Archive for the ‘highways’ Category

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New video on Alice's Drive 2009 commemoration

February 18, 2008

Richard Anderson reports that he and daughter Emily Anderson have produced and posted a new video about the 2009 journey Emily will take commemorating Alice Ramsey’s groundbreaking drive across the US in a rebuilt 1909 Maxwell. LH fans will note Lincoln Highway book state guides author and LHA Forum editor Gregory Franzwa about 50 seconds in and remaining a major voice in the 5:46 video.

Alice was the first woman to drive across the US, following a route that a few years later would be used by the Lincoln Highway in many places (though notably not across the Allegheny Mountains through PA or OH). Emily hopes to follow Alice’s original route as closely as possible, but will deviate somewhat due to roadway changes and the safety concerns.

AliceMap

Learn more at their web site aliceramsey.org about the route, and about a film that Emily’s brother Bengt Anderson is producing about the event and women’s history, Alice’s Drive – Women Who Drove The Century. Richard also reports that the car body is finished and being painted, and that the engine needs only a few parts before being started, they hope in March. The most recent challenge was needing an exhaust manifold; not finding one, Richard modeled and cast one based one a 1908 Maxwell that he owns.

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Posted in highways, history, Road trip, transportation, travel | 4 Comments »

Centennial of Great Race Honored with Exhibit

February 17, 2008

February 12 marked 100 years since the launch of the longest and perhaps craziest auto race ever – around the world from New York to Paris. Six cars (seven more never showed up) departed Times Square, at times following the future Lincoln Highway to San Francisco. The American entry, a 1907 4-cylinder Thomas Flyer roadster, would win, driven most of the way by George Schuster, who would later write about his adventures in The Longest Auto Race. The 1965 comedy The Great Race (Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtiss, Natalie Wood, Peter Falk), loosely based on the race, barely touched on the hardships faced by the real racers.

Thomas_exhibit

The 1908 race has been honored with a 14-month exhibit at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada, a few blocks off the Lincoln Highway. Through next January, visitors can see the 1,400-pound trophy, the American flag carried the whole way, and most impressively, the restored Thomas Flyer (seen above, in a photo courtesy the museum). Then starting May 30, up to 40 teams will again depart New York City for Paris, covering 22,000 miles, though only half of that driven. A summary of the race and exhibit can be found in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Schuster Book

Another group is rebuilding a 1908 White and plans to retrace the route and pffering educational programs, but their hopes to launch the February 12 have been delayed.

Schuster never did get paid the $10,000 (he thought was proper for a half-year’s work) by the Thomas company – they said the race had cost them too much already. And The New York Times delayed paying him the $1,000 prize for 60 years. Schuster, then 95, was appreciative but noted that a grand was not worth nearly as much in 1968 as in 1908.

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Posted in highways, history, Road trip, transportation, travel | 5 Comments »

Changes at Lincoln Hwy Assn national office

February 16, 2008

LHA Executive Director David Hay, hired in March 2007 to oversee LHA activities, has left to take a position at Davenport University. I asked him about his plans: “While I may be leaving the LHA executive director position, I plan to remain an active member of the Indiana chapter and work on our state byway designation, the 2009 conference, and other Indiana-related projects.”

David Hay
Above: David Hay addresses Lincoln Highway fans at Teibel’s in western Indiana, 2007.

Bob Lichty, past LHA president who was on the director selection committee, told me, “This is a disappointment so soon. David was a good choice for the job, but it is understandable when he got such a better offer. It is my hope we do a search and find an even better person for the role, maybe with a bit more focus on fund-raising.” For now, the office will utilize an office manager. Here is the job posting:

Part-Time Office Manager, Lincoln Highway Association’s National Office in South Bend
A non-profit organization located in downtown South Bend is in need of a part-time Office Manager. This is a 12-15 hour per week position, and the part-time Office Manager works as an independent contractor. The pay rate is $10 to $12 per hour. Excellent communication skills and writing skills required. These include email, regular mail and phones. The position includes general office duties, management of computer records and mailings. Microsoft Excel and Word skills are a must. Internet research skills are a must. Other duties include:

Type letters and other correspondence.
Organize office processes and work with detailed records.
Outlook proficient.
Attention to detail and strong organization skills.
A professional attitude and appearance are a must.

An ideal candidate will be self motivated and have the ability to work independently with a strong work ethic. The Office Manager will communicate with the organizationʼs members across the United States on a regular basis, provide assistance to other professionals in related matters and provide administrative support for the work of the organization’s officers and committee chairs. Payroll is done twice a month. Free parking is available. This opening was posted on Feb. 13, 2008.

For immediate consideration, please send resume and a brief cover letter to: President, LHA National Office, 402 W. Washington St., South Bend, IN 46601.

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Changes at Summit Garage atop Altamont Pass

February 15, 2008

When I visited the Summit Garage in July 2006, Dan Silviera showed me around the shop. Among his many efforts to help youth, he managed Tri-Valley Youth Services, and the garage was serving as the Tri-Valley Teen Center for teaching youths to restore classic cars. There was an assortment of cool old cars on lifts and along the road. The only dark cloud was that a utility company wanted to demolish the old place for a right-of-way.

CA_SumDan

I recently checked on the garage with Gary Kinst, editor of LHA newsletter The Traveler for California. I was looking for news about the utility but was sadly surprised to hear that the teen center lost its lease July 1, 2007, and Dan Silveira (above) passed away July 30. Click here to read Dan’s obituary from the Boy Scouts, where he was a scoutmaster for 17 years; that and his many other accomplishments are an inspiration.

