Table of Contents
CHR66A Founder Honored In Duarte
CHR66A Wins Theme Trophy in Duarte Parade
Run to the Heartland
Nuggets From Needles by Maggie McShan
The Only Fair Held on the Original Route 66 by Kara Hewson Nelson
California Route 66 Museum Bursting At It's Seams
Living On Route 66 in Yesteryear by Katie Hewson Wheeler
Model T Fords Run the Route
Down the Road
CHR66A FOUNDER HONORED IN DUARTE
Jennie Avila, Founding President of the California Historic Route 66 Association was
honored recently with an exhibition of her Mother Road memorabilia at the Duarte
Historical Museum entitled "I Remember Route 66", Jennie’s hobby of just
picking up things that pertain has blossomed into an eclectic collection of just about
everything imaginable from wearing apparel to household furnishings. Also on display as a
part of the exhibition were several panels of the CHR66A Mojave Photo Exhibit.
Jennie was feted at a "Meet The Exhibitor" mixer at the museum during the run
of the show.
CHR66A WINS THEME TROPHY IN DUARTE PARADE
A day of waving and smiling and having fun was topped off when officials of the Duarte Salute
to Route 66 Parade announced the best depiction of the theme of the parade was
unanimously presented to the California Historic Route 66 Association .
A 1932 Ford truck belonging to Victor Bracamontes was the basis for the float. On that
vehicle, Victor, brother of Founding President Jennie Avila, had piled all the stuff a
family would have taken with them to make the move from a mid-western home to California.
Galvanized washing tubs, unvented gas heaters, spare tires and tubes, potted plants, a
mattress, Gramma’s rocking chair and even the family dogs were securely fastened atop
the smoothly running vehicle.
Added to that were several appropriately attired members of the CHR66A family: Jennie,
her two granddaughters, President Wayne Hallowell, Charley Hepperle, Victor’s wife,
Sophia, and Kara Nelson, who all rode down the mile long route.
Announcement of their best theme depiction was made by Parade Director Tim Lowrey of
Duarte to a delighted group of CHR66A members who spent the rest of the day selling shirts
and other Route 66 memorabilia at the Royal Oaks Fairgrounds.
Also working hard all day at the booth were treasurer Maria Mutschler, trustee Bill
Mutschler, member Dan Mahnke, and Ron Bohnstedt and his wife.
RUN TO THE HEARTLAND – ROUTE 66’ 70TH ANNIVERSARY NATIONAL MOTOR
TOUR – 2 BIG DAYS IN CALIFORNIA – CHR66A LEADS FROM THE WEST …
Gathering on Santa Monica Pier on a typically overcast morning of Friday, October 4,
members of CHR66A will set the caravan in motion for a real trip down memory lane when
they lead the western contingent of the national Run To The Heartland Motor Tour.
The long-awaited modern-day equivalent of Wagons Ho! will sound and we
will be off on an adventure to be remembered for a lifetime.
Registrants will follow directions contained in the special itinerary booklet. Special
items to be included in goody bags are CHR66A member Dan Harlow’s Route 66 West
directory (a $3 value) and member Dan Mahnke’s Antique Roads of America Travel
Guide (a $10 value). First aid kits, brochures from many points of interest along the way,
periodicals commemorating the 70 years of Route 66 and many other donated items will be
included as will door prize tickets for drawings at Victorville and Needles along with
coupons for free soft drinks at certain docent points.
Chairpersons for this event, JoAnne and Geoffrey Willis, will be your tour guides for
the first day’s trip in California.
ALONG THE WAY we will experience the changing architecture of our country over the
past 70 years as we travel from Santa Monica through Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles,
downtown Los Angeles and on through Pasadena. Stops will be made at several historical
buildings to give participants a chance to stretch their legs and to further their
interest in the areas we will be passing through.
We will be feted at receptions and tours of historic sites in California. We will
overnight in Victorville after a reception at the California Route 66 Museum and a side
trip to Exotic World Museum in Helendale. The next morning we then travel on to
NEEDLES where the Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Needles Annual Colorado River
Round-Up. We will be guided through the Needles museum, El Garces Santa Fe depot, and
hosted at a special dinner. There will be street dancing and drawings for a multitude of
door prizes. A grand time is planned for your information, education and entertainment
this second day. Richard Amadori will be your lead driver for your trip to Needles. After
overnighting in Needles, travelers who have the time can continue on into
ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, TEXAS… your itinerary not only details the way but also
describes stops, tours, receptions and many points of interest. Again, JoAnne and Geoffrey
will be your guides all the way to Cadillac Ranch in Texas.
