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Celebrating our two-lane highways of yesteryear…And the joys of driving them today!

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Guest Bob Reynolds

--- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "jenniferrt66"

 

<jabremer66@a...> wrote:

 

> Thanks for the story - sounds like a good trip. >

 

 

 

I appreciate your compliments! Got another day trip to write

 

up now, a little jaunt I took with a good friend up in the Bluegrass

 

region of Kentucky. I hope to get it written up this weekend.

 

 

 

> Great pictures to. Sweetwater sounds nice. I like towns like that

 

> with a nice Main Street, shops, etc. Especially bakeries and fudge

 

> shops!!

 

>

 

When I think of fudge, I think of Mackinac Island. The place

 

is famous for fudge. However, this is one place that is out of the

 

question for a road trip, since cars are forbidden:) You either

 

have to walk, ride a bike or horse, or take a horse drawn taxi:)

 

 

 

> Now I'm all excited for a road trip!

 

>

 

Splendid! If that's how my write-ups affect folks, then I'm

 

doing it right:)

 

> Jennifer Bremer

 

> http://www.roadtripmemories.com

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Guest jenniferrt66

> When I think of fudge, I think of Mackinac Island. The place

 

> is famous for fudge. However, this is one place that is out of the

 

> question for a road trip, since cars are forbidden:) You either

 

> have to walk, ride a bike or horse, or take a horse drawn taxi:)

 

 

 

In September, for our anniversary weekend, Pat and I went up to

 

Mackinaw City (but did not get to Mackinac Island). The self-

 

proclaimed fudge capital of the world! I have no idea how much fudge

 

we bought, probably three pounds. I just wish a pound of fudge

 

didn't add three pounds on me…not fair at all! There was also a

 

place in Mackinaw City (specifically in Mackinaw Crossings, it's a

 

newer shopping/entertainment complex downtown) called Kilwin's

 

Chocolates and Ice Cream that has the most amazing ice cream. I can't

 

describe how good it was…it was even better than the best premium ice

 

cream.

 

 

 

It was also nice to discover the local delicacy and palate pleaser:

 

pasties (pronounced PASS-tees). We had them at the Mackinaw Pastie &

 

Cookie Company, and Cunningham's Family Restaurant. When I got home,

 

I immediately looked on the internet and searched for recipes. I

 

found a recipe that I thought would closely simulate the ones made by

 

the Mackinaw Pastie & Cookie Company. I've made them twice so far!

 

 

 

Here's some pics I took up there.

 

http://www.roadtripmemories.com/trips/mackinaw2003.htm

 

 

 

>

 

> > Now I'm all excited for a road trip!

 

> >

 

> Splendid! If that's how my write-ups affect folks, then I'm

 

> doing it right:)

 

 

 

Yes, you are and keep contributing! I encourage everyone to share

 

your favorite road trip stories. I'm not too fond of winter (to say

 

the least) - it's so hard to take road trips when you risk getting

 

caught in bad weather, so at least reading stories and anticipating

 

spring road trips will help with cabin fever!

 

 

 

Jennifer

 

AR List Co-Host

 

http://www.roadtripmemories.com

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Thanks for posting the photos. I haven't been posting lately because

 

of work. I was hoping to take a roadtrip to New Orleans down old 61

 

in Oct but had to put it off cause of work. Man doesn't that suck.

 

 

 

I don't know maybe 12 years ago in another life I drove up from

 

Chicago to the U.P. Houghton M.I. through M.I. along the east side of

 

Lake Michigan along the lake and over the bridge and US 2 west. I was

 

surprised at what a fun drive it was. I think it took 4 days and I

 

wish that I could have slowed it 5. I had a jeep at the time and the

 

doors were off and your pictures reminded me of crossing the bridge.

 

At the time the bridge deck was a steel mesh and with doors off the

 

jeep you could look down to the water which was a LONG way down. What

 

a thrill.

 

 

 

Great photos and thanks again for posting them. Though I haven't been

 

posting lately I have been reading posts and keeping up. Its nice to

 

know there are other two lane road geeks out there.

 

 

 

Allen

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Guest Bakerhab@aol.com

I'm forwarding this update from our Route 66 friend Hank Hallmark. His son

 

and future daughter in law still have a chance to win their dream wedding.

 

Please read his message below on voting irregularities. If you haven't voted

 

yet, please do so now, also forward this message to your email lists and ask

 

your

 

friends to help Hank's son. The contest ends at midnight, November 21.

 

 

 

Thank you Helen Baker

 

 

 

In a message dated 11/20/2003 10:17:52 AM Pacific Standard Time,

 

thehallmarks@earthlink.net writes:

 

 

 

> Here is the latest update to those of you have been following the

 

> contest--I'm sure many of you were as frustrated as we were with the sudden

 

surge in

 

> voting activity. It appears there has been some "unethical" conduct by some

 

> of the participants and/or their supporters.

