Feeding Them.  --RoadBurro

Happy 15th Anniversary to the Route 66 News Blog

I am jumping ahead to this.  I am usually at least a month behind the posts on the Route 66 News blog.  Lately, I've been much further behind.

From the October 9, 2020, Route 66 News site.

This blog, as far as I am concerned, the BEST blog out there for Route 66, started on this date back 15 years ago by Ron Warnick.  As you know, this is the basis of my Along 66 items.  I used to have e-mail alerts to Route 66 that I used, but why go anywhere else when you have this great "Clearinghouse" of information.  If there is anything you want to know about what is currently happening along the Mother Road this is where you want to go.

In a few weeks, Ron figures to have his 10,000th post.

His most popular post so far was "A Route 66 Guide to the Cars Movie."  If you are a "Cars" movie fan, you will want to read this as it tells you what everything in the movie was based on.

Mr. Warnick says he started Route 66 News as a way to keep happenings along the road more timely.  Most Route 66 magazines are published quarterly so information was old even when they first hit the news stands.

His initial goal was to print at least one story a day and he often has more than one story a day.

Like his masthead says, Route 66 News is "A clearinghouse of news and events along historic Route 66, the Mother Road."

Also, this was my first blog of way too many and started on April 26, 2006, so it is now 14 years old.

Job Well Done Ron Warnick.   Keep It Up!!  --RoadDog

Along 66, August 2020: Dave Clark's Route 66 in Chicago Zooms

These come from the Route 66 News site which is now celebrating its 15th year of service providing up-to-date news about our favorite road, the good ol' Mother Road.

There is at least one current story every day on it, and often, more than one.  I just pick out the stories of most interest to me (which means Illinois and Missouri especially) and I write some of what was in the Route 66 News post and sometimes have a comment on it. They also have videos and pictures.

So, if you're looking for the best up-to-date information on the Mother Road, this is where you want to go.

*********************************************

AUGUST 1--  David Clarks Zoom video conferences titled "Route 66 in Chicago:  Where the Road Begins" will be on August 6 (well, too late now).  It will be a virtual tour of the road in Chicago.

He will host another Zoom video event September 6, "Diners, Snake Pits & Long-Haul Trucking:  The Commerce of Route 66.  There will be future episodes on Al Capone and Frank Lloyd Wright.  All scheduled for the sixth of the month.

Dave Clark calls himself the Windy City warrior and has written three books and written dozens of articles.  He does Zoom as well as walking and driving tours and his website is at Windy City Road Warrior.com

I would seriously doubt that anyone knows more about Route 66 in the Chicagoland area than Dave.  I have seen talks by him as well as once took a walking tour with him that was very informative.  Just be forewarned, though, Dave walks very, very fast.

--RoadDog

Along 66: Bringing Back those Old Motels, the Blue Whale's New Owners, Chicago's Central Camera and the Monterrey Motel

JULY 27--  The older motels where entrance is from the outside as opposed to down a hall are becoming popular during these coronavirus days.  You can go straight to your room and be outside after checking in.  makes sense to me.

JULY 27--  The City of Catoosa, Oklahoma, has purchased the Blue Whale property for $1.5 million.  Glad to see that happened.  That guarantees that we will still have it as it is a real neat place to see and visit.  Real oddball.

JULY 29--  Central Camera in Chicago is set to reopen in a storefront next door in September.  It was severely damaged and looted during the BLM riots earlier in the year.

JULY 31--  Monterrey Motel renovations in Albuquerque, New Mexico,  should be finished by September.  It will be turned into a higher-end hostel/boutique motel, complete with a tap room.  I always like it when a motel/hotel has a restaurant/bar attached to it.  Then you can have your cocktails and not worry about getting back to your room.

--RoadDog

Or, Is It Manns Choice? Either Way, It's An Interesting Name (and We Know It has a Neat Old Motor Court)

Continued from Wikipedia.

Just how did it get its rather interesting name?