And from the east,.. for those who want to caravan, it was suggested starting at
8:30 am on Saturday, October 5 from Navy Pier in Chicago. Navy Pier is a recently
renovated Chicago landmark, with retail shops, cafes, a children’s museum, boat rides
and a wonderful view of the Chicago skyline.
Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket, a Route 66 Hall of Fame restaurant in Willowbrook, IL,
will host a kick-off dinner party on Friday, October 4. Dinner will be served from the
regular menu but best to call for reservations. After dinner, a 60s band will play in the
lounge. Illinois fans who will not be going to Texas will use this occasion as their
celebration.
Interesting places to stop along the way are Old Log Cabin Restaurant in Pontiac (try
the Ostrich Burger), the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame in McLean and Bill Shea’s Gas
Station Museum in Springfield.
STEINBECK AWARD TO BE PRESENTED
The Steinbeck Award is presented to the person deemed to have contributed most to the
preservation of Route 66. This event is on October 11. It is sponsored by the National
Historic Route 66 Federation.
This year the award will be made during the Run To The Heartland at the banquet in
Landergin, Texas. Many Route 66 celebrities plan to attend and there will be other
presentations along with a fund-raising raffle and several surprises.
VEGA, TEXAS ROLLS OUT THE RED CARPET
The 70th Anniversary Celebration of the Mother Road will culminate on
October 11 and 12 in Vega, Texas, mid-point on Route 66, with a real Texas style wingding.
Planned are everything from art shows to street dancing. Route 66 travelers are invited to
participate in two car shows. Sales booths, live entertainment, the Steinbeck Award
Banquet (just next door in Landergin), a calf roping exhibition, a chili cookoff, a Texas
barbeque and much more are planned for the two days.
COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS AVAILABLE
The United States Postal Service will be selling "passports" with a brief
history of Route 66 across Texas with room for a cancellation for each town on their
individual page. Also to be sold by the USPS will be lapel pins representing each town
across the state. 66 shadow boxes with each of the eight pins will be made and 65 of them
will be sold. Number 66 will be auctioned off at Landergin on October 12. A certificate of
authenticity will be given with each shadow box.
The Oldham County Chamber of Commerce will be selling cachet envelopes with the Run To
The Heartland "Rootie" logo on it to go along with the stamp cancellation. These
envelopes will be available at each "station" as you cross Texas and at the
final destination of Landergin on October 12.
For those traveling from east to west, the USPS invites them to catch up with the
Mobile Post Office for a special stamp cancellation. Each town across the Route 66
panhandle has a designated "station name" indicating its individuality.
Travelers from the west can meet the Mobile Post Office in Landergin on Saturday, October
12.
"Route 66 was more than just pavement," according to Tom Teague. "It was
a 2,400 mile long community where the prized American qualities of hardy individualism and
grassroots community spirit found perfect blend. It was a road that inspired people to
dream, then gave opportunity along its length to work and to realize that dream.
"It rose from a mere idea in 1926 to become the world’s most famous highway
and a great agent of progress. Then the interstates came and Route 66 became a victim of
progress, the casualty in many ways of its own success. But it lives today because it
showed us something about America that we still want to experience. Join us on the Run To
The Heartland as we do just that!"
NUGGETS FROM NEEDLES by Maggie McShan
Needles Regional Museum Association officers, volunteers and members express public
thanks to Dennis Murray, a native son, who has donated a fine collection of photographs
and other memorabilia to the Needles Museum archives.
Murray, who has ably served several years as school superintendent, is leaving soon for
another position. He and his family will be missed. Their thoughtfulness in donating items
to the museum is greatly appreciated.
Photos include a complete study of the flood of 1941, when much of the area in the
present golf course was inundated, a condition that lasted for a number of years causing
the abandonment of many homes and loss of businesses. It took many trips to Washington, DC
by community leaders and badgering of legislators to get the Colorado River dredged in
this area, a solution that made possible the development of Mohave Valley and Needles as
we see it today.