 

>

 

> So, if you haven't already voted, please consider going to <A

 

HREF="http://www.kstatecollegian.com/">

 

> http://www.kstatecollegian.com/</A> and voting for our son and future

 

daughter-in-law. There is an

 

> icon in the upper right-hand of your screen which says "Vote for your

 

> favorite couple." Click on that icon and vote for Burke-Richard. David and

 

Kirby

 

> [burke-Richard] is the first couple on the left.

 

>

 

> If you have voted, we thank you for your support and ask you to send a

 

> request for support to your email lists. We just might win this contest the

 

olde

 

> fashioned way....

 

>

 

> Thanks again,

 

>

 

> Hank & Kris

 

>

 

> Note from our future daughter-in-law:

 

>

 

> The number of votes on the computer is not accurate. We still have a

 

> chance!!! They found that many of the other couples had many of the same IP

 

#'s as

 

> votes so they are going to only count those votes once. We will not know who

 

> wins until this weekend or next week. I thought I would tell you so you [and

 

> your friends] do not get discouraged.

 

>

 

> Thanks again to all for all your help!!!

 

>

 

> Kirby

 

>

 

>

 

> Amy Preston

 

> Kansas State Collegian

 

>

 

>

 

> A number of votes for the Collegian's Once in a Lifetime Plans a Wedding

 

> will be disqualified...The disqualification comes after the Collegian's online

 

> editor realized that more than 3,000 votes were registered between Tuesday

 

> night and Wednesday morning. Suspicious, they found out that people were

 

> spoofing Internet protocol (IP) addresses. "People were using an anonymous

 

service,

 

> then registering a vote," as a result, some computers have counted more than

 

> one vote per computer...they are looking at the numbers from the rest of the

 

> contest to accurately determine which were duplicate... This means online

 

> results are not accurate until the polls close at midnight Friday...We should

 

> know who the winner is by Saturday morning or afternoon, and we'll certify the

 

> results... Voting will conclude Friday at midnight.

 

>

 

>

 

>

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Guest Chetnichols@aol.com

What a world we live in!

 

 

 

I joked about being from Chicago....and "voting more than once because that's

 

what we do in Chicago". WELL, I was kidding. I'm a wiseguy and comedian. I

 

only voted once, folks. But, to see how something as wonderful as this fun

 

contest bringing out the worst in people...makes me want to puke and gag and

 

take

 

my clothes off and run naked through the internet screaming, "Cut the hands off

 

of these spammers, Ethel"! I know that's a scary thought....take some

 

Zoloft...it'll calm you down......

 

 

 

Suffice it to say that if "our favorite couple" doesn't win....then at least

 

I'll offer to play some nice guitar music and sing a few sweet love songs for

 

FREE for the young lovers at their wedding....and heck, they don't even know

 

me! Ask Michael Wallis, he sat next to me at an event and he'll attest that I

 

don't spray my food. Dang, these lovers can also use my spare bedroom (has a

 

fireplace and a bath) if they want to come to Chicago and F-f-f-r-e-e-e-z-z-e-e.

 

Of course, a cold night can lead to warm feelings, wink, wink, wink.

 

 

 

If they win........hmmmmmmmm.

 

 

 

Now remember, I'm a Kansas University-person...so I am really going out on

 

the limb here. But, I'm kind, loving and caring. Something I learned from Jesus.

 

I also love was HE said about hosting a party.....order the wine and the food

 

and prepare the table and leave before the guests arrive.....my wife said,

 

"See, even Jesus didn't like doin' the dishes." Sometimes you gotta just take

 

the dog for a really long walk.

 

 

 

Lord help us....and forgive those who are doing this.....because they were

 

dropped on their heads after being fired from their jobs at ENRON. Seems one

 

drop didn't do the job....and that they weren't drop from a level high-enough to

 

get the desired results.......let's raise the cherry picker....and drop in for

 

a visit at 3AM.......and drop them from tree-top level......or beyond!

 

 

 

Unkle Chesty

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Guest Chetnichols@aol.com

Here's a bit of trivia.....I used to do a lot of film production as an

 

Executive Producer. I had one director who was very quirky and did a whole bunch

 

of

 

:30 second documentries of "working people" in Michigan. They were really

 

charming and very well shot. One was about the guys who paint the

 

Mackinac Bridge. They start at one end.....and go to the other...then repeat

 

the process over-and-over. This is true of almost every painting crew on most

 

every large span bridge. So-o-o-o-o....if you want job security....sign up to

 

be a bridge painter.....then again, you can't be afraid of heights, the water

 

or drowning....which is silly because the impact will kill ya......folks

 

 

 

I was also in an "open air" Jeep....and when I looked down through the

 

grates.....I wanted to stop and park...and crawl back to where the bridge

 

began.....but, after a few days.....of crawling around that bridge....I was

 

STILL buggy

 

eyed.

 

 

 

Sometimes I wake up screaming...and my wife says, "Ha-ha-ha...still dreaming

 

of the bridge....go to sleep ya little baby"........

 

 

 

At which point I take the dog for a long, long walk.......

