bbutko
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Posts posted by bbutko
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May be, but that pothole's real.
May be, but surely not his quotes!
... said Ohio DOT director James G. Beasley, adding that when he first beheld the pothole he knew he had seen the face of God. "From the delicate lace of cracks running across the radius to the dark and profound depths of the crater below, we must protect this pothole with all of our being. It makes such beautiful use of negative space." Beasley also claimed that it would be an honor for anyone to have their car ruined by such a masterpiece of asphalt.
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The Onion is a comedy site of parodies and satire.
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A story in the Tribune-Democrat from Johnstown, PA (near Bedford and the old Ship Hotel) notes that the new manager of Adele's Diner on the Lincoln Highway/US 30 at Reels Corners has renamed it Heritage Highway Restaurant.
“'We had a lot of people tell us we should change it,' Blough said." She wants "to remind visitors that they’ve taken a storied route to lunch."
I wonder how the rest of you feel about this? Is it a good sign that roadside awareness has reached business owners along the route after 15 years of trying? Or the start of generic-sounding names replacing local flavor? I'm sure Route 66 experienced this same pattern.
Brian
www.brianbutko.com
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Last week I recieved my copy of Brian Butko's "Greetings from the Lincoln Highway" and began reading it. Since I live on the West Coast I am starting at the back and working my way forwards through each state. I happened to be in San Francisco last Saturday and realized I was not far from where the Lincoln Highway terminous marker that was placed in 2002 at the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park. I did find the marker on the southeast corner of the parking lot in the weeds, overlooking the golf course, next to a Muni bus stop.
Enjoy the Journey
That IS a beautiful shot. Did you see the story I reported on, that a salvager recently found a 1928 LH concrete post that had been thrown over the bluff?!
http://brianbutko.wordpress.com/2007/12/19...rker-been-found
I can't help but think it likely could be the original terminus marker. We need someone from the area to search out the person who now has it in his backyard near Rossi Playground!
BTW, my LH Companion book will run West-to-East. Seemed the most natural way for maps to display in a book.
Brian
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Chris,
It would be pretty hard to argue that ID!!!
Roadhound also spotted it on the dusk jacket of Brian Butko's "Greetings from the Lincoln Highway." I had removed the dusk jacket and set it aside, so I didn't notice it!!
After Christmas I'll see what else i can dig up to challenge your road knowledge.
Keep the Show on the Road!
Dave
Wow, I never saw that color postcard but it looks identical to the shot I took decades later for the book cover. (Just off camera is my family in a rental minivan hoping I or they don't get flattened - for the 300th time that day.)
I've run some Mystery postcards and photos on the LH blog. Here's one that has not yet been id'd:
http://brianbutko.wordpress.com/2007/12/10...filling-station
Brian
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Excellent photo! ... for such sad roadside news.
I always thought it would be cool for Ray to move the old "40 Motel" sign from next door to in front of the diner and rename it the 40 Diner. I recall 10 years or so ago when the 40 Motel was still in biz. The sign had a neon shield, and the "40" was emblazened with clear light bulbs. It was a thing of beauty! Too bad I don't have a pic of it then, but it was a classic.
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That also includes the motel and property - a nice big piece of land for a nice big parking lot for a nice big store or strip mall.
I sent Diner Blogger Larry Cultrera a picture too:
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Yikes, not another classic diner! Seems like the diner revival of the 1990s has faded and they're again closing or changing hands at a rapid pace. I imagine it's harder than ever it's hard to find employees who want to work multiple tasks for long hours for relatively low pay when they can get a job at a chain and not have to care so much about their work - and surely it's more appealing to work at Best Buy and sell electronics to kids your age and get a discount on the stuff you want than mop floors, bus tables, clean bathrooms, cook orders, etc. The owner of Cindy's Diner in Fort Wayne found that he couldn't trust others to run the place right, so he cooks there every day of his life! That takes a lot of commitment.
We visited The Diner on US 40 last summer - here's the owner:
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Wow, sounds like a great time and love the photos!!