That flood was caused by two elements: silt build-up after Parker Dam was completed,
and the sudden release of much water from Hoover Dam. The entire valley became
water-logged. Fish, bullfrogs and waterfowl lived in ponds, lakes and inlets where fine
homes, businesses and farms exist today. The Murray photos are vivid reminders of that
stressful era.
Mac and I had purchased the historic Cord Ranch which had been a dairy in earlier
times. We were among the first to be flooded. The wonderful old ranch house was 2.5 feet
above the ground, which should have told us something but didn’t. Water came up to
the edge of porches.
We had two fishing boats and they served as water taxis to dry land for several weeks
until we found a place to rent. That wasn’t easy because we were keeping bees and had
salvaged about half the apiary from the water. Bee keeping was a sideline. Mac worked for
the Santa Fe Railway.
A photo in the Murray collection has this caption: "View of McShan home showing
beehives on porch out of water, Fall, 1941."
Other photos show the Mendez home and associated buildings. These marvelous structures
were built of adobe bricks with red tile roofs, both made right on the place by the Mendez
family. They were lost to the flood.
This family had also run a dairy, and the museum has a frame of their printed milk
bottle caps. Some of the salvaged adobe bricks were used in the first cabins built at the
El Adobe Motel, owned by Duke and Ehrma Watkins.
The Henry Maher home and the Lawrence home were lost to the flood, along with many
others including classic Mojave Indian abodes. Not a one of the latter survived.
Long forgotten streets are mentioned in the photo captions. They include Pinney Ave.,
somewhat notorious for bars and bordellos. Other streets named were Nevada, which was
lined with homes. The legend on that photo reads "surrounded by five feet of water in
the fall of 1941."
Mexican homes to the east of the utility plant were entirely surrounded by water.
Another photo is captioned. "Utility transformers were under water in the fall of
1941."
Other streets mentioned were A and P Avenues, Roosevelt, Water, Hobson, Booth, Colorado
and Hart Streets. The Congo Inn was on Pinney Ave. Who remembers where these streets were?
As modern golfers enjoy our fine 18-hole Needles Municipal Golf course, they may want
to give a thought to the people and places that were there before.
This photo collection may be viewed in albums at the museum, 929 Front St. across from
El Garces, the Harvey House. The museum’s hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 am
to 2 pm. The museum is staffed by volunteers and donations are always welcome and
meaningful to the community.
CHR66A EXPLORES THE ONLY FAIR TO BE HELD ON ORIGINAL ROUTE 66 by Kara Hewson Nelson
"Mom!" a woman screamed in my ear. "It’s got a blue ribbon on
it!" she continued as she raced past me. So began my first day at the San Bernardino
County "Get Your Kicks" Fair at Victorville.
A true scene of Americana, the only fair to be held right on Route 66 took place
recently and it was a thrill to be a part of it.
People-watching has always been one of my favorite things so I volunteered without
hesitation when the call went out for someone to man the CHR66A booth.
For three weeks preceding the fair, weather in the high desert had been unusually hot
and humid. On opening day the sun shone brightly but the heat was moderate.
Volunteer fair personnel helped me set up the tables and assisted graciously with my
every request. Eleanor "Chi" and Jim Hamilton came on Monday to help me and
worked again on Thursday on "Senior Citizen’s Day." We had a lot of people
stop to chat that day.
We had a great location just inside the front door to the Home Arts Building,
air-conditioned and brightly lighted. There were lots of demonstrations by wood carvers,
quilters, spinners and painters and a large display of radio-controlled airplanes.
There was a parade of classic cars coordidnated by CHR66A member Tex Navarro that was a
real joy to watch. I really don’t quite understand how cars that were popular when I
was a teenager can be considered as Classics — ’49 Mercs and ’56 Chevrolets
—but that’s what were in the parade. Lots of them. It took over a quarter hour
for the parade to pass our booth. Beautiful cars with their motors purring and humming
softly.
This was really a learning experience for me. My grandparents had lived in the
Victorville area from 1922, but I have never understood why people chose to live way out
in Ludlow, Essex, Amboy and the other desert towns.
I found out why this week: The steam trains had to have water every so many miles.
These lonely, isolated locations were support services for the trains. The people who
worked for the railroad had to live where the jobs were and the jobs were in the desert.