 

 

 

Unkle Chesty

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Guest Nicole

Hi all-

 

 

 

I feel as if this area is my old stomping grounds in a sense. Almost ALL of my

 

family including both of my parents are from St. Ignace, in which both of my

 

grandmas still reside, along with quite a few aunts and uncles. I remember

 

constant childhood visits through Mackinac country.....from when we lived in

 

Detroit when I was little going "how much further to the bridge?" on holiday

 

visits, and waiting to turn the bend on the highway where you could see the

 

towers for the first time from the south. Then a move to the U.P., driving

 

along US-2 in my pre-teen years coming from the west, that dangerous 2 lane

 

highway notorious for many deaths and bad accidents. The U.P. is beautiful

 

country, but thank god my dad got us out of there before I hit my teenage years.

 

 

 

My parents graduated from LaSalle High School in St.Ignace......and my grandma

 

from my mom's side just tore down a little log cabin she used as a family summer

 

place on US-2 (on a private beach area on Lake Michigan, where if the sandbars

 

were low enough you could actually see parts of the Mackinac Bridge to your east

 

as you waded out further and further into the water.) and has built a beautiful

 

new home in place of it with big bay windows showing off the amazing view of the

 

water with its unbelievable sunsets and sunrises......I remember as a kid in the

 

log cabin, my grandma always had a pair of binoculars and early in the morning

 

you could sit at the table and zoom in on the huge barges going by getting ready

 

to go under the Bridge. It was real sad to know this log cabin was leaving the

 

family......but boy, the view you get now with the bay windows is something

 

else!!

 

 

 

I remember as a kid going over the bridge and driving on the "green part" (what

 

is that called anyway?) where you can look down and see the water directly below

 

you. Anyone know of the Mystery Spot? signs? The one along US-2 right after

 

you pass "Deer Ranch", my uncle Kenny painted once upon a time. He also lives

 

there in St. Ignace. I also believe he did the one in the lower peninsula

 

before you arrive at the bridge coming from the south. I'd have to verify that

 

though. He's done many other ones in that area also....but those are the most

 

recognizable ones.

 

 

 

Anyway......I've had many cousins work their summer jobs over on the Island,

 

complaining of low pay and long hours. But I'll never forget the worst

 

experience I've had on that Island. My aunt Judy who is a real fitness buff,

 

asked me if I wanted to go walking on the Island with her before I headed back

 

home that afternoon. (This was about a year or so before I moved out here to

 

Arizona) I didn't think much of it and said "sure" thinking it would be kinda

 

fun. Well she neglected to tell me that we'd be covering the WHOLE

 

circumference of the Island. From the minute we stepped off the Ferry, we

 

speedwalked around that whole damned Island with me not being able to feel my

 

legs by about the 7th mile. I think it's like 9 miles or something like that.

 

It was a really long hike for someone not planning or expecting that kind of a

 

walk. And she hauls.....so it was like a slow jog/super fast walk. I was

 

thinking maybe a couple of miles just walking around the place.....boy was I

 

wrong.

 

By about the 6th mile I temporarily despised her. By the 8th I just wanted to

 

go home and not see her until Christmas. ;-) As you can tell from this little

 

story, and my Grand Canyon story to Havasu Falls, me and walking/jogging real

 

long distances don't get along too well!

 

 

 

There sure are some great off road trails around Mackinac Country also. My

 

Uncle who lives across the street from LaSalle High School (small town

 

obviously) is a jeep buff who has taken me on quite a few trails around the

 

area.....it's so much fun. Boy.....I sure am itching to get back to Michigan

 

for a visit. It doesn't have mountains, sauguaros, or palm trees....but it's my

 

first home.

 

 

 

Nicole

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------

 

Do you Yahoo!?

 

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I visited Mackinac Island in August and the moment I saw the bridge I knew it

 

was designed and built by the same people who did the original span of

 

Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge. This was quickly confirmed and I was not

 

surprised to learn that they were built simultaneously.

 

 

 

Mackinac Island was an interesting vacation stop and we walked around for a

 

couple hours. What puzzled me were the families with children checking into the

 

hotels. The antiquities may be interesting to adults, but I can't imagine what

 

to do with kids there for a week. I didn't see amusements, arcades, a decent

 

beach or even movies.

 

 

 

 

 

Glenn Adams

 

glenninvegas@juno.com

 

http://www.lasvegasregion.com

 

 

 

-- Nicole <arizona66nms@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

Hi all-

 

 

 

(Original Message Deleted)

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Guest Bob Reynolds

Hmmmmmm. Interesting. I make a slight mention of Mackinac

 

Island and it unleashes a flood of memories from the gang.

 

 

 

Splendid!

 

 

 

My most vivid memory of Mackinac Island was one of those "It

 

just doesn't get any better than this" moments. Sitting on a

 

rocking chair on the front porch of the Grand Hotel. The

 

temperature was about 70 with a soft breeze blowing off Lake Huron.

 

Sailboats on the horizon. The sound of hooves clipclopping as horse

 

drawn cabs pull up to the front door. Glorious! And all too

 

transient. But that's part of that sort of experience. It's

 

fleeting, but leaves a lifetime of memories.

