Archive for the ‘highways’ Category
July 30, 2009
The New-York Historical Society will open an exhibition, Lincoln and New York, on October 9, 2009. New York of course lays claim to the Eastern Terminus and a few blocks of the cross-country Lincoln Highway. The exhibition will trace the relationship between the man and the city; it will run through March 25, 2010.
The photo above showing Lincoln’s funeral procession also reportedly caught young Teddy Roosevelt at the window of his grandfather Cornelius Roosevelt’s house (the large house on the left). He and his brother Elliot are said to be the boys looking out the second floor window. The house sat on Broadway between 13th and 14th streets; it was replaced by the Roosevelt Building in 1894.
The New-York Historical Society is located at 170 Central Park West between 76th & 77th streets. For more information, visit www.nyhistory.org or call (212) 873-3400.
Tags:Abraham Lincoln, exhibition, highway history, Lincoln Highway, museum
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, Road trip | 2 Comments »
July 29, 2009
Anyone who has driven the Lincoln Highway near Lancaster, Pa. — especially east of the city on US 30 — knows that traffic congestion makes it near impossible to enjoy the road’s heritage. Now the Lancaster County Planning Commission has released an enhancement plan to address traffic, signage, and accessibility. You can view the PDF HERE.
The report states:
This project is the first step in implementing the Lancaster County Strategic Tourism Development Plan, adopted by the County Commissioners in 2005….
The Lincoln Highway is a high priority because:
• It’s a highly visible gateway into the city and surrounding countryside
• It’s an important part of the county’s economy
• It plays a key role in the county’s tourism “mix”
The publication lists the many problems and potential solutions. One challenge is that the area is known for rural and Amish attractions, but the crush of tourists and modern businesses has pushed out many farms and even the mid-century fabricated attractions.
In the 1990s, local officials cited tourist complaints that there was nothing to do after dark, when Amish-themed attractions closed. The response led to outlet malls, which have spawed more chain stores and wide highways, resulting in the disappearance of almost all vintage businesses and buildings. Accessing any of it is frustrating for tourists and commuters, not to mention horse-drawn buggies. It will be interesting to see if such growth can now be reined in.
Tags:Amish-themed businesses, Gateway Enhancement Plan, historic highway, Lancaster PA, Lincoln Highway, PA, road challenges
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, roadside, signs, transportation | Leave a Comment »
July 28, 2009
LHA director Mike Buettner sent info and images from a Mid-Ohio Chapter/Lincoln Highway Association work day a few weeks ago. The original brick pillar that is one mile east of Oceola (Crawford County) was in dire need of repair. Saturday, led by Richard Taylor, members of the chapter did those repairs.
According to my road guide research, this pillar “was set in 1921 to commemorate the completion of the bricking of this part of the highway, and is the only survivor of what may have been eight pillars in Crawford County west of Bucyrus. Past-president Esther Oyster has determined that these brick pillars were set at one-mile intervals, in a span of seven miles from Bucyrus to the Wyandot County Line, and has thus far been able to verify the construction of six of these pillars.”
Tags:brick memorial pillar, Bucyrus OH, historic road, Lincoln Highway, Ohio, road history, road nostalgia, roadside
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, roadside, signs, transportation | Leave a Comment »
July 27, 2009
Lincoln Highway fan Steve Jones wrote me to mention a road food website that he manages: ridetoeat.com/. It lists nearly 1,000 eating places, some with descriptions. Steve explains below it’s not the same as a recommendation guide.
It’s not really about places to eat while on the road (that’s well-plowed ground) but more about places it is worth planning a trip around — even if it’s just a Sunday drive. It’s still a little rough, but I hope to grow it into a unique and valuable resource. The premise is motorcycle-related, but there is really nothing about the data that is bike-centric other than the tendency towards destinations that are on twisty roads.
Steve also posted the book review below to LDRider, an email list for members of the Iron Butt Assn. and other long-distance endurance motorcycle riding enthusiasts. Thanks Steve!!
Brian Butko, author of Greetings from the Lincoln Highway has a new book out called Lincoln Highway Companion.
Though its 192 pages are filled with great full-color photos on quality paper, this is no coffee table decoration designed to give you something to flip through during commercials.
It’s the ultimate detailed authority on the current and historical alignments of the Lincoln Highway, conveniently sized to fit in a tank bag or glove box (just over 8×5″).