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PBS producer Rick Sebak just updated his blog to the Western Terminus:
http://www.wqed.org/tv/natl/lincoln_hwy/blog/
He actually reached there two months ago but has been delayed in updating as he continues making other trips on the Lincoln Highway and working on another video that he must complete first.
He says the Terminus was pretty foggy that night and the next morning, which is what I found too last June.
He hasn't gotten the latest pictures up but click on Video Postcards to the left to see some fun and interesting short clips about finding the last two markers.
Brian Butko
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Thanks everyone for your kind words and encouragement. A death in the family and a book a half-year past due also have kept me very busy lately. And kids. And trying to sell our house. And designing the SCA Journal. And....!! Oh, and my job as a magazine editor. But most of these are enjoyable, and I've met so many of you nice and knowledgable folks through my interests.
There are lots of great sites for LH info, American Road included. But if the LH can support more than one coffee table book, more news sites likewise can only help efforts to preserve and promote the road, which I've been trying to do since the 1980s. My blog evolved from working on web pages to accompany my Lincoln Highway Companion book, but the info there didn't look very appealing and was a pain to update. I still need to sort out those.
With the blog, I can post info and images easily and update things within seconds. Like my books, I don't cover everything, but I do spend some time researching and trying to write clearly about what I cover, and look for good photos too. I hope y'all find the stories enjoyable - your comments are always helpful, keep them coming.
It also has pages (still in early stages) with recommended places to eat, stay, libraries for email/research, etc. These are another carryover from the LH Companion roots - a way to convey some info that the book won't have, and to help those who want to take a long LH trip but worry how to do so.
Most of all, I love learning, and the blog is a way to force myself to stay on top of LH news. I'll still post here and hope you'll visit me too.
Brian
http://www.lincolnhighwaynews.com
PS: Denny, your RSS feeds window is pretty cool!
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Thanks guys for putting me in a no-win situation!
Rick is well aware of the original route – he’s not new to this, he was writing about drive-in theaters in 1971, long before most people ever thought to look at old roads and businesses, and has done videos on such places for two decades. It’s obvious he and the crew are enjoying themselves and getting some great material. Lots of people are going to love the show and be inspired to hit the road. But don't worry, few will drive the dirt route through the Utah desert. At best, they'll see the Lincoln near them in a new way and maybe take a short trip. Heck, our friends all drool at the trips we take, but the few who even leave the state fly to Disney.
If anything, the video will help places stay afloat through increased business, and maybe raise community pride and idea of local preservation. That’s why I write – so others might be inspired to not cover their diner in plywood or keep their neon sign another year or donate their old photos to a library or that a town might not pave over a piece of old roadbed. Same thing that Drake Hokanson’s book did for me, and I’m still being inspired by posts here, like roadhound's photos!! I wouldn't want those deleted in the name of keeping the route a secret. Route 66 might be over-commercialized, but how many popular stops would still be open if not for the publicity?
Let's celebrate and share what we have - we'll gain some like-minded friends and the rest will follow their own path, er, Interstate.
BB
www.brianbutko.com
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The trade journal is very cool, and very casually worded for the LHA. My membership packet and pennants were found by a friend who deals in rare books, as part of an estate. That was 15 years ago, before the road had been rediscovered - when dealers would say "all the Lincoln Highway stuff was bought up decades ago"! But there's always more out there somewhere....
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FYI, that is not an original pennant - it is a half-size repro we made about a decade ago for a LH Heritage Corridor cruise in PA. BTW, they last only a few minutes on your antenna before shredding in the wind!
They were based on a pair I have, I think the only original L & R pair surviving. I'll attach a pic from the LH event we had in Pittsburgh this July that shows them with a complete membership package too.
Brian
www.brianbutko.com
Here is the picture I took in July 2007 of the 1914 pennant. It's not the best picture, as the pennant and the other LH materials displayed are, understandably, under glass. The Fremont (Nebraska) Area Chamber of Commerce, in the historic old Post Office Building, at 6th and Broad Streets in Fremont, has a nice - albeit small - LH exhibit, which I believe is permanent.The city has marked the LH route through the city with smaller route markers, but I did not observe directional (turn) signs, so one would need to be careful not to lose the route.