Click the images below from my visit to see larger versions on Flickr – then click the Flickr pics to see them REALLY BIG. The T-Bird, one of the youth projects, was across the road.

Butko_CA_Tbird
10 x 10 white square
Butko_CA_SumGar

A local rancher has purchased approximately 240 acres that include the Summit Garage and a dwelling. Gary reports that LHA member Mike Kaelin is working with the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and their State Representative to have the garage preserved as a historical site and the pass as a historic corridor. The new tenant, a former member of T.V.Y.S., has plans to open a antique/gift shop in the old garage. A “Historic Lincoln Highway” sign was recently dedicated there too.

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Posted in highways, history, roadside, transportation, travel | 4 Comments »

Auburn Cord Duesenberg to host sculptures

February 14, 2008

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum, 25 miles north of Fort Wayne in Auburn, Indiana (off the Lincoln Highway but a popular diversion), will exhibit automotive bronze sculptures created by nationally acclaimed artist Alexander Buchan, and his grandchildren Alex, 11, and Adeline, 6, from March 14 through April 12. Buchan worked as Chief Design Sculptor at General Motors for 38 years.

BuchanIndianBike

Above: This painted bronze sculpture by Alex Buchan (edition of 35) depicts a 1920 Indian motorcycle with a side car called the ‘Flexi’ being driven by Pop Dwyer.

The public is invited to attend the free exhibit opening on Friday, March 14 at 7 p.m. at the museum, where Buchan and his grandchildren will be on-hand to discuss their work. Included in the exhibit will be a very rare 1910 American Underslung automobile and a customized Buchan sculpture of the car and its owners.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum houses more than 120 antique and special interest cars plus related exhibits on three floors. The museum is in the 1930s headquarters of the Auburn Automobile Company and is a National Historic Landmark. Group and family rates are available. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. year round.

IN_ACDMuseum

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
1600 South Wayne Street
Auburn, IN 46706
(260) 925-1444 x30
http://www.acdmuseum.org

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Early Autos film, sometimes comic, inc/ US 50 NV

February 13, 2008

Here’s an educational film (well, somewhat) from perhaps the late 1940s showing the impact and follies of early autos. The short film begins and ends with old-car fans driving early autos in period dress along US 50 (often the same as the Lincoln Highway) and US 395 in Nevada. Much of the rest shows early clips of how they could be a challenge to operate. The disruption they brought to city streets is quite a contrast to today’s “good ol days” view — though it is comical to watch a crowd of kids chase one of the newfangled contraptions.

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Sacramento PBS to run LH segment – Wed 7pm

February 12, 2008

Sacramento’s KVIE-TV/channel 6 (PBS) occasionally runs a show called “Street Signs” that explores the history behind local street names. This week’s episode will include a segment on the Lincoln Highway. In the Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto area it will be broadcast on channel 6 at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, February 13. It may show in other areas too – check local listings.
CA_BobD_1491

California LHA director Bob Dieterich says, “Norm Root and myself were interviewed and I spent two days with the producer and a cameraman filming sights along the highway in the Sacramento, Auburn, Davis, and Galt areas. If one watches closely they may see a glimpse of the map from the top of your blog.”

The above photo (courtesy of KVIE-TV) shows Bob on a short segment of the Lincoln hidden in bushes beside Taylor Road/US 40 in Penryn between Sacramento and Auburn.

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Not blogging this week for a reason

February 7, 2008

Please excuse the absence of blog entries this week as my mother passes through her final days.

Posted in highways | 4 Comments »

Film – Recreating Alice Ramsey's 1909 drive

February 2, 2008

Summer 2009 will be the centennial of the first woman to drive across America, Alice Ramsey. In honor of that groundbreaking event, Emily Anderson and a co-pilot will leave New York City on June 9, 2009, for San Francisco. They’ll follow the same route over 41 days in the same type car as Alice used (a 1909 Maxwell, restored by Emily’s dad), with celebrations along the way. Here’s a 4-minute trailer about the next Alice’s Drive.

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Posted in highways, history, Road trip, transportation, travel | 6 Comments »

Update on New Lenox shopping development

February 1, 2008

A January 22 article in GlobeSt.com has an update of McVickers Development‘s plans for a shopping center in New Lenox, Illinois. The 71-acre parcel along the Lincoln Highway was reportedly acquired for $18.9 million from a private individual; it had been on the market for 5 years. McVickers will oversee development of 450,000 sq ft of retail anchored by a Menards and Wal-Mart Supercenter, who will purchase their land. GlobeSt points readers to a map on McVickers site, seen below on a screen shot, for other tenants, which include PetCo, Staples, Aldi, Starbucks, Verizon, Fifth/Third Bank, Arby’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Auto Zone.

IL_New Lenox stores

A McVickers spokesman said that being at the end of the new extension of I-355 makes it “prime real estate on the main drag running through New Lenox,” with 20,000 cars daily on this part of the Lincoln Highway. As for why it was on the market so long, he said there are “some low-grade wetlands on the property that are going to be mitigated.”

A 2006 release on a similar project said McVickers Development is developing “over two million square feet of retail shopping center space throughout the Chicago Metropolitan area.” The same release said that Wal-Mart had “45,308 associates living and working in Illinois at its 77 Discount Stores, 57 Supercenters, 28 SAM’S Clubs, and four distribution centers.”

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Posted in highways | 2 Comments »

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