Guest wefly66@earthlink.net Posted May 12, 2004 Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 While not on a blue highway, the new 10 lane Veterans' Bridges opened Sunday. Bridges, new and old alike, are sort of fascinating and we'll probably be driving across them today after morning rush hour is over. I'm pasting the Journal story below and apologize for its length....Bliss Page Avenue extension opens Steve Pokin Of the Suburban Journals Chesterfield Journal , Press Journal updated: 12/16/2003 05:50 PM It seemed appropriate the Page Avenue extension grand opening would face one more obstacle. "It's fitting that as the project would come to its culmination that we would have one last moment of adversity," said Joe Ortwerth, St. Charles County executive. Sloppy road conditions delayed the opening from Dec. 13 until the following morning. The $350 million extension, which includes the Veterans Memorial Bridge, had been anxiously and wearily anticipated. It was an idea first broached in 1969 and a project with which Ortwerth has been intimately involved, starting years ago when he was a state representative. "My son's first two words were 'mommy' and 'daddy,'" Ortwerth said. "His third word was 'bridge.'" That son is now in college. "As governor and as a senator, I've been working on this thing for about 30 years," said U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo. "That's not too bad for government work." On a cold, snowy day, the Parkway North High School marching band played and dozens of veterans groups trekked across the bridge. Sundry politicians, including Gov. Bob Holden, a Democrat, took seats on a platform, but not without first having those seats cleared of snow by workers with blowers. Holden recalled the vital role played by George R. "Buzz" Westfall, the former St. Louis County executive, in getting the bridge built. Westfall died in October. Several speakers lauded the cooperation between the two counties, as well as the bipartisan spirit of politicians who worked together to bring to fruition the most expensive bridge-and-road project in the history of Missouri. All that was missing in those brief speeches was the love. Fortunately, that was provided by Gary Grier and Barbara Guignon, both 51. Grier maneuvered Guignon to the center of the bridge the afternoon of Dec. 13 and proposed marriage. She said yes — proving that a St. Louis County man and a St. Charles County woman can indeed overcome the barriers that divide the two counties. Guignon proudly displayed her ring — its three diamonds symbolizing past, present and future. The couple dated in high school — when her name was Leach — some 33 years and two marriages (apiece) ago. "Third time's the charm!" Guignon said. "I'll have pleasant thoughts whenever I drive across this bridge," Grier said. The Zimmers — Earl, 64, and Mary Lou, 59 — sat in their car, in the lead position of several classic cars waiting to cross the bridge. The Zimmers are members of the Fabulous Fifties car club and, when it comes to exploring new bridges, are a regular Lewis and Clark — if the famed duo had had a '57 Chevy convertible. In 1992, the Zimmers were the first to cross the Discovery Bridge, which takes Highway 370 over the Missouri River, when that bridge opened. After Saturday's speeches and ribbon-cutting, the Zimmers drove the span with a special passenger: the governor. William Knowles, a Kirkwood resident who owns property in St. Charles County, hiked across the bridge, walking stick in hand. "We fought this bridge for many years," Knowles said. He passed petitions in opposition. "We were trying to resist suburban sprawl." Knowles was one of several hundred people at the Dec. 13 dedication. Earlier in the day, runners had taken advantage of the rare opportunity to claim universal right-of-way as they jogged the new roadway and bridges. A second bridge spans Creve Coeur Lake. Wayne Hoffman of St. Charles journeyed onto Veterans Memorial Bridge to catch a slice of history as well as the scenery. "How often am I going to be able to stand out here like this and take in the view?" he asked. He then considered a different scenario. "If I'm stopped in traffic up here, I'm in trouble," he said. The 10-lane (five lanes in each direction), eight-mile connection between St. Charles and St. Louis counties is expected to relieve traffic congestion on Interstate 70 at the Blanchette Memorial Bridge, Highway 370 at the Discovery Bridge and Highway 40-61 at the Daniel Boone Bridge. About 350,000 drivers cross the three bridges on weekdays. The Missouri Department of Transportation expects 60,000 of them to use the new bridge. The improvements make Page Avenue a 10-lane roadway from Bennington Place in St. Louis County to just west of Jungs Station Road in St. Charles County. The Page Avenue extension was "dedicated" on Saturday and "opened" on Sunday, said Linda Wilson, MoDOT spokeswoman. MoDOT decided in the interest of safety to delay the opening until Sunday. "It would be dark and snowing and people would be driving on a road they were unfamiliar with," Wilson said. The official time of the opening Sunday was 10:20 a.m. Traffic flowed smoothly Monday morning along the extension, Wilson said. The only trouble spot, she said, was a backup where Page Avenue hits Schuetz Road in St. Louis County. The intersection is about a mile east of Interstate 270 and is the first traffic light eastbound drivers encounter on Page. MoDOT expects a major traffic snarl weekday afternoons as drivers attempt to exit Interstate 270 onto westbound Page Avenue. 