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Guest Russell S. Rein

Hey Jennifer,

 

 

 

Don't forget that Mackinaw City was once the northern terminus

 

of the Dixie Highway. There use to be large cobblestone marker

 

for the Dixie Highway with signs for the East and West routes down

 

either side of the mitten, where the clock tower is in downtown.

 

I will post a pic and story about this marker when I get home next

 

week. Later the Dixie was extended to Sault Ste. Maries with both

 

an east and west route between St. Ignace.

 

 

 

ypsi-slim

 

 

 

> In September, for our anniversary weekend, Pat and I went up to

 

> Mackinaw City (but did not get to Mackinac Island). The self-

 

> proclaimed fudge capital of the world! I have no idea how much fudge

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Guest Russell S. Rein

Hey Nicole,

 

 

 

There's another Mystery Spot in MI's lower peninsula in the

 

Irish Hills area on US 12 (old US 112) near Brooklyn. This

 

is in SE Michigan. It was very similar to the one in the UP.

 

Don't forget Castle Rock with the Giant Paul Bunyan and Ox.

 

 

 

ypsi-slim

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Guest Russell S. Rein

Believe It or Not - but a Yugo was actually blown off the bridge

 

some years back. Many folks are afraid to drive across this

 

world's largest suspension bridge, so the local bridge authority

 

can make arrangementsto drive someone's vehicle across for

 

them!

 

 

 

ypsi-slim

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Guest Bob Reynolds

--- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "Alex Burr" <hester_nec@y...>

 

wrote:

 

> Holiday Greetings.

 

>

 

> U S 11 ROAD TRIP CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW..

 

>

 

>

 

 

 

Yeouch! Major drag:( But that's the risk you take roading in

 

winter. Hopefully, the weather will be better for your return

 

trip. Enjoy Memphis! Next time I go there I hope to check out Sun

 

Studios. Got to see where Elvis, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis

 

got their start.

 

 

 

 

 

BabbyBoomerBob

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Guest jenniferrt66

Well, I hope you get the independence you need to make that road trip

 

and write your book! The more guidebooks about U.S. highways, the

 

better!

 

 

 

Did U.S. 41 at one time go through Indy? I am a new transplant to

 

Indy, but my husband Pat has lived here all his life, so he might

 

know. I have a 1941 Rand McNally map that shows U.S 41 running (in

 

part) from Nashville, northwest into southwestern Indiana, then north

 

into Terre Haute and up to Chicago, all along the western border of

 

Indiana. U.S. 31 goes through Indy though...just curious!

 

 

 

The Cozy Drive In is still operating in Springfield, serving up Cozy

 

Dogs and terrific greasy fries (though less greasy than they used to

 

be). I don't know if they were ever called Co-Z Dogs though, maybe

 

early on, but I always have read it just as Cozy.

 

 

 

There's some pictures on my website of the Cozy I took in August

 

(scroll about halfway down):

 

 

 

http://www.roadtripmemories.com/trips/illinois66-2.htm

 

 

 

I hope you come up with a suitable and realistic disguise for Lou

 

Mitchell's so you can get some Milk Duds!

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Bremer

 

AR List Co-Host

 

http://www.roadtripmemories.com

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Guest roadmaven@aol.com

Hi folks. At my Corvair club meeting last night, a friend of mine brought in an

 

envelope of old pictures that his parents took out west back in 1946 & 1947.

 

Some were unmarked road scenes, but others were marked on the back where they

 

were. There were a few from the Buckhorn Mineral Springs in AZ and a good one of

 

the old "iceberg" gas station in Albuquerque. But there was one that really

 

caught my eye. It was from '47 and showed their car at a gas station (with the

 

attendent posing) in Adrian, TX. It was a smaller station (NOT the Bent Door)

 

and didn't have a garage.

 

 

 

So I'm curious if any of you out there have any "current" pictures of any old

 

stations in Adrian?? (Note to Guy Randall: It's not the one you have on your

 

website.) If so, let me know! I'm trying to figure out if it's still standing.

 

Dan's making copies of all these pics for me. I told him there was a good chance

 

we were heading out to Amarillo New Year's weekend and I'd try to find out

 

whether that gas station is still there and create a "then & now" for him.

 

Anyway, thanks for any help!

 

 

 

Pat B.

 

http://roadtripmemories.com

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Guest Mike Ward

Pat,

 

 

 

Interesting that you mentioned Buckhorn Mineral Springs. The business is still

 

open at the northwest corner of Main Street and Recker Road in Mesa, AZ, about

 

five miles from my house. That stretch of street used to be signed by four U.S.

 

highways - 60, 70, 80 and 89. Here's a link to more information -

 

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/AZMESbuckhorn.html<http://www.roadsideame

 

rica.com/attract/AZMESbuckhorn.html>

 

 

 

The wife of the original owner still keeps the museum open, although the motel

 

and mineral springs function is pretty well defunct. She's getting on in years

 

and I don't know how much longer she'll be able to keep it up. There's a person

 

in the area who keeps the neon sign out front in good condition.