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Thanks for the heads up!
I took a look using Google Earth at the site, and if I am correct it is the bridge at lat 40.1200, lon -74.9772. If it is that bridge, it is highly accessible, just a few hundred yards off US 1 via a signaled intersection off the main road, requires no lengthy walk, would readily be handicapped accessible, and even enjoys enough surrounding space for parking and a small interpretive site. To top it off there are existing tourist facilities immediately adjacent and a major hotel across the road..
It is the oldest arched bridge in the area , was once a link in the Kings highway, and is a fine example of the type. It also appears to offer access to a possible jogging or walking area along the old Lincoln Highway alignment and into the Park for hotel guests.
Do I have the wrong bridge? If not, it is certainly worth an effort to save it!
After all, we want to Keep the Show on the Road!
Yes, that sounds right - amazing, isn't it? And yet, since it's in an urban area, there are few local fans to rally support for its preservation, let alone stabilization.
BB
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Both are creations of Mark Cline, who makes giant fiberglass creatures at his Enchanted Castle Studio, just north of Foamhenge, same side. He's a great, crazy character who loves his work. Foamhenge was his April Fool's prank in 2004, and don't miss his Escape From Dinosaur Kingdom next to the Monster Museum/haunted house. Here's the website: http://www.enchantedcastlestudios.com (though no more tours - the original site was burned down by those worried by his fascination with monsters).
Brian Butko
www.brianbutko.com
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A new report does not bode well for what is perhaps the oldest bridge on the Lincoln Highway, but you can email words of support.
The bridge over Poquessing Creek, at the border of Philadelphia and Bucks Counties, PA, was built in 1805 for the Byberry-Bensalem Turnpike, and improved in 1917 as Lincoln Highway traffic began to overwhelm it. Since busy Roosevelt Boulevard bypassed it in 1921, it has slipped into oblivion, leaving it a very rare remnant in a very urban environment (right behind a Lincoln Motel). The bridge leads into Benjamin Rush State Park but straddling the county line has led to unclear ownership and lack of upkeep.
The report cataloged and ranked 125 Philadelphia-area stone arch bridges, which is the problem - unlike some, the Poquessing Creek Bridge is not needed for traffic, and is not eligible for listing on the National Register because of scouring (the undermining and deterioration of the base due to water erosion), making it "not a strong candidate for preservation." It is ranked 62, but only about 40 bridges will receive any maintenance or preservation.
Former LHA state director John Harman, who talked with the consultant, reports, “The bridge is artificially ranked as high as it is (right in the middle of the 125 bridges) because of its historic value associated with the Lincoln Highway. Otherwise, it would be lower. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has also recently advocated for the bridge's preservation and higher priority status.”
You can see the full Draft Management Plan at http://www.pastonearch.org/ with details on pages 126-127, aka B44-45, but the 28M file takes a while to download even on fast connections.
For a summary of this bridge, go to http://www.pastonearch.org/index1.php
In the Search line, choose the county Bucks, and a map will soon come up with a list of bridges. Click #24 PHILADELPHIA - BUCKS CO LINE
You will get a map of the bridge and an overview. Click on Report and you’ll get more info in a new window.
If you'd like to send comments, go back to the main page http://www.pastonearch.org/ and click "Your Comments/Contact Us."
Let officials know this is an extremely rare and prized resource of the Lincoln Highway, especially in the eastern half of the U.S. As interest in the route increases, it will draw visitors from around the world much as bridges do elsewhere on the Lincoln Highway and Route 66.
Also some photos and info here:
http://www.amusementparknostalgia.com/lincoln.html
http://www.friendsofpoquessing.org/pathfin...inderv13i1.html
Brian Butko
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My follow-up to Greetings, called Lincoln Highway Companion, will publish in Spring 2008, but the deadline to hand it to the publisher is looming in February. This guidebook will have a lot less text but bigger maps and some large photos.