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Guest wefly66@earthlink.net Posted May 12, 2004 Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 Pat and Jennifer, why did my entire email address appear on the "Messages" page with my "New Bridge" post of today? It will also probably appear with this post. Can you please correct this? Thanks....Bliss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest corvair6t5@aol.com Posted May 12, 2004 Report Share Posted May 12, 2004 Just a test, folks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WALTER HACKNEY Posted May 13, 2004 Report Share Posted May 13, 2004 Factoid number 2 - Central Denver Lodging 1962 To a Route 40 traveler west across Kansas into Colorado, Denver must have seemed like a huge oasis after 600 miles of prairie. A large concentration of motels offering sanctuary to the weary traveler is located on what was the eastern edge of metro Denver, actually the suburb of Aurora. As you travel west into the center city there are accommodations for businessmen and tourists alike, with Route 40 passing in front of the state capitol and Denver mint among other attractions and night life as the route passes through the heart of downtown Denver. Continuing west, with a magnificent view of the Rocky Mountains straight ahead you pass into the western suburb of Lakewood, then into Golden as you reach the foothills of the Rockies. The west side has a concentration of motels that serves as a base for vacationers exploring the Front Range of the mountains without (as much of) the inflated tourist prices of mountain lodging. I have used this geographic breakdown to separate the 20 plus miles of Colfax Ave. into manageable bites. I will post motel, restaurant and gas station information from time to time if there seems to be any interest. Please contact me directly with any comments, if you would like any additional information or if you are interested in Denver. Central Denver Lodging 1962 From East ot West: 8828 East Colfax Ave. ~ LaRue Motel ~ FL 5-1681 8800 East Colfax Ave. ~ Hitching Post Motor Lodge ~ EA 2-9770 8787 East Colfax Ave. ~ Lazy-C Motor Lodge ~ DE 3-4201 8701 East Colfax Ave. ~ Palomino Motor Lodge ~ DU 8-3638 8675 East Colfax Ave. ~ Compass Motor Lodge ~ DU 8-4231 8607 East Colfax Ave. ~ A Bar G Motor Lodge ~ FL 5-6002 8600 East Colfax Ave. ~ Brandin Iron Motor Lodge ~ FL 5-1613 8595 East Colfax Ave. ~ Silver Spur Motel ~ 355-7349 8501 East Colfax Ave. ~ San Luis Motor Court ~ FR 7-0902 8500 East Colfax Ave. ~ Ahwahnee Motel & Lodge ~ FL 5-7311 8415 East Colfax Ave. ~ Sand & Sage Motel ~ EA 2-7715 8405 East Colfax Ave. ~ Westerner Motel ~ FL 5-8026 8400 East Colfax Ave. ~ ElPatio Motel ~ DE 3-5486 8339 East Colfax Ave. ~ Airway Motel ~ DU 8-4139 8300 East Colfax Ave. ~ Chateau Motor Lodge ~ DE 3-1507 8282 East Colfax Ave. ~ Regiss Motor Inn ~ DU 8-1685 6701 East Colfax Ave. ~ Niagara House Motel ~ DE 3-1788 6030 East Colfax Ave. ~ Paragon Motel ~ DE 3-9970 5500 East Colfax Ave. ~ LaVista Motel ~ DE 3-5424 5226 East Colfax Ave. ~ Glencoe Tourist Rooms ~ DE 3-7672 3015 East Colfax Ave. ~ Fountain Inn Motel ~ DU 8-4811 1820 East Colfax Ave. ~ Holiday Chalet Motel ~ EA 2-9975 1209 East Colfax Ave. ~ West Vernon Hotel ~ KE 4-9259 1150 East Colfax Ave. ~ Heart O' Denver Hotel ~ CH 4-9221 813 East Colfax Ave. ~ Clarko Hotel ~ MA 3-9925 233 East Colfax Ave. ~ Hotel Argonaut ~ MA 3-3101 437 West Colfax Ave. ~ New Haven Housekeeping Rooms ~ MA 3-1976 650 West Colfax Ave. ~ Motel DeVille ~ MA 3-7071 4600 West Colfax Ave. ~ Four Winds Motor Hotel ~ 244-8001 4823 West Colfax Ave. ~ Eddie Bohn's Pig'N Whistle Motel ~ 5035 West Colfax Ave. ~ Western Hills Motel ~ KE 4-5286 Walt Hackney Gyrfal@Juno.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ken Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Yo Slim! Yep. Saw the show. Quite a unique quilt with various Route 66 type scenes familiar on many postcards. Wish I had one! The quilt didn't quite look to be commercially made. Had that human touch look. Each piece of fabric and in the various colors for each of the Route 66 scenes appeared to me as handmade. Although, they could be massed produced with pre-cut fabric pieces sewn together. Having been to a quilt shop before, I believe that Route 66 quilt would still command a high price. $500 - $1500 maybe. Not $10,000 though! God Bless and Happy Trails. the landrunner --- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "ypsislim" <Ypsi-slim@j...> wrote: > I just caught the tail end of a new Antiques Roadshow episode from > Chicago. The appraisor, who I haven't seen before, was appraising > a small Route 66 quilt from the '50s - '60s. The quilt, that was > bought at a flea market for $75, apparently caused quite a stir among > the AR Folks, and was appraised at $5,000 - $10,000!! > > The appraisor didn't seem to know that the quilt design appeared to be > an exact copy of a common "generic" type Rt. 66 postcard, that still > may be "in-print" today. That leads me to wonder if the quilt itself was > commercially made..? Anyone see this?? > > ypsi-slim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest roadmaven Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Kip, Jennifer thought that sign was cool too. She's got it as part of her road trip to 66 and 40 last fall: http://roadtripmemories.com/trips/mo_il2003.htm Pat --- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "Rudyard Welborn" <r.Welborn@w...> wrote: > Greeun is a pretty cool town...also outside of Effingham is a restaurant > called (I think) the Green Lantern which is a cool place and possesses one > of the coolest signs on any road in america! Tsingtao, Kip > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <jjgrant@w...> > To: <AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 7:28 PM > Subject: Re: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Digest Number 292 > > > > My wife just bought an '04 Neon two weeks ago. Over 1,000 miles on it > > already. So far, so good. > > > > US 40 thru Indiana is a nice scenic drive. Several old towns and west > > of Indy you can still drive parts of the old alignment. From Terre > > Haute to Effingham, Il, is also an enjoyable drive, although it's only 2 > > lane. Greenup, Il has a "new" covered bridge built on the old > > alignment west of town, pretty neat to see. > > > > > > Visit our homepage at: http://www.mockturtlepress.com > > > > To subscribe to AMERICAN ROAD magazine, PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-877-285- 5434 > WITH YOUR ORDER TODAY! > > Or send payment to: Mock Turtle Press, PO Box 3168, Lynnwood, WA > 98046-3168 > > SUBSCRIPTION RATES: > > 1 year (4 issues) for $15.95 > > (save $3.85 off the newsstand price!) > > 2 years (8 issues) for $27.95 > > (save $11.65 off the newsstand price!) > > > > > > For questions about the list, contact: AMERICAN_ROAD- owner@yahoogroups.com > > > > To SUBSCRIBE to this group, send an email to: > AMERICAN_ROAD-subscribe@y... POST a message via e-mail, send it > to: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > To visit your group on the web, go to: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMERICAN_ROAD/ > > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > > AMERICAN_ROAD-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rudyard Welborn Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 Greeun is a pretty cool town...also outside of Effingham is a restaurant called (I think) the Green Lantern which is a cool place and possesses one of the coolest signs on any road in america! Tsingtao, Kip ----- Original Message ----- From: <jjgrant@webtv.net> To: <AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 7:28 PM Subject: Re: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Digest Number 292 > My wife just bought an '04 Neon two weeks ago. Over 1,000 miles on it > already. So far, so good. > > US 40 thru Indiana is a nice scenic drive. Several old towns and west > of Indy you can still drive parts of the old alignment. From Terre > Haute to Effingham, Il, is also an enjoyable drive, although it's only 2 > lane. Greenup, Il has a "new" covered bridge built on the old > alignment west of town, pretty neat to see. > > > Visit our homepage at: http://www.mockturtlepress.com > > To subscribe to AMERICAN ROAD magazine, PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-877-285-5434 WITH YOUR ORDER TODAY! > Or send payment to: Mock Turtle Press, PO Box 3168, Lynnwood, WA 98046-3168 > SUBSCRIPTION RATES: > 1 year (4 issues) for $15.95 > (save $3.85 off the newsstand price!) > 2 years (8 issues) for $27.95 > (save $11.65 off the newsstand price!) > > > For questions about the list, contact: AMERICAN_ROAD-owner@yahoogroups.com > > To SUBSCRIBE to this group, send an email to: AMERICAN_ROAD-subscribe@yahoogroups.comTo POST a message via e-mail, send it to: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMERICAN_ROAD/ > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > AMERICAN_ROAD-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rudyard Welborn Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 I will say any part of Route 60 from West Virginia to Sikeston, MO is most excellent...alas, a lot of 60 in MO is 4 lane but goes through some beautiful country...others can tell ya about west 60...Tsingato, Kip ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Ross" <pathfinder66@earthlink.net> To: "American Road" <AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 8:21 PM Subject: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Cars > Greetings All, > > No doubt everyone has numerous "car" stories. Here are a couple of mine. I have pretty much been a Chevy man all my life, however in 1978 (when Chrysler was on the brink of collapse), I purchased a new Dodge Ramcharger SUV. Sometime later, after Lee Iacocca put humpty together again, I received a letter from Chrysler that included a certificate for $500 off the purchase of any their new vehicles. It was their way of thanking those who took a chance and bought a Chrysler product during that very shaky government bailout. I never used the coupon, but I thought it was a classy thing for them to do. Currently I own my first foreign car, a 2001 Honda Accord with V-6 engine that I bought new. I don't need to tell anyone what a great vehicle it is. But I would like to tell you about my 1989 Chevy S-10 Blazer. It was a used one-owner with 60K miles when I bought it in 1992. By my reckoning, I am just about 2 months away from rolling over a 1/4 million miles. The digital odometer is sitting on 248,000 plus change as we speak. And in spite of being up and down La Bajada Hill 4 times over the years along with many other off-road adventures, no internal engine work has ever been done and it still doesn't use oil. > > Finally, Pat mentioned the scenery along US 60 in the Texas Panhandle. Another nice drive in the Panhandle is TX 70 south from I-40 Exit 124 (Jericho) to Turkey (home of Western Swing legend Bob Wills). > > Jim R. > > > > > Visit our homepage at: http://www.mockturtlepress.com > > To subscribe to AMERICAN ROAD magazine, PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-877-285-5434 WITH YOUR ORDER TODAY! > Or send payment to: Mock Turtle Press, PO Box 3168, Lynnwood, WA 98046-3168 > SUBSCRIPTION RATES: > 1 year (4 issues) for $15.95 > (save $3.85 off the newsstand price!) > 2 years (8 issues) for $27.95 > (save $11.65 off the newsstand price!) > > > For questions about the list, contact: AMERICAN_ROAD-owner@yahoogroups.com > > To SUBSCRIBE to this group, send an email to: AMERICAN_ROAD-subscribe@yahoogroups.comTo POST a message via e-mail, send it to: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMERICAN_ROAD/ > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > AMERICAN_ROAD-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David G. Clark Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 American Roadies, what are you doing June 6-7-8? The Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour starts in my back yard this year. If anyone from the list is going to be participating in the tour, try to get into Chicago by Noon or so on Friday, because I plan to make myself available for walking tours of the 66 alignments in Chicago's Loop. Some of the highlights will include-- The tallest building on Route 66 The tallest building in the world with weight-bearing walls Stunning architecture by Meis van der Rohe, Daniel Burnham, John Root, and many more! A stop at a restaurant on 66 that has been doing business continuously since the 1890s. (Great food, brewing their own beer long before the term "micro-brewery" was invented, real draft root beer, private label bourbon). The site of the world's first skyscraper The site where Standard Time was adopted. The Art Insitute The Sante Fe Railway Building Anyone interested in taking part in this urban adventure should email me at dave@windycityroadwarrior.com The exact time and itinerary of our walk will be up to the people who respond. Depending on the number of people, I could do two groups—one around noon, another around 2 p.m. The evening events occur in the Lyons/McCook area, and start somewhere around 5 or 6 p.m. So that's why these tours are going to have to be in the earlier afternoon. My head is bursting with useless trivia about 66 in Chicago (and a few other great American Roads, such as Lake Shore Drive, US 41, and the Grand Boulevards), so anyone willing to listen to me rattle on and on about the Mother (or another) Road and the Windy City is invited to come along. There's no cost for this adventure, besides the attack on your ear drums, but I won't turn down a Beer at the Berghoff should anyone want to shut me up by sticking a stein in front of me! I'll post this up again periodically between now and the tour. Here's all my contact info: Dave Clark Windy City Road Warrior dave@windycityroadwarrior.com http://www.windycityroadwarrior.com 312-432-1284 843 W. Adams Street #312 Chicago, IL 60607-3017 See you in Chi-Town in June! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest brownwho63 Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 When Jane heard that we had bought a new car she called to inquire whether or not it was a classic Neon like hers. "Nope," I said. Not even the turbo PT Cruiser that we actually looked at and talked about at one time. Could not bring ourselves to cruise anything but Chevy, even though we know there are other excellent rides on the market. The supercharged V6 is a whole different concept from the rear driver Chevy V8's we're used to (still have two) but it's road and driver friendly and I foresee us going many blue highway miles together. About road trips: I personally find lodging next to railroad tracks to be soothing, but then what's an old two laner without a train? Old U.S. 40 across IL (especially) and IN is extremely cool. It's so much like '66 that it's sometimes difficult for us to decide which one to take. Very well marked with Historic National Road signs and well maintained. (The Green Lantern is just east of Effingham and immediately west of Teutopolis, an IL basketball power with a very cool main drag.)....Bliss --- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "Rudyard Welborn" <r.Welborn@w...> wrote: (no offense Jane, as I > KNOW you drive the coolest car in the world) my PT looks a heck of a lot > cooler than my old neon...whatever youre driving, happy and safe travels > this new year...Kip > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > To visit your group on the web, go to: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMERICAN_ROAD/ > > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > > AMERICAN_ROAD-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Butko, Brian A. Posted June 1, 2004 Report Share Posted June 1, 2004 The video is A PROGRAM ABOUT UNUSUAL BUILDINGS AND OTHER ROADSIDE STUFF by Rick Sebak, PBS producer of shows such as Amusement Parks, Ice Cream, Flea Markets, Shore Things, etc. If all goes according to plan, it will air on PBS in Summer 2004. We were interviewed at the wigwams talking about "Roadside Giants," the first book my wife Sarah and I have written together. It's a glove-compartment guide to larger-than-life attractions such as coffee pot cafes, muffler men, etc. There are lots of great web sites and a couple big books but we wanted something to inspire people (and kids) to hit the road and actually visit them. It will be out Fall 2005 so we have a few months to add and update in case anyone has a favorite they'd like to tell us and this group about. Brian http://www.brianbutko.com --- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "Butko, Brian A." wrote: > When I visited 10 years ago, it became my favorite roadside attraction. I > hoped if we ever had kids to take em there. We did just that this past > summer with three; they loved it too, both the rooms and playing with other > kids in the sunken playground. And it reaffirmed my feelings of it being the > #1 attraction. We also did some filming for a PBS special that will air next > summer that I hope will drive even more customers Ivan's way. > > Your pictures are fabulous - what kind of camera? Digital? > > Brian Butko Thank you for the compliments, Brian! Yes, the pictures were taken with my digital camera - a Sony Mavica CD500. I took these at 3.14 megapixels and resized them down for web viewing. Coincidentally, when we were talking to Ivan, he mentioned a filming crew being there for PBS and we were very curious about it, wanting to know the details, so we wouldn't miss it when it airs! I definitely hope your show drives more customers there. Ivan does a great job and he has such a wonderful attitude about respecting and preserving historic properties. Jennifer http://www.roadtripmemories.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest laurelrk66@aol.com Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 I'm not quite sure how to describe my emotions about this Buffalo Ranch thing, since the last thing in the world I wanted to see was it being destroyed, and it's definitely going down... all three remaining buildings.... and soon, within days. R. I. P. Buffalo Ranch. So sad. But....... things could be much worse. Thinking back to my first trip to Buffalo Ranch as an adult (only about 6 years ago, just after all but Dairy Ranch had closed), I remember seeing that incredible, huge sign out in front ("BUFFALO RANCH -- Visitors Welcome") and thinking that if I was called upon to make a list of ten things on Route 66 that I'd like to own and preserve, that sign would be one of them! Well, folks..... now I own it!!! Yes, it's mine, and now it is up to me to make sure that it will be displayed in a safe place where others, particularly those who cherish memories of Buffalo Ranch from their childhood, can still come and see it and remember. A couple of years ago the big yellow and black sign was knocked over by a truck, and from what I understand was stored away and virtually forgotten. This morning David, Ron, and I headed for Buffalo Ranch to pick up the signs promised to me by the new owner. I was thinking I'd get the big "banner" signs across the tops of the buildings, but it turns out they're made of fabric permanently epoxied to the buildings and can't possibly be saved before the wrecking crew comes. The owner said, however, that there was a "pile of signs" in one of the old outbuildings behind the Trading Post, so off we went to look. And..... what should we find but the ORIGINAL streetside sign!!!!!! It's huge, painted on 8 separate 4x6 pieces of plywood which put back-to-back create a double-sided sign! My breath was taken away! The owner said sure, I could have them, no problem. Was I dreaming? Heck, I think I'm STILL dreaming! Ron and David loaded the big boards into the pickup truck and then the owner said we could poke around the