 

 

 

I know there are developers who are salivating at the possibility of the place

 

going out of business so they could tear it down and put up another chain drug

 

store or something equally as unneeded. There's still enough history behind the

 

place to keep the wolves from the door.

 

 

 

If anyone would like a picture of the place drop me an e-mail and I'll run by

 

there.

 

 

 

Mike

 

----- Original Message -----

 

From: <mailto:roadmaven@aol.com>

 

To: <mailto:AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com> ;

 

<mailto:route66@yahoogroups.com>

 

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 6:41 AM

 

Subject: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Adrian, TX Gas Station

 

 

 

 

 

Hi folks. At my Corvair club meeting last night, a friend of mine brought in

 

an envelope of old pictures that his parents took out west back in 1946 & 1947.

 

Some were unmarked road scenes, but others were marked on the back where they

 

were. There were a few from the Buckhorn Mineral Springs in AZ and a good one of

 

the old "iceberg" gas station in Albuquerque. But there was one that really

 

caught my eye. It was from '47 and showed their car at a gas station (with the

 

attendent posing) in Adrian, TX. It was a smaller station (NOT the Bent Door)

 

and didn't have a garage.

 

 

 

So I'm curious if any of you out there have any "current" pictures of any old

 

stations in Adrian?? (Note to Guy Randall: It's not the one you have on your

 

website.) If so, let me know! I'm trying to figure out if it's still standing.

 

Dan's making copies of all these pics for me. I told him there was a good chance

 

we were heading out to Amarillo New Year's weekend and I'd try to find out

 

whether that gas station is still there and create a "then & now" for him.

 

Anyway, thanks for any help!

 

 

 

Pat B.

 

<http://roadtripmemories.com/>

 

 

 

 

 

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Guest Pat B.

Thanks for the info Mike! I could imagine what a beacon that neon

 

must be like on a sign that big. Once I get the copies of the pics,

 

I'll send some your way.

 

 

 

Pat

 

 

 

--- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Ward" <flyboy@r...> wrote:

 

> Pat,

 

>

 

> Interesting that you mentioned Buckhorn Mineral Springs. The

 

business is still open at the northwest corner of Main Street and

 

Recker Road in Mesa, AZ, about five miles from my house. That

 

stretch of street used to be signed by four U.S. highways - 60, 70,

 

80 and 89. Here's a link to more information -

 

<http://www.r

 

oadsideamerica.com/attract/AZMESbuckhorn.html>

 

>

 

> The wife of the original owner still keeps the museum open,

 

although the motel and mineral springs function is pretty well

 

defunct. She's getting on in years and I don't know how much longer

 

she'll be able to keep it up. There's a person in the area who keeps

 

the neon sign out front in good condition.

 

>

 

> I know there are developers who are salivating at the possibility

 

of the place going out of business so they could tear it down and put

 

up another chain drug store or something equally as unneeded.

 

There's still enough history behind the place to keep the wolves from

 

the door.

 

>

 

> If anyone would like a picture of the place drop me an e-mail and

 

I'll run by there.

 

>

 

> Mike

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Guest grandall52

Hi Fellow Road Wanderers,

 

 

 

I've got some pretty special news for you all. I've been working on

 

a web site for Ned Leuchtner and Cool Springs Camp on old Route 66

 

near Oatman, Arizona. Hopefully it will be up and running in the

 

next few weeks. As some of you may know, it was only just a few

 

short years ago that this great Route 66 site was in ruins. Ned and

 

his family bought the site and began rebuilding Cool Springs to its

 

former glory following the old plans so the restoration would be as

 

authentic as possible. I first found out about this two years ago on

 

the Route 66 Caravan when "low-and-behold" we came around a curve

 

and there was Cool Springs showing sign of life again. To be sure

 

Jim Conkle, Kevin Hansel, Dennis Karlstad, and I were very

 

surprised. We got to know Ned and his family back then and it has

 

been a pleasure watching the developments progress at Cool Springs

 

Camp. You can check out the play of events over the last few years

 

at:

 

 

 

http://www.theroadwanderer.net/RT66goldroad.htm

 

 

 

I just got an e-mail from Ned with some fantastic news. Cool Springs

 

had its electricity hooked up yesterday and the lights went on last

 

night! As Ned put it, "It marks the first time that the lights were

 

on there since 1966." What a milestone for Route 66! We've lost a

 

few battles in the preservation of Roadside America so it makes it

 

just that more special when we have a victory like this. Thanks for

 

your time, money, sweat and tears Ned and Michelle Leuchtner!

 

 

 

Keep on Truckin'

 

 

 

Guy Randall

 

http://www.theroadwanderer.net/

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Guest Lulupic66@aol.com

This was sent to me by a friend who lives near the city of Chicago, thought I

 

would pass this on:

 

 

 

<< To all,

 

 

 

So often when thinking about Route 66 we forget about its urban locations.

