Historic Roads in Los Angeles County

9 Days is a Lot of Travel Time

2009-06-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

Over the last nine days since I last posted, I've spent a lot of my waking hours working on the early stages of fighting an illogical freeway tunnel. Some time in the future I'll get into more detail about this crazy idea of a Congressman from Pasadena. For now, though, I think I need to catch up to a convoy in front of me.

This convoy story, however, really starts back in 1913 with Carl Fisher and the founding of what would become the Lincoln Highway Association. It then led to Dwight D. Eisenhower's experience as Colonel taking part in a convoy in 1919 across the United States, following the Father Road. The Lincoln Highway, Yellowstone Trail, and the Good Roads Movement in general led to the creation of the United States Highway System. This, in turn, combined with Eisenhower's experiences in 1919, led to today's Dwight D. Eisenhower Interstate and Defense Highway System, our modern freeways (think those blue and red shields with white numbers and text).

All of this history, though, is being relived through one simple convoy. And nine days ago I commented about it. In the nine days since, this convoy has gone a long way.

On Sunday, June 21, they were in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

It was in Logan, Iowa on June 23.

Yesterday, Wednesday June 24, the convoy wove its way from Jefferson, Iowa to Omaha, Nebraska.

From Omaha it "will make it's way through Grand Island on June 25. It is also expected to be in Ogallala on the 27th." (Which also means that today it should go through Columbus, Iowa.)

The North Platte Telegraph discusses the convoy's pending arrival tomorrow with a pretty good article.

This Saturday they will be in Laramie, Wyoming.

The convoy is being organized by the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. It began on June 13 in Washington DC and is scheduled to conclude in San Francisco on July 8. (Any kind readers in the San Francisco area that can be there when the convoy rolls in, I would LOVE some good photos!)

1919 Convoy retraced

2009-06-16T06:42:00.001-07:00

Lots of news yesterday regarding the re-creation of the convoy of 1919 that crossed the Lincoln Highway. The convoy included a young Dwight D. Eisenhower and was meant to test the durability and usability of America's roads. (They failed miserably.) The convoy was seen as a boost to the Good Roads Movement, and paved the way (pun completely intendend) for Eisenhower's role in the Interstate Highway System.

KDKA / WPCD in Pittsburgh had this on their website: "The convoy in 1919, a year after the end of World War I, was aimed at demonstrating the need for a mechanized army and better highways, and to test newly developed vehicles under arduous conditions. Officials also wanted to find out how difficult it would be to move an army across the United States in the event of an attack on the West Coast."

This in the Salem News: "That route is the famed Lincoln Highway and the convoy is being held in conjunction with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission's celebration of the 200th birthday of our 16th President in June/July 2009."

This from WYTV: "Don Elzer is the President of the East Palestine Area Chamber. He tells us, 'In 1919 East Palestine was sort of the center of the auto industry and the rubber industry.'"

And the Ada Herald says: "This means that this special convoy of antique military vehicles will cross St. Rt. 68 approximately three miles south of Arlington (or one mile north of old Rt. 30 at Williamstown) Interested individuals are invited to come out to the intersection, bringing their lawn chairs, cameras and flags to wave as the vehicles pass by."

The Van Wert Times Bulletin gives more historical information. Commenting on the original convoy in 1919 it states "The convoy started with 80 vehicles and 280 officers. The three-mile group moved so slowly that the final vehicle did not move until two hours after the first had left."

Obviously, all of this is important to me not only for its role in the Good Roads Movement, but also for following the path of the Father Road, the Lincoln Highway. Hopefully I can make a trek up to San Francisco and see the convoy at its end around July 8. More information on the convoy can be found here.

I'm Tired

2008-10-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

I'm just really sick of hearing this one thing over and over and over. So I have to say this publicly, even though it has absolutely NOTHING to do with my blog:

John McCain has not been, is not now, and never will be, "my friend."

Bob Barr for President!