other outbuildings and take whatever we wanted. With flashlight in hand, we managed to find some ancient (but still in perfect condition) Buffalo Ranch bumper stickers, some nice display racks, a bizarre "Make Your Own Lamp" display (never saw one of those before!), what we think was the hat worn by Larue Olson, the buffalo trainer who appears in that wonderful series of real photo postcards (more about that later), a few other odds and ends, and..... the original condom machine from the Buffalo Ranch men's room! Yeah, really!!! The lock is rusted shut, but we could still hear money in it when we shook it! After this treasure hunt, we learned from the owner that he plans to have a Buffalo Ranch commemorative wall in his travel center, and is working with the State right now to get the permits necessary to keep a pen of peacocks and about a half dozen head of buffalo on the site. He even ceded a portion of the parking lot to an Indian tribe (forgot which one) in order for them to have a place to present Native American heritage shows, similar to those at the old Buffalo Ranch. He gave each of us a cap upon which he's already had his "Buffalo Ranch Travel Center" logo embroidered. So, my take on this whole thing is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Buffalo Ranch will survive as a "tourist trap" not unlike the original, but with a decidedly modern twist. Trucks will be provided with diesel fuel and the souvenir stand will compete with all the junk found at modern-day convenience marts, and yet there will still be that special touch that only a roadside enterpreneur/showman/huckster knows how to provide. Thanks to it being bought by someone with that spirit, Buffalo Ranch isn't exactly dying..... it's just changing. Ron McCoy has made another of his wonderful website with all the pictures of Buffalo Ranch in demolition mode, as well as a postcard from my collection showing the original sign in its original location. The hat worn by the buffalo trainer in the picture (who, incidentally, was eventually killed by his own buffalo) looks VERY much like the one we found discarded in a back room this morning. Most of the other pictures are self-explanatory, I think. Go to: <A HREF="http://collectingbuzz.com/buffaloranch/buffaloranch.htm">Buffalo Ranch</A> to see pics of our adventure. One other thing.... items from the Dairy Ranch portion of Buffalo Ranch are going to Betty Wheatley, who leased it for over 40 years and retired two years ago. That's a perfect place for them. However, I have reason to believe I might be fortunate enough get a few of those items too, for display at Afton Station with the rest of my acquisitions. P.S. Of course, the very best story of Buffalo Ranch can be found right in Mock Turtle Press's "The Empires of Amusement", by Thomas Repp. To learn the wonderful history of this disappearing landmark, check out the story in Thomas' book. Laurel Afton Station Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest David G. Clark Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 --- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, "Laurel Kane <laurelrk66@a...>" <laurelrk66@a...> wrote: > I'm thinking now about devoting a good part of Afton Station > to Buffalo Ranch and all the goodies I've collected from it. > > So, although it seems we can't always completely stop the wheels of > progress, I guess we can slow them a little, and, if nothing else, we > can do our best to preserve the nostalgia. I'm tryin'! > > Laurel > Afton Station Laurel: You're doing more that "tryin'," Laurel, you're succeeding! This IS great news. Keep us posted on developments! Dave Clark Windy City Road Warrior http://www.windycityroadwarrior.com dave@windycityroadwarrior.com 312-432-1284 843 W. Adams Street #312 Chicago, IL 60607-3017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drivewdave@aol.com Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 okay folks time for another rant so buckle up... In a message dated 2/16/03 6:37:05 PM, r.welborn@worldnet.att.net writes: << I drove over to Buffalo Ranch (what's left of it) this morning and talked to the new owner, a very nice gentleman. The bad news is that it's definitely been bought and will be razed. The new structure on the property will be a "travel center", according to the owner, which I presume means truck stop/gas station complex. The owner said that he grew up spending time at Buffalo Ranch and considers it a bit of nostalgia for himself as well as others, so he'll be keeping the "feel" of the place, calling it Buffalo Ranch, and (would you believe) even bringing back a herd of buffalos for tourists to see! And, this is the VERY good news (for me, at least).... I asked him what was going to happen to the old signs on the property, and he asked if I wanted them! I said "YES, OF COURSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!", with my heart racing in my chest. "Fine", he said. "They're yours, if you'll display them in your gas station, and if you can haul them away". Oh my gosh!!! The signs are mine! He said he wants to keep some of the signs to put up in the new building, but I can have the rest. Well there you go, he supposedly wants to keep the 'feel' of the place but is extremely cavalier about the signs, it doesn't add up. About the only thing developers feel is usually their wallet next to their fat rear end. This is only partly an exaggeration, the 'bottom' line almost always has the last word. They are too short sighted to see that preserving the past can also be profitable. Those who have been to Keelers Korner on 99 north of Lynnwood (mock turtle land) were proabably delighted to see the vintage signs still in place. The rest of the story is how Jerry Shinn found them in the bushes behind the place when he bought it in the early 70s. Putting them back up was the obvious way to preserve the 'feel' of the place. If anybody wants to cop a 'feel' of some Texaco signs there may be several thousand recently available, their fate unknown to me. Shell put up temp vinyl signs a few weeks ago and the permanent signs are up now and The Star of the American Road is no longer. I suppose it could return but I doubt. But here in WA a few years back all the Union 76 stations turned into BP and then about a year ago they turned back into 76. There is still a station in the Magnolia district of Seattle