Last year, I mentioned to this group that I also will list a couple places per state to eat and sleep. I especially like people's first-hand accounts of visiting these places.
I've gotten wonderful tips, some by members here, ranging from diners in NYC to a luxurious vintage hotel in San Fran, but I still have a few gaps in case you have a top-notch place you want to tell everyone about:
WY
NE
Western IA
Eastern PA
NJ
I know of restaurants and motels in these areas, but I prefer to use first-hand accounts from others to make it more fun and interesting. (And do you really want me to comment on homefries with cheese from coast-to-coast?) These can be short - 10 to 100 words - saying what you liked so much. www.brianbutko.com has an email link if you'd like to contact me and help spread the word on your favorite Lincoln Highway eatery or accommodations.
As you know, one of my all-time favorites, the Lincoln Motor Court in Cheyenne, was just demolished, so there's no better way to save such places than to send customers their way.
Thanks,
Brian Butko
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Our family loved staying there, and our van had problems while in town so we were in the room a lot. Some online reviews of it are negative, but we've learned to take these lightly: many motel reviewers have no tolerance for the smallest irregularity, inconvenience, or old fixture. (Unlike me - I adore and photograph any bathroom with vintage tile, sink, and lights. The Rail Haven on 66 in Springfield, MO, comes to mind.)
In this case, guests had to go next door (a 20-second walk) for amenities like the restaurant or indoor pool. But we liked the cool styling and landscaping, nice sign, play area with climb-on stagecoach, the outdoor pool looked great, we had no problem using the laundry, and the staff was glad to talk about its history.
For my book after 2007's Roadside Attractions - 2008's Lincoln Highway Companion - I try to list a couple places per state to stay or eat. The Lincoln Motor Court will be the premier stop in the east; Cheyenne's Lincoln Court was to be the premier spot in the west....
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Sorry for the scare! The Bedford cabins (built 1944) are indeed precious and still there when I passed by two weeks ago. The Cheyenne motel was formally Lincoln Court. It looked more typical of a 1950s motel, but apparently traced back to a cabin camp of the 1920s, as seen in sepia postcards. Garages were added next to each cabin and eventually joined under one roof - when we stayed there, the room sizes seemed to indicate which were original and which started as a garage. Along with a pleasant setting, sign, and playground, it still had what was called the state's first outdoor, in-ground swimming pool. The business eventually expanded into the adjacent Hitching Post Inn, and until that hotel answers my email, I'll guess that few travelers chose the motel over the huge inn (though decades old itself). An internet search finds an application last Fall to split the property and apparently remove the old motel for a new hotel. There are other vintage motels along this stretch, but if the LMC can't make it, the others won't last long either. Route 66 fans have convinced most business owners and town supervisors along their road of the advantages of preservation. The Lincoln needs similar public awareness to stem the tide.
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One of my all-time favorite motels, the Lincoln Motor Court in Cheyenne, has just been demolished. We've got to spread the word on the value of these places to the traveling public!
Brian
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Thank you for your many kind words. Been on board for years, just reading more than posting. There probably is a rivalry, or at least a sense of which road is "better," but if so, I'll be glad to bridge the gap and say they're both great roads full of amazing scenery and interesting attractions. Their new book promises to be a quality publication, and will surely introduce a lot more people to the Lincoln Highway, which can only help businesses and preservation efforts along the route. That's why I posted in the general forum, figuring it's of interest (I hope) to more than just LH fans.
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Michael Wallis' new book on the Lincoln Highway (with photographer Michael S. Williamson) is scheduled for publication this summer. I have the specs and an image on my site:
http://www.brianbutko.com/lh.html
Scroll down below my three books.
I believe their subtitle has been shortened to eliminate Route 30.
Brian Butko
Dot Declares Pothole Too Perfect To Fill
in Lincoln Highway / U.S. 30 / U.S. 50
Posted · Edited by bbutko
Well in PA we have Archbald Pothole State Park. The hole is 42 feet wide, 38 feet deep! OK, it was formed by a glacier, but still....
Wonder how many places call themselves Pothole Capital of the World?