 

I feel this has just happened this past week. We've just had a major fire in

 

a landmark building on Route 66's corridor and yet I've seen no e-mails about

 

it whatsoever. It happened in Chicago's loop (and I'll get to some details in

 

a bit); but, I can't help but wonder, if a fire of this magnitude had

 

happened on a rural stretch of Route 66 or even in a medium-sized town along

 

Route

 

66, how quickly the e-mails to one another would have been buzzing among those

 

who care about Route 66.

 

 

 

But, as far as I know, this is going to be the first e-mail out there to

 

alert those who truly care about our road (as far as I know).

 

 

 

So a little background: The first steel-frame skyscraper ever built was

 

built on the corner of LaSalle Street and Adams, the nine-story Home Insurance

 

Office Building. It was torn down and (during the depression) in its place was

 

built a brand new 45-story office building, the Field Building (yes built with

 

Marshall Field money). This new building was an art deco masterpiece that

 

sprawled over half a city block (from Clark to LaSalle bordering Adams). On

 

Adams, it was built directly across the street from The Rookery, another

 

masterpiece. It was the last downtown highrise built in Chicago (because of the

 

depression and then World War 2) until the Prudential Building was completed in

 

the

 

early 1950s. This building was given Landmark designation in 1994.

 

 

 

And at 6:30pm on Monday night, December 6, 2004, it's 29th floor erupted in

 

flames, intense flames. The fire spread across its 29th floor and finally

 

spread up to the 30th floor before the Chicago Fire Department was able to bring

 

the blaze under control. It was such an intense fire that all three major

 

television stations in Chicagoland stopped their normal broadcasting and

 

switched

 

live to this fire. Flames were just pouring out of flame-broken windows.

 

 

 

And as of now, December 8, 2004, the entire building is still closed off to

 

all (the water damage must have been worse than the fire).

 

 

 

This is a 66 landmark, my friends.

 

 

 

And irony of ironies, I only toured it for the first time just three

 

Saturdays ago. I'd never been in that building until just three Saturdays ago.

 

Patty Kuhn (of the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project) was in town for a

 

conference that weekend. She asked both David Clark and I if we could figure

 

out an

 

itinerary for her to follow during some downtime she had that Saturday. Well,

 

David Clark put together this absolutely wonderful walking tour (from Halsted

 

along Jackson to Michigan Avenue and then over to Adams and back to Halsted

 

(probably over three miles of walking (but what a tour!)))! And we ducked in

 

and

 

out of these exquisite high-rise lobbies and probably one of the most

 

exquisite of all was the LaSalle Building (formerly named the Field Building).

 

So my

 

first time in that building was just three weeks ago (I've got pictures of

 

that building's interior still being developed at my local camera shop). And

 

then this exquisite place just cactches afire.

 

 

 

And then nothing but silence among my e-mail contacts. Well, I've decided

 

that silence needs to be broken. The LaSalle Building will indeed make a

 

comeback; but I do feel all those who love 66 ought to hear about this setback.

 

As

 

I said, ain't no one (but inspectors and other officials) being let in to

 

this place even now.

 

 

 

To give you just some idea how intense this fire (along Route 66) was, let

 

me just quote some from both today's Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times (two

 

days after the event).

 

 

 

First, the Sun Times:

 

 

 

"The fire just didn't seem to want to die. Well that took its toll on a lot

 

of people," [Cortez] Trotter said.

 

Most of the 23 firefighters taken to hospitals were injured while containing

 

the fire as people were led down steps and elevators. "That kind of fire in

 

a building with that number of people, if you can walk away and you didn't

 

lose a life, whether civilians or one of my men or women, that's a good thing."

 

 

 

"We had to let them know, a couple more floors and you're going to be all

 

right," said firefighter Victor Lecodet, 34. "Just keep coming down. And

 

that's our job--we got them out."

 

 

 

"We were able to call back to people's cell phones and other lines and

 

[say], 'You called 911 10 minutes ago. We just wanted to make sure you were out

 

of

 

the building' so we could eliminate them from our list of potential victims,"

 

said Rod Huberman, executive director of the city's Office of Emergency

 

Management and Communications.

 

 

 

Second, the Tribune:

 

 

 

"The fire sent 39 people, including 24 firefighters, to hospitals. Five of

 

the firefighters remained hospitalized Tuesday night."

 

 

 

"Mary Laraia, senior vice president for development at LaSalle Bank,

 

remembers grabbing her coat and heading to the stairwell from her 40th-floor

 

office.

 

"She made it eight floors down.

 

"'It was getting really, really thick, and we didn't know what was below

 

us.' Laraia said. 'It could have been one more flight of smoke or 20 more

 

flights, and we might not be able to get back up.'

 

"Laraia said she peeked into the 32nd-floor hallway and saw it was

 

relatively clear. She and 11 others in the stairwell went inside, placing

 

tissues and

 

T-shirts in the opening below the stairwell door to keep the smoke out.

 

"The 12 people then called the Fire Department for help. About five minutes

 

later, as smoke began leaking around the door and through the ventilation, a

 

voice on the public-address system told them firefighters were on the way.

 

"Fifteen minutes after that, help arrived.

