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Those concrete photos are fabulous! I can't get over the date stamps. Many street corners near my childhood home were stamped "WPA" or some such, as New Deal programs put in much of my neighborhood's infrastructure. But I've never seen stampings in a road itself. I would probably pee myself if I ever came across something like that, I'd be so excited! I find it remarkable that the concrete is in such good shape, cracks notwithstanding. jim

Dave, I just wanted to chime in to say that I am very much enjoying everything you're writing about lately. I've been pretty distracted with life here and haven't given thorough and proper replies to everything you've written! I am very sorry to hear about your daughter's difficulties. I hope you're holding up all right with it all as much as I hope she is as well. I look forward to more from you about the NPH as you are able.

http://coastroad.wordpress.com/ This blog was brought to my attention today -- one person's perspective on the roads along the California coast. Old maps, stories, people, even some poetry. Good stuff. jim

It's Casey. http://www.jimgrey.net/Roads/NationalRoadI...is/06_Casey.htm A fellow who grew up in Casey found my page and wrote me about this particular gas station: Casey is a super nice town on the road. I was really impressed with it.

Great photos of the NR!!! I tell you, that road is cram-packed with excellent stuff to see. Thanks also for the link!! jim

One more before I call it a night... Just so happens that I photographed the following while exploring old US 50 in Illinois today. Lots of juicy stuff to share from this trip. I'll write it up as soon as I can.

It's a grand building, with plenty of character. You can almost see the children running around it in your photo.

Warren, I'm not surprised to learn that Gilpin Rd. was signed as 144. According to Wikipedia, for what it's worth, Gilpin Rd. is still maintained by the state and is "unsigned" MD 144AE. jim

Berwyn, I would very much enjoy reading any material you are willing to share, and I am sure many others here would be eager to see it as well! jim

heh, Collectible Automobile! I read that one cover to cover, and have subscribed for 15 years.

Warren, a hearty welcome from a fellow National Road fan. I live a few miles north of the Road in Indianapolis, and have now driven it from Baltimore to Wheeling, and from I-75 north of Dayton, OH to Vandalia, IL. I look forward to your contributions here! And if you have published your National Road materials online, I'd love to see them. Peace, jim

My favorite photo here is of the schoolhouse. I really want to walk up to it and peer in the windows! Thanks for painting the picture of the functioning service station...

Check this link for a repro Maxwell Service sign like the one you saw... http://antiquespeedometer.com/onlinestore.htm

mausting, sounds like you had one whale of a bad day there. Certainly sorry about your terrible luck. jim

Good point, Chris -- the damage was already done when SR 37 was rebuilt. The original SR 37 (and, I assume, therefore the original DH route) is significantly chopped up, some of it is abandoned, and some of it is now private property.

From Wikipedia:

Go here for maps: http://www.i69indyevn.org/ Proposed I-69 veers away from SR 37 (and the DH corridor) just south of Bloomington. You would not believe the controversy I-69 has stirred here. Holy cow.

Dave, what a great story. I can only imagine how excited you were to find Shirley and her excellent resources. I hope all turns out well for your daughter. jim

If the weather holds and my schedule doesn't turn upside-down, I'm grabbing a friend and making the US 50 in IL drive on Memorial Day.

All this talk, and all these photos, really have me drooling. However, and fortunately, old roads behind locked gates don't seem to be as common here as there.

Yeah, more like despite obsessive-compulsive preplanning on his part... Which makes the surprises all the more remarkable!

This little bit of pavement, circa 1930, is sitting right out in the open along the National Road west of Hagerstown, MD. Here's a map link to the spot: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source...=17&iwloc=A

More blog entries about the trip: http://jimgrey.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/new-market/ http://jimgrey.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/an...-creek-bridges/ http://jimgrey.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/the-wilson-bridge/ http://jimgrey.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/ab...-road-pavement/ http://jimgrey.wordpress.com/2009/05/14/th...olish-mountain/ http://jimgrey.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/th...asselman-river/ Coming up, we move into Pennsylvania. As for the extra power in my new Matrix -- you only feel it briefly when you start from a dead stop, as too much gas makes the front end all squirrelly, and when you get the tach up past 6,000 RPM. Otherwise, it's about as sedate as my base Matrix was.

Righteous! Totally dig the hotel, and like the composition of your shot of the building. Wasn't sure what you meant by "center section closed off by berms." Can you elaborate? jim

The entire highway system is run by the states. The Feds provide money for (most if not all of) the Interstates and some portion of the US routes, but the states do the rest. jim