Every mile of the Lincoln Highway is covered with detailed color-coded maps showing the following:
* Original 1913 alignments
* Intermediate alignments or sanctioned detours
* Final Alignments still in use by 1930
* Modern detours
* Gone or hard to reach
The map scale varies as needed to show meaningful detail, all the way down to 1 inch per mile.
It bursts with snippets of interesting things to see, lodging and great food along the route – but the maps are the star of the show. It is obvious that a great deal of research went into this.
The author (with whom I have no affiliation) has put together a short video highlighting the features of the book: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8liMtYjGK8
I originally bought it with the intention of putting together the “definitive” route for a Lincoln Highway Coast-to-Coast ride, but now I see there are too many variables and the decisions are just too subjective. The good news is that it gives me everything I need to choose the route I find most interesting.
I am sure some here will enjoy it as much as I am. It just came out and may not be widely available yet, but they have it in stock at Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/0811735478
Tags:biker food, destination - restaurants, eat on the road, Lincoln Highway, motorcycle, places to eat, restaurants, road food, Road trip, travel
Posted in food, highways, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, travel | Leave a Comment »
July 24, 2009
Mike Hocker, Executive Director of the Ohio Lincoln Highway Historic Byway, reports that while delivering Lincoln Highway travelers guides, he met Mike Van Doren and his wife Dawn, new owners of the old Dutch Mill east of Van Wert, Ohio. The couple did not at first realize the building’s historical significance but it, and the coast-to-coast road it’s on, now has them excited. The place was a “one-stop” for gas, food, and lodging in the 1920s, and a short section of original road remains on property from when the curve outr front was straightened.
The roof is leaking and needs about $25,000 to repair but the “bar” is still in there, and that’s one of the reasons they bought it. They will be having the BUY-WAY yard sale activities there (August 6-8). It surely is great to see someone wanting to preserve this stuff.
The Old Dutch Mill is at the junction of Middlepoint Road and old Lincoln Highway just east of Van Wert.
Tags:1920s roadhouse, Buy Way yard sale, Dutch mill building, Lincoln Highway, Ohio, Van Wert OH, yard sale across states
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, roadside, travel | 2 Comments »
July 23, 2009
“Soup, Sin, & Salvation” — a Celebration of Restoration, is the theme for the annual dinner and auction to be held this Saturday, July 25, 2009 in St. Augustine’s former church in Austin, Nevada. St. Augustine’s is the state’s oldest Catholic church building (1866) and a popular stop for tourist along the Lincoln Highway/US 50. The church was sold to a private party who formed a nonprofit organization to restore and renovate the structure.
The event will feature:
Homemade bread and rolls
Homemade soup in a commemorative cup
Depression-era food such as Spam
Grilled steak kabobs
Rich and delicious homemade ice cream
1 pm: Mella Harmon presents:
“How Soup & Sin Saved Nevada” — Nevada during the Great Depression
2-5 pm: “Artists in Austin”
Visit area artists at fun locations around town
6 pm: Dinner and Auction in the old church!
For the first time in decades, this historic building will echo the happy sounds of people gathering!
Tickets are $39. Get more info at www.goaustinnevada.com or contact Jan Morrison (775) 964 – 1100.
Tags:Austin NV, Depression era, historic church restored, Lincoln Highway, Nevada history, summer festival, tourism
Posted in food, highways, history, Lincoln Highway, souvenirs, travel | Leave a Comment »
July 22, 2009
Following up on last week’s Lincoln Highway adventures of Bill and Karen, another couple, Dave and Peg, are driving a 1929 Model A across the country. They picked up the Lincoln Highway west of Canton, Ohio, and are heading to California. (Note, they just detoured off the LH to see Mount Rushmore.) Follow along at model-a-adventure.blogspot.com/.
Another couple, Kathie and Tony Mandra, have already reached the west coast but you can read of their trip, and side trips, at
lincolnhwy.blogspot.com/.
And Chris Hutter is riding his 2006 Harley Davidson FLHR west from Pittsburgh. Follow him at hutmo.blogspot.com/.