In 1848, Pennsylvania Congressman Job Mann pressured for a post office in an unnamed  village in Harrison Township in Bedford County.  The Post Office Department approved a new post office for the village but since it didn't have a name, Congressman Mann was to give it one.

But, before he was able to do that, postal maps were made with the temporary designation of "Mann's Choice" written on them.

The name was never changed and became the permanent one.

Mann's Choice or Manns Choice, You decide.

So, Now You Know What You've been Wondering for a Long Time.  --RoadMann?

Along 66. July 2020: Ted Drewes Closes (Temporarily), The Mill Closes and David Leong Dies

JULY 17--  The Ted Drewes locations in St. Louis closed temporarily after a worker got COVID-19 virus.  Oh no.  No Concretes!!!  Well, at least for a short time.

JULY 18--  The Mill Museum in Lincoln, Illinois, is closing down for the rest of 2020.  The reasons are the impact of the virus and needed repairs.  The Lincoln City Council will decide if they will put $15,000 from the hotel taxes toward the Mill.

It opened in 1929 and in 2006 efforts really began to restore it.  The first time we saw it was in 2002 and it was looking pretty bad.

Sadly, the place in the downtown square which used to serve the schnitzel the Mill was famous for has closed as well.  Now let's hope some restaurant starts serving it.

JULY 24--  The inventor of Springfield cashew chicken has died at age 99.  David Leong fled China in 1938 when the Japanese took over and immigrated to the United States and joined the U.S. Army.  He stormed ashore in Normandy on D-Day.

This is the first I have ever heard of Springfield cashew chicken but will certainly be on the list of places to eat at the next time we go there.

--RoadChicken

Mann's Choice, Just the Place for Us Civil War Buffs

I looked up how far Mann's Choice was from Gettysburg and Sharpsburg (Battle of Antietam) and found out it was 88 miles northwest of  of Gettysburg and 88 miles north of Sharpsburg.

Sharpsburg is 18 miles north of Harpers Ferry, so lots of Civil War history in this year.  And this place is near the Battle of South Mountain.

So, I can see staying at the Lincoln Motor Court and using this as my base of operations for the battle sites.

--RoadCivil

Where the Heck Is Mann's Choice, Pennsylvania? What the Heck is a Mann's Choice, Pennsylvania?

In several posts this month so far, I have written about the Best Top Ten Roadside Motel contest that USA Today is running.

One of the motels I voted for was the Lincoln Motor Court on the Lincoln Highway in Pennsylvania.  Looks like an interesting place to stay with the old unattached cottages.

It was listed as being in Mann's Choice, Pennsylvania.  Well, right away, I thought to myself, Mann's Choice, Pennsylvania.  What is with that town name?  Definitely strange indeed.

So, a short trip to Wikipedia was in the cards.

There really is a town called Mann's Choice in Pennsylvania.

It is in Bedford County and the 2010 census had the population at a booming 300!!

Mighty Big City.  --RoadChoice

Too Late to Vote for Best Roadside Motel Now, But...

Voting ended for the USA Today's 10 Best Roadside Motels today at noon.  Hopefully you got your voes in.  I split my votes over the voting period between our three Route 66 motels and the Lincoln Highway motel.

Winners will be announced October 23.

Good Luck to Us.  --Road66LH

Just One Day Left to Vote on Best Roadside Motel

 I cast my vote earlier today.  

Today is the last day to vote for your favorite roadside motel.  I am sure all of them are great experiences, but I am kind of prone to favor the ones on Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway for some reason.

The last i saw (they are not printing the top ten vote-getters anymore so the winner will be a surprise), but the last I saw, we had the three Route 66 and one Lincoln Highway motels in the Top Ten.