Ridge Route News

2008-10-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

Two pieces of Ridge Route news, both found here. The first is the cleanup that is starting in about 30 minutes. Needless to say, I won't make that. But the second piece of news is a week away, and hopefully I will be able to make it up there for this:

"Dedication of the Ridge Route as a California Historic Civil Engineering Landmark 10 a.m. East Corner Parking Lot, Vista del Lago Visitor’s Center, on I-5 halfway between Gorman and Castaic. Public invited, coffee and donuts served."

Hooray for .... Echo Park?

2008-10-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

The American Planning Association selected Los Angeles' Echo Park community as one of the 10 Greatest Places to Live in the US. A local blog about Echo Park here comments on its virtues. This blog contains some nice photos of Echo Park. And here the Earth Times has the press release.

Surprisingly (or not), there is no mention of Route 66 passing through this community, and being one of the reasons why Echo Park was able to become a "suburb" of Los Angeles. Oh well.

More Gambling on the Lincoln?

2008-09-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

It seems that after winning the struggle against a casino outside of Gettysburg on the Lincoln Highway that perhaps now we're facing another gambling facility outside the traditional gambling areas of Atlantic City along the Lincoln.

US 80 - Dixie Highway

2008-09-05T07:12:00.001-07:00

Nice article here about an area near Dallas along old US-80.

Yellowstone Trail / 212

2008-07-13T07:59:00.001-07:00

Nice article here on the Yellowstone Trail.

Bush's Sewage

2008-07-10T06:33:00.001-07:00

OK, I know that I am WAY off topic on this post, but I HAD to comment on this. An article in the LA Times discusses a plan to rename a sewage treatment plant after our current dictator-president. In it is this quote:

***
"These silly stunts provide no benefit to a city that has its share of serious problems," said Hector Barajas, a spokesman for the California Republican Party. "I don't find the humor in spending government time and money on issues of no significance. It's downright foolish."
***

I have to ask Mr. Barajas what the difference is between this and naming AND SIGNING a freeway as a "memorial highway" and that has been done literally thousands of times in California along over the last few years. So what's wrong with this?

Marine Scenic Highway?

2008-07-07T20:35:00.003-07:00

Interesting idea in Washington includes a MARINE scenic highway.

Still Celebrating 70 Years

2008-07-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

The Merritt Parkway just keeps showing up on the web on a daily basis. An article here discusses the Merritt's 70th Birthday and also links to an online exhibit.

Extremely Sad News

2008-06-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

I received word today from Kevin Hansel of the California Historic Route 66 Association that his longtime love and traveling companion, Lucie McMurtie, passed away today after a long battle with cancer. Lucie was known and loved up and down the Mother Road for her positive spirits and wonderful smile. She was also a regional director for the Scoliosis Association.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Kevin and all of their family. We know that her spirit is smiling down on us from heaven tonight, watching over us all, and especially on those traveling the road less traveled.

We'll miss you, Ms. Route 66!

Even More Merritt

2008-06-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

An article here this morning on the Merritt Parkway / Route 7 interchange. Further delays, these now caused by the local residents deciding that they do, in fact, want to be involved in the decision-making process after all. This despite the process having been ongoing for so long with so much involvement previously, including the lawsuit by the Merritt Parkway Conservancy that led to the agreed-upon cloverleaf design. While I feel for the locals who wish to minimize the design's impact on the local wetlands, environment, and community, I really wonder where they had been over the last several YEARS while this whole debate has been going on.

And another article here on the 70th birthday of the Merritt.

Interesting List

2008-06-29T17:32:00.000-07:00

of top drives in the US. I can't agree too much on any top drives list that includes superslabs, but I guess this is why these are considered opinions.

For me, I'd have to include these as my favorites, I think:

Route 66 in Los Angeles County
Ridge Route
US-395
Lincoln Highway in Nebraska
Pacific Coast Highway in Southern Oregon

Merritt Parkway Book

2008-06-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

Discovered this this morning, a free preview of a book about the Merritt Parkway. Looks pretty interesting.

LHA Conference report

2008-06-25T07:30:00.001-07:00

Article here about the Lincoln Highway and the recent LHA conference.