Tags:1929 Model T, 2-lane roads, historic highways, Lincoln Highway, Model T, old roads, road trips, roadside, travel, vacation
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, Road trip, travel | 5 Comments »
July 21, 2009
The Auburn Journal reports that Norm Sayler, who served as president and manager of Donner Ski Ranch for 46 years, was honored on July 5 for his contributions to the community. He received the 2009 Community Person of the Year Award at the annual Donner Summit Area Association Picnic from Placer County Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery. Photo is from the story.
A resident of Donner Summit since 1954, Sayler was instrumental in making Donner the first ski resort in America to open its slopes to snow boarders in the 1980s. He turned over operation of the ski area a few years ago but continues with the Donner Summit Historical Society, which he founded. Of note to Lincoln Highway enthusiasts:
In the 1990s when Nevada County slated Rainbow Bridge for demolition, Sayler found $500,000 in state seed money to rehabilitate historic state bridges. This effort also ensured that one of the most historic roads in California, Donner Pass Road (formerly known as Highway 40, the Lincoln Highway, the Victory Highway, and the Dutch Flat-Donner Lake Wagon Road), would be preserved and open for all to use
Tags:award, California, Donner Summit CA, Lincoln Highway, ski history, snowboarding
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July 20, 2009
According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Curtis C. Bailey, co-owner of the Lincoln Cafe in Belle Plaine, Iowa, was murdered Sunday by his common-law wife and two other people, reportedly her son and his girlfriend. LHA director Van Becker sent the photo and alerts us that the story was reported yesterday on Cedar Rapids KCRG-TV 9 and this morning in the Gazette.
Tags:Belle Plaine IA, highway history, Iowa, Lincoln Cafe, Lincoln Highway, murder of cafe owner
Posted in food, highways, history, Lincoln Highway | 1 Comment »
July 17, 2009
Perhaps the most fun, colorful blog ever to follow a Lincoln Highway road trip is being posted by Bill and Karen McKibbon. They set out from Ontario, Canada, and joined the LH at Joliet, Illinois. They’re following the old road west to the Pacific (at which time they continue northward), taking tons of photos like above: their car at Preston’s in Blelle Plaine. Bill told me they’re using my Greetings from the LH and LH Companion (buy ’em on Amazon!) and noted how quickly things change: “Some places no longer exist that you wrote about, some things that deserve a marker or plaque don’t, but we are finding the old road as best we can.”
That’s Bill at the Seeding Mile in Grand Island and Karen (they LOVE finding great desserts) in Cheyenne. Don’t pick on her Route 66 shirt — LHA HQ was out of shirts!
LH boosters also should note that almost every cafe they stopped at was CLOSED! In early JULY!!
Bill makes some other interesting observations. This is from Kensinger’s cool deco station in Grand Island, Nebraska, which was featured (along with owner Dick Grudzinski in the PBS special about the LH):
Dick pointed the way to the original early 1900’s concrete behind his gas station. It is very overgrown with weeds and long abandoned. What really surprised me is that there is no sign or plaque acknowledging what this concrete represents. The Lincoln Highway is not promoted like Route 66 is. What a shame.
Or this:
We loaded up the car and drove to Shelton NE where we wanted to visit the The Lincoln Highway Visitors Center. 10 AM on a Saturday morning and this place is locked up tight. There was a notice in the door with a phone number to call and someone would come over. We peaked in the door and the windows and there wasn’t anything in there that we felt was worth disturbing someone. I am sure they had something important to do or they would be here greeting Lincoln Highway travellers. There were no t-shirts to purchase, no postcards, basically it appeared to be an empty room, with a few things hung on the wall.
Or this
We mentioned to the lady at the [Sod House] Museum that we were driving on the Lincoln Highway and she said, “oh you will want to head North then to get on Highway 30” We said no, that we were driving the original Lincoln before there ever was a Highway 30. She thought Highway 30 was the Lincoln. This poor highway, no one seems to care much or know much about it. Here we are from Ontario Canada, and we know more than the locals.
Well, I guess there’s something to be said for not being over-commercialized….
They post at billstraveljournal.blogspot but click HERE to start with Day 1 (they’re on Day 11). Enjoy the trip!!
Tags:2009 travel, blog road trip, Lincoln Highway, love desserts!, old concrete bridge, photos of road trip, Road trip, roadside, Touring the US, travel
Posted in highways, history, Lincoln Highway, lodging, Road trip, roadside, signs, transportation, travel | Leave a Comment »
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