Again, the Route 66 and Lincoln Highway motels:

Wigwam Motel--  Holbrook, Arizona

Road Runner Lodge--  Tucumcari, New Mexico

Blue Swallow Motel--  Tucumcari, New Mexico

Lincoln Motor Court--  Mann's Choice, Pennsylvania

And, You Vote Via Internet. No Mailing Worries.   --RoadVote

Along 66, July 2020: New Owners for the Blue Swallow Motel and New Owners of Historic Route 66 Website

 JULY 11--  Blue Swallow Motel announced that they have new owners.  Robert and Dawn Federics from Crystal Lake, Illinois, bought it from Kevin and Nancy Mueller who initially offered it at the price of $1.2 million.

It was built in 1939 by W.A. Huggins and the famous neon sign was erected in the 1950s.  Lillian Redman owned the motel for more than 40 years.

The renaissance of the motel began when Dale and Hilda Bakke bought it.

We have been fortunate enough to spend a night there and enjoyed cocktails out by Route 66 while enjoying watching the cars go by, that great Blue Swallow neon sign and the neon sign of the Tepee Curios place.

JULY 15--  Route 66 Navigation Principals take over ownership of the Historic Route 66 website from Swa Frantzen and Nadine Pelicaen.

This was a very helpful website in our early days of driving the Mother Road.

--RoadDog

Just Four Days Left to Vote for USA Today's 10 Best Roadside Motels

 I cast my vote today.

See Oct 1, 4 and 5 posts for complete list of twenty motels in the contest and a recent Top Ten standings.  There are still three Route 66 and one Lincoln Highway motels in the running.  All were in the top ten the last time I looked.

So make your vote and you don't even have to do it by mail.

Ain't that great?

--RoadVote

Edwardsville Is County Seat of Madison County, Illinois

In September, I wrote about people in Edwardsville, Illinois, who wanted the statue of Ninian Edwards, for whom the town was named, removed because of his being a slave owner.  Edwardsville is in Madison County, which has quite a bit of history.

From the Madison County site.

Madison County was established and named after President James Madison in September 1812.   The county seat and third oldest city in Illinois is Edwardsville.

The county's rich history includes the departure point  of William Clark and his troops from Camp Dubois (in present-day Wood River), to join Meriwether Lewis in 1804.  That was the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase lands.

One of the Lincoln-Douglas debates took place in Alton in 1858.  The "Gentle Giant,"  Robert Wadlow grew up in Alton as well.   He stood 8 feet 11 inches tall.  Also, Paul Simon, famed for his ever-present bowtie, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate from 1975 to 1997 lived in Troy for 25 years. 

For you Route 66ers, the Chain of Rocks Bridge is in Madison and St. Clair counties.

--RoadBridge

Canada's Swastika Trail

From the November 26, 2017, Jewish Telegraphic Agency "Embarrassed  residents of 'Swastika Trail' push to rename Canadian street"

Two couples have petitioned a Jewish advocacy group to get the name renamed from their street in Puslinch Township, 50 miles west of Toronto.

Many, of course, see it as a symbol of the Nazis.

But residents of the street voted on the issue earlier this month and decided to let the name remain.  The street was named in 1920s as an ancient symbol meaning life and good work and the fact that it was adopted by the Nazis should not cause it to be removed.

--RoadDog

These Are USA Today's Top Ten Best Roadside Voting So Far

There are twenty nominees and these are in the lead for Best Roadside Motel so far:

1.  Coachman Hotel in South Lake Tahoe, California 

2.  Lincoln Motor Court in Mann's Choice, Pennsylvania

3.  Sunset Motel in Brevard, North Carolina

4.  Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona

5.  Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico

6.  Vagabond Hotel in Miami, Florida

7.  Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico

8.  Hotel Palms in Atlantic Beach, Florida

9.  Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho

10.  Astro Motel in Santa Rosa, California

There are still seven days left to vote.  And, of course, you can do it online.

--RoadVoter

Illinois' Swastika Trail-- Part 5

RootDig.com

Michael John Neill's genealogy website.