 

"'The firemen burst in through the door and asked if we were the 12 people

 

on 32,' Laraia said. The firefighters then led the group down the stairs."

 

 

 

But, Praise The Lord--no loss of life!

 

 

 

And I felt I needed to share this "66" story with all those that I could.

 

 

 

 

 

And thanks for bearing (sharing) with me,

 

Carl Johnson

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Guest Jim Greene

Fellow Members,

 

I am a new member of the group and will be documenting some old roads and

 

abandoned sites in WNY.

 

Just wondering what may have already been done.

 

For instance, US Rt 20 passes 2 miles from my home and I travel it frequently.

 

Also there are some interesting back roads with notable structures to be

 

photographed.

 

Any comments?

 

Jim Greene

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Guest jjgrant@webtv.net

This may have been already answered, since I receive digest mail, but US

 

41 has never went through Indianapolis.

 

 

 

Don't know if you are new to Indiana, or just Indy, but here is

 

something you may not know.

 

 

 

In Indiana, STATE highways are numbered according to even-odd..the even

 

numbered roads run e-w, and the odd numbered roads run n-s.

 

The lower odd numbers start in the eastern part of the state and the

 

lower even numbers start in the northern part of the state. Make

 

sense? Obviously there are some exceptions. An odd numbered highway

 

may run e-w for a short distance, but would primarily run n-s.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hey thanks for the driveway offer! The Brickyard 400 perhaps?

 

You've got me beat. I grew up, earshot from the Trenton

 

Fairgrounds Speedway (about 1.5 mi.). May she rest in peace.

 

 

 

Can we dig up info on Faigrounds, lost but not forgotten?

 

 

 

http://www.netaxs.com/~gg1/race/trenton.htm

 

 

 

I just added the terraserver snap to the group -

 

Photo AlbumsE> TrentonFairgrounds99

 

The dogleg is still there, it's a street with houses on it now!

 

 

 

more local tourist info -

 

http://tencrucialdays.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "roadmaven"

 

<roadmaven@a...> wrote:

 

> Chris,

 

> I see the padoga rising above the treeline every morning

 

when I

 

> leave for work...I live in the housing addition on the west side of

 

> the speedway. We're the only court in that addition, so if you

 

can

 

> find Winton Ct. on the viewer, we're the 2nd driveway on the

 

right as

 

> you'd drive in the court. If you (or anyone on the list) makes it

 

out

 

> here to a race, let me know & I'll set you up a parking spot at

 

the

 

> house. I don't charge for parking, unlike the $20 per car others

 

down

 

> the street charge. It's just a 10 minute walk to the gate in Turn

 

4.

 

>

 

> Regards,

 

>

 

> Pat in Speedway

 

>

 

> --- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "Chris"

 

<stoneynb@y...> wrote:

 

> > Wow that's cool! Naturally the race fan in me, I zoomed right

 

into

 

> the pagoda

 

> > at the speedway. I like how they are able to overlay street

 

> graphics too. . .

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Guest drivewdave@aol.com

Wow that Sunday drive sounds awesome, I have long wanted

 

to drive on 89-A after I found postcards of it years ago.

 

 

 

on I-5 southbound from Seattle there is a small sign

 

about a mile before the WA18 interchange that reads

 

 

 

Enchanted Parkway

 

Next Right

 

 

 

and whenever I notice it it usually puts me in a

 

reflective state of mind, what a name for a road.

 

The mundane explantion is because of the

 

amusement park, Enchanted Village, which

 

gained enough momentum to rename the road.

 

 

 

Maybe some of you can come up with some

 

other interesting or unusual names of roads

 

 

 

it's good to see all the traffic on the site, happy motoring, Dave

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Guest roadmaven

Chris & Denny,

 

Definitely keep me posted when/if you make it to Indy. I'd say a

 

deep dish pizza from Union Jack is a must. I know of some good greasy

 

spoons in town where we can also abuse our arteries. :-) Then we

 

could explore some old alignments of US highways through town. Heck,

 

we can make this the first ever American Road Conference. Maybe we

 

could get it sponsored by Jim & Thomas?? Guys?? ;-)

 

 

 

Pat B.

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Hi all-

 

 

 

I've been itchin' and itchin' and itchin' to hit the road these past couple of

 

months. I moved out here to do exactly that, and it seems as though it's the

 

last thing I get to do these days!

 

 

 

So instead of sleeping till the crack of noon on Sundays like we normally

 

do....we were up and going at 9:00 a.m. this past Sunday, and my first thought

 

was "oh my gosh....we GOTTA go somewhere!!" After hearing grumblings about

 

Sunday football and "I'm still tired" from Kevin we got ready and hopped in the

 

car and pulled out the map, and picked Sedona. (He doesn't like it when I

 

threaten to wander off on the road on my own! ha ha!!) Well, of course we

 

couldn't take the superslab all the way there.....that would take away from the

 

whole purpose of taking the trip in the first place. So we left Bullhead City

 

around 10 and hit Highway 68 on through Kingman (gas is no longer cheaper there

 

like it used to be....in case any of you were passing through figuring on

 

gassing up there), and hit I-40 until Ash Fork, then went South on through

 

Paulden, Chino Valley and touching the tip of Prescott till we forked off on

 

89-A.....on through Jerome, Camp Verde, Cottonwood, and finally Sedona. I

 

absolutely LOVE that road. The windy, steep, relaxing, and unbelievably scenic

 

mountain road that takes you there is really something else. I highly recommend

 

it for anyone traveling through Arizona looking for a great road adventure.