National Scenic Byway Arroyo Seco Parkway

2008-06-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

Wow! What an article by Peter Greenberg about the ONLY National Scenic Byway to be fully contained in a metropolitan area anywhere in the country. This article highlights a portion of the Mother Road, and a segment of 66 that I absolutely love. It is good to see that others - including internationally renowned travel authors - are seeing the same things! And congratulations to my friends Amy Inouye at Future Studios and John Nese at Soda Pop Stop for mentions in the article!

"Panning for Gold Line Funds ..."

2008-06-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

This article in the LA Times today indicates the hurdles that extended the Gold Line east from Pasadena (the northern portion of the route) faces. It also notes Los Angeles Mayor Antonio "I'm-A-Liar" Villaraigosa's importance on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board.

The article states "His press office declined to say how he would vote on the Gold Line, although he's expressed support for the project in the past." I'd like to point out that Villaraigosa has also stated publicly the following:

He promised to serve out his entire four-year term when elected to City Council. Two years later, he left his post when elected Mayor.

He promised to hold the Autry to the fire to keep the Southwest Museum open as a museum on Mount Washington. He has since joined the Autry National Center to create a farce of a "blue-ribbon committee" called the Southwest Society, which has no fund-raising members, no Autry Board members, and no public statements of purpose or funding. In fact, there is nothing public about this "Society" and no plans or agenda from them or the Autry to keep the Southwest Museum open, let alone open as a museum.

Mayor Villaraigosa has also been caught saying "Campaign promises are not meant to be kept."

So while he has publicly supported the Gold Line extension through the San Gabriel Valley in the past, I doubt he will do so when the time actually comes, and the MTA Board will have missed another opportunity to do the right thing and expand mass transit in Southern California. Until that expansion takes place, gridlock and congestion will continue in Southern California, as few people are willing to take a mass transit system that does not get you where you want to go.

Ridge Route Presentation

2008-06-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

Ridge Route expert Harrison Scott will be giving a presentation in September. I'm anxious to see him speak as I have not seen a presentation by him before. Information can be found here and it's a great link in that it even links to mass transit options for getting there!

Beer and 66 DO Mix

2008-06-14T08:15:00.001-07:00

See, there is a tie between the two! And all this time so many of you thought I was crazy!

The Confluence

2008-06-12T06:28:00.001-07:00

Found this online this morning that discusses the future of the Confluence. The Confluence is the area in Los Angeles where the Los Angeles River meets the Arroyo Seco. It is also where the Construction, Alternate, and Bypass Alignments of Route 66 all cross. It is an area that I have termed "the nest" due to its complex arrangements and rearrangements of roadway in this area.

Ambassador Foreclosure

2008-06-10T20:55:00.001-07:00

The foreclosure crisis seems to have even reached the ultra-hip setting of Old Pasadena. Both the LA Times and Pasadena Star-News reported today that the project to redevelop part of the old Ambassador College site just at the outskirts of Old Pasadena has gone into foreclosure, AND that the adjacent senior housing development has been put on hold (it no longer even appears on Sunrise Senior Living's website!). This should have no effect on the Harvest Rock Church, however, keeping with the original religious theme of the college and allowing the Auditorium at least to continue to stand.

No worries, though. Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard assures us that the urban village associated with the project will still move forward, and that "I don't see any particular critical need to develop on the property now [rather] than, say, five years from now." Of course not, Bill. It's been sitting idle for how long now? What's another five, ten, twenty years? Besides, you've got all that box development (and here and here and here [ok, I HAD to do that!]) happening in your city. Who needs character? And hey, you've got the Scientologists moving into Old Town anyway, so when Tom Cruise starts showing up, the city will have plenty more tax money coming in with all the gawking fans looking for him.

Ah yes, it's nice to be home in Glassell Park, no longer a resident of the once-resort Pasadena.