He was looking at the Illinois Highway Maps collection in the Illinois Digital Archives collection. (he also has a place where you can go to it, very interesting).He looked at a 1922 map and noticed there were no numbers on the roads, this being the era of named roads and all.

He was surprised to see one named Swastika Trail near the Quad Cities area.  This brought quite the thought into his head, as it did with me when I first saw it.

Today it is Illinois Highway 17.  This map shows it starting in Galva, Illinois, and running west through Woodhull, Alphi, Viola, Aledo, Joy, New Boston and entering Iowa and going a short distance to Wapello.

Along with the name, a swastika symbol is show, only backwards to the one the Nazi used.

--RoadDog

USA Today's Best 10 Roadside Motels 2020 Voting-- Part 2: Wigwams and Roadrunners

 The other ten motel nominees:

11.  Lincolnville Motel in Lincolnville, Maine

12.  The Modern Hotel and Bar in Boise, Idaho

13.  Old Santa Fe Inn in Santa Fe, New Mexico

14.  Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico

15.  The Sandman in Santa Rosa, California

16.  The Sunset Motel in Brevard, North Carolina

17.  Tourists in North Adams, Massachusetts

18.  Unscripted Durham in Durham, North Carolina

19.  The Vagabond Motel in Miami, Florida

20.  Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona

Remember, voting for these go on for another eight days so get votin'.

Is This Voting By Mail?  --RoadTel

USA Today's 2020 10 Best Roadside Motels Voting Is Underway for 11 More Days-- Part 1: Ten of the Nominees

There are 20 nominees to choose from.  Two of them (just two) are from Route 66 and one is from the Lincoln Highway.  Sadly, four of my favorite Missouri Route 66 places are not on it:  Munger Moss in Lebanon, Wagon Wheel in Cuba, Boots Motel in Carthage and Rail Haven in Springfield are not on the list.  What gives there?

You can go to the site and vote.

Here are the nominees and location"

1.  Amigo Motor Lodge in Salida, Colorado

2.  Astro Motel in Santa Rosa, California

3.  Austin Motel in Austin, Texas

4.  Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico

5.  Cadillac Motel in Niagara Falls, Ontario

6.  Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa in Calistoga, California

7.  Coachman Hotel in South Lake Tahoe, California

8.  Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho

9.  Hotel Palms in Atlantic Beach, Florida

10.  Lincoln Motor Court in Mann's Choice, Pennsylvania

I'll do the last ten tomorrow.  But, in the meantime, go to the site and vote.

Well, actually, there are three Route 66 motels.  The third one is the Roadrunner Lodge, also in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Especially For Our Motels.  --RoadVoter

Swastika Trail-- Part 4: Now Associated With Nazis, But Once a Good Luck Symbol

The Iowa DOT included a Note:

When this route was designated, the swatika symbol was recognized for its attributes as a charm or amulet, as a sign of benediction, blessing, long life, good luck, and good fortune.  The swastika symbol was popular in the United States prior to 1920, when it was appropriated as a Nazi symbol and later associated with the Third Reich during World War II.

The symbol remains visible on numerous historic buildings, including sites that are listed on the NRHP.  It also is on tiles, lampposts, metal valves tools, surf boards,  stock certificates, brand names, place names, medals, commercial tokens, postcards,  souvenirs, rugs and clothing.

My wife had a friend when she was growing up in Chicago who lived in a building with a row od swastikas near the top of it.

--RoadDog

Iowa's Swastika Trail-- Part 3: Across Iowa?

From the Iowa Department of Transportation.

SWASTIKA TRAIL

TERMINI:

West:  Nebraska City, Nebraska
East:  Keokuk, Iowa

CITIES ALONG THE ROUTE:

ILLINOIS:  Galva, Aledo,  and New Boston
IOWA:  Wapello

I have only seen it from Galva, Illinois to the Iowa border.  I am not sure that it went through Iowa.  With the two cities listed as termini, if it did, it would have been along the southern part of Iowa.

--RoadDog