 

 

 

The higher up we went in elevation, the more patches of snow you'd see. I miss

 

the snow, and it's nice to see it once in a while. I sure do appreciate it more

 

than I did before. Not to mention the over abundance of green trees surrounding

 

you as you take this route. There is a spot along the road, just before Jerome

 

where the view can make one go off the road if you aren't careful. It's so

 

awesome......you're up in the mountains, surrounded by forest, and nothing but

 

green.....and in front of you way off in the distance is BAM.....the most

 

beautiful view of Red Rock country you'd ever see. Just like at Sunset Crater

 

north of Flagstaff when you go over the bend while you're in the middle of the

 

forest, and in front of you is the Painted Desert. Two terrains meeting as one,

 

and the most beautiful thing ever. It's COLD right now in these parts, so I

 

made sure to bring along the winter coats and gloves (which Kevin laughed at me

 

for until we hit Sedona and started whining about

 

how cold it was). I also knew we'd be topping out at Flag on the way

 

home....and Flag is pretty much Michigan with mountains right now, so I knew we

 

had to be prepared! So we mosey on down 89-A, through Jerome, which we didn't

 

make any stops at....and I keep saying I have to get there and do some

 

exploring. What a cool little town that is. It was too cold to do anything

 

extensive in the outdoors there, so I am determined to get back there this

 

summer. Then we finally reach Sedona as our ears are popping on and off with

 

the extreme ups and downs in elevation.

 

 

 

Sedona is almost depressing. It's so beautiful, in fact beautiful is an

 

understatement. The shops there are so awesome, and sell the most beautiful

 

pieces of jewelry, pottery, and southwestern garb I've ever seen. Kevin says

 

it's just a tourist trap, which I guess it is....but it's one to be appreciated.

 

We walked around all bundled and gloved up, it was so nice! But what is

 

depressing is how freakin' expensive EVERYTHING is. There was this piece of

 

pottery in a shop, done in a southwestern design....and I fell in love with it.

 

Before we looked at the price tag, we made dibs on how much we each thought this

 

piece of pottery was. I said $85 (when I knew I could find a cheap imitation at

 

Wal-Mart for $25).....and Kevin said $100. This thing was almost $200.....total

 

rip off. And most of that little town is like that. So the only thing we

 

bought was a couple of beers at a Cantina before hitting the road continuing on

 

to Flag. (If all else fails....buy beer)

 

 

 

So we continued on through Oak Creek, an excellent future camping spot for us.

 

I don't know which I like more....Sedona or Oak Creek. Then on this mountainous

 

road up to Flagstaff, passing Slide Rock State Park, and passing numerous Bed &

 

Breakfasts, campgrounds, and motels nestled in the woods.......I look up on the

 

huge walls of rock surrounding us and there was this frozen trail of water where

 

normally there would be some water trickling down. It was so beautiful, frozen

 

in time basically. Really......this state is by far THE most beautiful and

 

amazing state, and I know that is debatable due to difference in opinion I'm

 

sure.....but I just can't imagine living anywhere else.

 

 

 

Then of course Flag. If I ever miss the seasons badly enough to where I have to

 

move back into them.....Flag is the only place I could imagine going. Flag had

 

the snow I was wanting to see that day......a few inches sticking to the ground,

 

crunching underneath you as you're walking into the restaurant, smell of

 

woodburners and "winter" in the air. I loved it!! We just stopped and hit the

 

Olive Garden before heading on the superslab back home. It was already getting

 

dark by this time....so exploring around Flag is going to have to wait for

 

another time, another adventure.

 

 

 

Then.....as we approach Crookton Road Exit........I was almost afraid to ask

 

because I know Kevin just wanted to get home at this point, we were both tired

 

and full........I begged to PLEASE take the Crookton Road Exit (Route 66),

 

promising that it ran just parallel with the highway and it wouldn't make our

 

trip home any longer. So in this trip, I did get to hop on the Mother Road

 

afterall!! It was dark, but it was still so great to be on 66.....passing

 

slowly through Seligman seeing Juan's and Angel's places all closed up, the town

 

as black as the night. I got my fix, and we (if I had it my way we would of

 

continued on in the darkness with no traffic, all alone on the Mother

 

Road)....hopped back on the Superslab from there and got home.

 

 

 

What a great day trip! I needed that so badly....now I just can't wait until

 

summer in these areas so we can camp, hike, and enjoy these places for days at a

 

time!! I'm tellin' ya....Arizona is where it's at!! :-)

 

 

 

Nicole

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------

 

Do you Yahoo!?

 

Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes

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