with the large orange ball 76 sign from the sixties. The deal is 76 did not get entirely absorbed as did Texaco. All this had me wondering the fate of the Texaco Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast sponsorship, the longest in national broadcast history. When they started in 1940 the culture was still in the earlier stages of its chronic dumbing down process and more of the general public were still hip enought to tune in to the met, also there was a large european-born population for whom opera was popular music. So I tuned in last Saturday and was reminded that it is now the ChevronTexaco Metropolitan Opera broadcast. I remember hearing that name before and forget when they made the change. The robots who run Shell missed the bus in this regard. Seems like the heartbeat of America is now rock and roll. It's everywhere nowdays with the amped up guitars and the heavy backbeat. Nowdays they only drag out the string quartets when they want to give the impression of posh snobbery to sell designer cat food and such. So anyways the Saturday matinee 'live from the Met' was Mozarts immortal Don Giovanni, considered by some as the best opera ever. Pretty hard to disagree with that although Alban Bergs 'Lulu' is a real earopener. Mozarts Le Nozze de Figaro is right up there too. So I sat down for a few hours with the Don and the new New Yorker, the anniversary issue. John McPhee, long one of my fave writers was back with a profile on an owner/operator long haul hazmat trucker. Those who like to read might find a few insights into the view from the cab of a Pete and a few new words such as ullage and seiche. McPhee turned the noun seiche into a verb, seiching, not sure if I go along with the verbification, two dictionaries don't Anyways McPhee is right up there with George R. Stewart when it comes to the telling details and getting beneath the surface of things. Turns out when food tankers are washed out sometimes there is a rabbi supervising to keep it kosher. The WD in WD-40 stands for water displacement. There are descriptions of truckstop culture, landscape and highway descriptions, truckdriving observations and so on, McPhee is in his usual tiptop form. Mozart and McPhee are a tough combo to top, among other things I learned that runaway truck drivers who use the gravel escape ramps on steep hills are charged a grooming fee in Oregon. Also OR is the only state with weight-based speed limits. This from a description of Cabbage Hill on I-70 E of Pendleton, also known as Emigrant Hill. The median here is as wide as a mile and a half, eastbound and westbound are on entirely separate alignments, my friend the late Jack Carpentier once referred to those loops as 'spectacular' and he should know. Jack was so deep into the Lincoln Highway that he drove a Lincoln and one time in Wyoming he spotted what looked like the bottom end of an original LH milepost sticking out of the ground upside down as a fencepost. He located the rancher whose land it was on, hired a backhoe to dig it up, had a custom crate built and shipped it back to Seattle where he kept it in storage all at a cost of several thousand dollars. He told me he was a bit embarassed to admit to all of this to most people but I trust we can understand the why of it. okay, on with the rant, is it just me (and Andy Rooney) or was no one paying any attention to the demise of Texaco, for me this was no small deal. All I heard was one small radio spot a few months back, no TV, no print notice. I am glad I was able to buy the old stock ERTL diecast souvenir Texaco tank truck while I could a few months back from a retailer near Olympia. There are lots of them on Ebay but it was more fun to get it direct from the Texaco dealer. The volume of words on this site has slowed down a bit lately which probably means that people have other things to do besides sit and write about our roads. The lack of response gives me the idea that when I write a large piece it is like a wreck on the freeway, everybody slows down to get a look at it and then speeds up again to go on their merry way with nary a thought for it. It could be worse, the Highway99 Yahoos have not posted for weeks. meanwhile, happy motoring, keep a tiger in your tank...dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest laurelrk66@aol.com Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 In a message dated 2/18/2003 4:22:51 PM Central Standard Time, americanroad@mockturtlepress.com writes: > And Laurel: Is there some way you can contact Betty and make sure she > is getting the pieces of the Ranch she believes she is getting before > the wrecking ball hits? I don't know how many people she has on hand to > help her tote things, and I want to make sure this demolition doesn't > cause her any more grief. > Thomas, That's all been taken care of. First of all, Betty happens to be a longtime friend of the new owner, and he admires and cares very much for her. I have NO doubt that she'll be able to keep everything she wants from Dairy Ranch with no interference from him whatsoever. He told me a number of times how happy he is to be able to give the items to Betty. Secondly, my ex-husband and Betty's son Stacey are planning to help Betty get the big signs off the roof within the next day or two (maybe even today... I'm not sure). I'll run by there tomorrow and see what's happening at the site. Wow, isn't that the truth about the limeade? That was the best liquid refreshment on the Route, hands down, at least in my opinion. Thanks, Thomas, for being so supportive of those of us who must watch this transition between the old and the new at close range. As a relative newcomer to Afton, the demolition isn't going to be as emotional for me as it will be for Betty. She's a true Route 66 icon and a wonderful lady. She thinks the world of you, too. We'll keep you posted! Laurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jill Livingston Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 > >The volume of words on this site has slowed down a bit lately >which probably means that people have other things to do besides >sit and write about our roads. The lack of response gives me the >idea that when I write a large piece it is like a wreck on the freeway, I enjoy your postings immensely. Keep it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jim Ross Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 