Antigua Coffee Shop to Close

2008-06-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

I received this email this morning as part of the NELA List that I belong to. Note, it is NOT edited by me an any way:

BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE
Good Bye El Sereno

I have good news and bad news, I'll start with the bad. We are getting evicted or just simply not being granted a contract extension, why? The property owners have decided they rather lease the complex to "another" group. "You have made this place into a happy socialist center"…and I quote was one of the comments from the property team. On the bright side, at least we`re "Happy"…and for the "socialist" part I think they mean social, community and culture.

Either way, after 6 months of negotiating and shady false promises, they have decided to move along with another tenant. Really, there is nothing we can do but rant, kick and scream. I rather find solutions and respect the decision.

After all, Antigua Cultural Coffee House existed for 3 solid years and will resonate through Huntington Drive (Historic route 66) for the coming months, memories of this great community establishment will rise and shine throughout the day and night. We
became the spot, the place where students and community members escaped their daily routine and network with others. The home of hundreds of individuals who found a safe haven away from home. The perfect location to study and not fear being kick out by some maniac business owner, instead it was the place where you were acknowledged
and praise.

The organizing center for immigrant rights, resource center for community events, meeting place, campaign semi head quarters for progressive candidates.

Three student films where filmed on location and a pilot for HBO, LATV did a show here at Antigua! ... Google Antigua Coffee House you'll see our accomplishments.

Poetry nights became comedy nights, somehow the dynamics intermingled to cause such an effect. The best darn gallery in El Sereno. The best and most beautiful customer base ever!

Antigua Cultural Coffee house became a household name, it was a destination. We were voted "Best" by some of the most acclaimed news agencies in the city, the envy of the West side, the pride and joy of the East side.

We are Antigua Cultural Coffee House. We should be incredibly proud of what we have built. We are the community leader of Specialty Coffee. And, believe me when I tell you, we are just getting started.

We will overcome the difficult and humbling challenges we face, and will be stronger for it. You have my word on that.

We are the neighborhood entrepreneurial, we are the community service center, we are the conscious innovation, and we definitely reject the Status Quo.

We are the coffee that brings people together everyday to cultivate conversation and community. WE ARE…. ANTIGUA CULTURAL COFFEE HOUSE…..

On a bright note, the Cypress Park store will finally open in the summer....I'll keep you posted on the date.

For the time being, our last weeks will be full of surprises and special guest musicians... Lets celebrate the final countdown....we ask our hardcore customers to enjoy our last days and to spread the news to others. Three weeks left.....
-Yancey

END FORWARDED MESSAGE

I've been to Antigua only a couple of times. It was a wonderful little spot with some pretty darn good coffee. And I'm not easy to please with my coffee choices. It's a shame that this location has to close. Hopefully the Cypress Park location will be pretty near to Route 66. I know it will be closer to my new home, so that is promising. My best wishes to Yancey and the crew on having as much success in Cypress Park as they did in El Sereno, if not more!

Southern California Congestion

2008-06-09T13:52:00.001-07:00

An article in the LA Times discusses our lack of transportation improvements in Souhtern California. I'd like to add that growing out instead of up has not helped our ability to use what little mass transportation is available in the area. Hopefully that will start to change now that the price of gasoline is finally coming in line with European pricing and people in this country are starting to take notice of how fuel-inefficient their Hummers are.

Braley Building - Old Pasadena

2008-06-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Although not on Route 66 directly, the Pasadena Star-News reports today on the Church of Scientology's lack of progress on rehabilitation and preservation of the historic Braley Building in Old Pasadena. This building sits on South Raymond, sandwiched between Arroyo Parkway and Fair Oaks, two alignments of Route 66. It is extremely close to the Castle Green, a National Register of Historic Places landmark with immediate ties to 66 in its expansive location.

I find it pretty repulsive that the "church" removed its tenants so quickly when they were providing additional pedestrian traffic and interest to an area of Old Pasadena that also includes my beloved pub, Lucky Baldwin's. Then to let the building sit vacant in a high-visibility location for so long is just a shame and a waste. But I think it will be very interesting to see how the "church" plans on incorporating their goals and tactics into a highly trendy, high-pedestrian, yet touristy area of retail establishments. (The rendition of how it will look here seems to be pretty close to what it looked like before they stopped doing upkeep on the building.)