I need email addresses for the following road warriors. If you guys see this, or if anybody knows their addresses, kindly send them to me at: jross@mockturtlepress.com Mike Frankovich Alex Burr Thanks. Jim R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peter Harpin Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Alex is hesternec@yahoo.com. Pete Jim Ross wrote: > I need email addresses for the following road warriors. If you guys > see this, or if anybody knows their addresses, kindly send them to me > at: > jross@mockturtlepress.com > > > Mike Frankovich > Alex Burr > > Thanks. > Jim R. > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT > > Visit our homepage at: http://www.mockturtlepress.com > > To subscribe to AMERICAN ROAD magazine, PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-877-285-5434 > WITH YOUR ORDER TODAY! > Or send payment to: Mock Turtle Press, PO Box 3168, Lynnwood, WA > 98046-3168 > SUBSCRIPTION RATES: > 1 year (4 issues) for $15.95 > (save $3.85 off the newsstand price!) > 2 years (8 issues) for $27.95 > (save $11.65 off the newsstand price!) > > > For questions about the list, contact: > AMERICAN_ROAD-owner@yahoogroups.com > > To SUBSCRIBE to this group, send an email to: > AMERICAN_ROAD-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from this group, send an email to: > AMERICAN_ROAD-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > To POST a message via e-mail, send it to: > AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim conkle Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 And Mike's is mfrankovich@yahoo.com James M. Conkle, Executive Director California Route 66 Preservation Foundation P O Box 290066 Phelan, CA 92329-0066 760-868-3320 760-617-3991 cell 760-868-8614 fax jim@cart66pf.org www.cart66pf.org -----Original Message----- From: Peter Harpin [mailto:phls@earthlink.net] Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 11:05 AM To: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [AMERICAN_ROAD] Addresses Alex is hesternec@yahoo.com. Pete Jim Ross wrote: > I need email addresses for the following road warriors. If you guys > see this, or if anybody knows their addresses, kindly send them to me > at: > jross@mockturtlepress.com > > > Mike Frankovich > Alex Burr > > Thanks. > Jim R. > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT > > Visit our homepage at: http://www.mockturtlepress.com > > To subscribe to AMERICAN ROAD magazine, PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-877-285-5434 > WITH YOUR ORDER TODAY! > Or send payment to: Mock Turtle Press, PO Box 3168, Lynnwood, WA > 98046-3168 > SUBSCRIPTION RATES: > 1 year (4 issues) for $15.95 > (save $3.85 off the newsstand price!) > 2 years (8 issues) for $27.95 > (save $11.65 off the newsstand price!) > > > For questions about the list, contact: > AMERICAN_ROAD-owner@yahoogroups.com > > To SUBSCRIBE to this group, send an email to: > AMERICAN_ROAD-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > > To UNSUBSCRIBE from this group, send an email to: > AMERICAN_ROAD-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > To POST a message via e-mail, send it to: > AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT Visit our homepage at: http://www.mockturtlepress.com To subscribe to AMERICAN ROAD magazine, PHONE TOLL-FREE 1-877-285-5434 WITH YOUR ORDER TODAY! Or send payment to: Mock Turtle Press, PO Box 3168, Lynnwood, WA 98046-3168 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 year (4 issues) for $15.95 (save $3.85 off the newsstand price!) 2 years (8 issues) for $27.95 (save $11.65 off the newsstand price!) For questions about the list, contact: AMERICAN_ROAD-owner@yahoogroups.com To SUBSCRIBE to this group, send an email to: AMERICAN_ROAD-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UNSUBSCRIBE from this group, send an email to: AMERICAN_ROAD-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com To POST a message via e-mail, send it to: AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fred M. Cain Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 What Highway was this on? I know that Bonnie & Clyde met their fate on U.S. 80 in Louisiana. Was this bridge on a U.S. Route too? -Fred M. Cain --- In AMERICAN_ROAD@yahoogroups.com, Bob Worley <bwcobra15@y...> wrote: > > From today's Dallas Morning News: > > History buffs look to save bridge that almost doomed Bonnie and Clyde > > 08:08 PM CST on Thursday, February 5, 2004 > By BRIAN ANDERSON / Dallas Web Staff > > It's the Texas bridge that almost did what dozens of lawmen couldn't – end the crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde. > > Now, the historic truss bridge spanning the Salt Fork of the Red River is on the Texas Department of Transportation's most-wanted list. > > "That bridge means a lot to the people of Collingsworth County," said Darwin Lankford, a bridge engineer with the transportation department's Childress office. "It means a lot to us, but it's a liability to us, too." > > State officials say the Panhandle bridge must undergo extensive – and expensive – repairs or it faces demolition. However, residents are forming their own posse to chase down the dollars needed to save the historic span. > Read the entire article here: > > http://tinyurl.com/389fh > > > > > > > > > . > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online > > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mockturtlepress <americanroad@mo Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Greetings to All: Laurel is doing a fine job of keeping us all abreast of the last dance at Buffalo Ranch. Bravo, Laurel! Thank you for caring so much. I received the following from Betty Wheatley yesterday morning. I meant to post it then, but somehow all of the day's distractions got in the way. I'm posting it now. Although it does not really include much new information, I do think it's good that we hear from Betty, too. She is such a wonderful highway gal. "Hi: I went out to the Buffalo Ranch yesterday, I now feel better.It is going to be nice.They will keep the name and will have a corner dedicated to the ranch. He wanted to know if I have any pictures they could have copies of. I will help them out any way I can. I asked if I could have the windows. He said I could. Also the signs on top of the Bldg. Isn't that cool? I will keep you up on every thing, right or wrong." Now, if only this new "service center" would figure out a way to bring back Betty's classic lime-aid. . . . And Laurel: Is there some way you can contact Betty and make sure she is getting the pieces of the Ranch she believes she is getting before the wrecking ball hits? I don't know how many people she has on hand to help her tote things, and I want to make sure this demolition doesn't cause her any more grief. Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chris Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 Just in . . . Yahoo! Picks for April 4, 2004 Bodie.com "Unlike the experience young buckaroos have at Disney's Frontier Land, the real Wild West was far from the happiest place on Earth. Life was rough and no town exhibited the era's mixture of violence and optimism quite like Bodie, California. Once a bustling boomtown caught up in the fever of America's Gold Rush, Bodie now lies in a state of "arrested decay," an honest-to-goodness ghost town. Gauchos with the guts to make the trek will find the remaining buildings in tip-top shape, thanks to Bodie's designation as a State Historic Park in 1962. Of course, the locals realize not all folks (tenderfoots, mostly) can stomach an actual trip to a place of such ill-repute. This virtual tour should satisfy the greenhorns amongst y'all, but a word of warning: Lest you feel like staying a while, avoid the graveyard. Evidently, the undertaker was a busy man." http://www.bodie.com/ Nice Photo gallery! Added it to my Ghost Towns folder in "Links". http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/AMERICAN_ROAD/links . . . Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hester_nec Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 I was sitting here today looking at a 1930's road map of Kentucky/Tennessee and I thought of my Uncle Prescot. I hadn't thought about my mothers brother, Uncle Prescott, in a long, long time - to busy with todays hustle and bustle, I suppose. Now, I know this isn't really a "road" story - but the open highway is in here, along with everything else. So, if you want to travel with me a little way, read on - if memories bore you, then stop here. But it was Uncle Prescott who instilled in me the urge to find out, in a manner of speaking, what was over the hill and far away. He was a traveling salesman from sometime in the 1930's to the early 60's - when the interstate system started building he had the foresight to realize, quite vocally, this new system would turn road trips into a mindless rush to nowhere. I remember when I was, oh, 10, 11, maybe even 9, Uncle Prescott came by - during the summer months he brought his wares - I don't recall now just what it was he sold, but I think it was beads and baubles - probably what today would be called Junque (note the spelling)or maybe antique - to Maine and New England. This one trip he brought me what can only be called a "Magic" box - a box filled with road maps of the 1930's and 1940's - this would have been right after WWII. How he plied his trade during the war years I do not know. But I do know he did arrive in Maine every year around the 1st part of June - even during the war years. It was Uncle Prescott who, much to my mothers dismay, planted the idea of THE TRIP to California that my friend and I, at the age of 15 (don't try this today, kids) made. I remember also another time not long after the magic box he brought another - with several albums filled to bursting with post cards. I know for a time he operated out of St. Louis, so he must have had a western route, because there were road maps clear out to CA and the post card albums also had cards from those states in addition to those in the east. As an aside I also had quite a collection of aircraft recognition cards from the war years I got from one of my relatives. Yes, Uncle Prescott turned me into a pack rat - that is one thing I've retained. It was easier for kids back then - we had what kids today seem to have lost. A sense of imagination. I could sit and listen to Uncle Prescotts stories of his travels and I could see the sun setting on distant hills with an old highway winding thru them. With this thing called imagination I could put together a few pieces of wood, and sail it in a nearby pond - and I had the clipper ships ARIEL or CUTTY SARK, maybe Donald McKay's LIGHTENING - whatever we wanted. So what happened to my marvelous collection - I left home in October 1955 after joining the Navy. I came home on boot leave 3 months later to find mother had put away my "childish" things - in the nearest trash can. A very familiar situation. All was gone - my aircraft recognition cards, my magic boxes that took me to so many places and gave me a sense of wanderlust, many things I had accumulated during my childhood years. Well, Mother, the joke is on you - I've got some of it back thru a medium called "ebay!!!!!" So, in a sense, this long winded post is a thank you to my Uncle Prescott who taught me that you can dare to be adventurous. Let's see, if alive today he'd be around 105, 106 or so. I last saw him at the age of 80 at his apartment in Philadelphia. Sad to say he and Aunt Isabelle, who had patiently put up with his wanderings for years (Uncle Prescott would have been, in the 1950's, called a beatnick - he was a little ahead of his time), were living in a rather rundown neighborhood and quite literally afraid to leave their home unless it was necessary. Sad turn of affairs. Thanks Uncle, for everything I probably shouldn't be, but are glad I am!!! Hudsonly, Alex B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rudyard Welborn Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 There is a show on the Travel Channel called "Road Trip" at 9:00 p.m....I think it is a continuing thing...tonight it is from Orlando to Key West--got no more details than that...Tsingtao, Kip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Denny Gibson Posted June 5, 2004 Report Share Posted June 5, 2004 That American Road page numbers appear inside road sign shields seems natural. Maybe even to be expected. But what about the number of pages when the leadoff feature (following letters & staff intros) is an interview with David Knudson. Coincidence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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