Some of those hardy suppliers of the services stayed, while others left as soon as they
could.
As trains have changed, so have jobs.
Then along came the paved road, Route 66. Things back east and in the mid-west were
real bad in the mid-30s — drought, depression. California beckoned with the booming
movie industry depicting a comfortable lifestyle, even if not quite accurate. It became
"California or Bust."
When World War II broke out, the Mother Road saw many of her sons traveling from coast
to coast for training and to assignments. War materiel was close behind.
Our own Mojave Desert served as a training area for General Patton and his troops
before they shipped out to defeat Rommel. Traffic picked up following the war.
So many stories were shared around our Fair table! We shall print them as we have room
and they will be compiled into a book at a later date. This was a great eleven days. I
look forward to next year — maybe I’ll get to see the livestock then!
CALIFORNIA ROUTE 66 MUSEUM BURSTING ITS SEAMS
The California Route 66 Museum of Victorville, CA celebrates its first birthday in
November this year with many marvelous memories of the last dozen months and high hopes
for the future.
The project was conceived and created by volunteers of the Old Town Victorville
Property Owners Association in cooperation with members of the California Historic Route
66 Association and others interested in the preservation and recognition of Route 66. The
museum is the cornerstone to their revitalization plan for Old Town Victorville.
It has drawn support from the City of Victorville, the National Historic Route 66
Federation and the California State Department of Tourism. Success has come with
surprising speed and suggests a future as bright as the new street lamps in Old Town
Victorville.
Mark Ward, President of the Old Town Victorville Property Owners Association, recalls
the day the museum officially opened.
"We knew we had discovered some of California’s gold once again in the High
Desert," Ward stated. "It’s all right here! The pioneer trails, Mormon
Crossing, Santa Fe Railroad and our beloved Route 66.
"On Novermber 11, 1995 we opened the museum and received more than 1,000 visitors
in two days." The Turning On The Lights Celebration and the grand opening of the
California Route 66 Museum also highlighted new challenges.
"For instance, the bank building at Sixth and D Street would prove too small for
the number of visitors as well as a growing museum collection.
"Right away we knew that we had outgrown our building." Ward explained.
"Developing a larger complex was already in the works." Moving to a nearby
building on Route 66 is a major goal for the months ahead.
Ward is pleased with the impact the museum has had in its present form and credits the
many volunteers who assist on a daily basis. Two register books are now full of signatures
from across the nation and around the world. He points out that many visitors return again
and again.
"That’s a real tribute to Route 66 and the work of museum volunteers".
Museum curator Dan Harlow acknowledges the contributions of individuals and
organizations from the Victor Valley as well as other Route 66 communities and
organizations.
"People got behind the concept immediately," he stated. "We have many
significant items that have been donated. And loans of exhibitions such as Mojave 66 from
the California Historic Route 66 Association have helped us present a telling portrait of
Route 66."
The Contemporary Art Gallery complements the historic displays. Creations from local
children have joined the work of renowned artists from several states in an exploration of
the Mother Road. Exhibits and displays change and rotate according to appropriate themes
and special events.
Harlow is a past president of the California Historic Route 66 Association and has been
active for several years in revitalization and preservation efforts along Old Route 66.
The work of this graphic designer/photographer/writer has been seen in many national
publications and most recently in the new book Route 66 Remembered. Both the museum
and the Old Town Victorville Property Owners Association logos are of his design.
In addition to exhibitions within its wells, the museum has sponsored or hosted several
special events, receptions and exhibitions attracting attention world wide since the
beginning of 1996. This year marks the 100th anniversary of automobile
production in America and the California Route 66 Museum celebrated in May with a street
festival and auto exhibition. The first Victor Valley Route 66 Motorcycle Run was
co-sponsored with three area motorcycle organizations centered around the museum.
While museum officials and volunteers look back at the past year, they are also looking
forward to the years ahead.
Expansion plans are progressing and were brought closer to a reality with help from
volunteers of the Church of Latter Day Saints.
In July, about 75 Mormon volunteers joined 15 museum volunteers, ages ranging from
seven to 80 years, descended in and around the Les Pyrenees Restaurant, formerly the Red
Rooster Café, like legendary army ants. Bob Huber, a licensed contractor/museum volunteer
for the day, couldn’t believe his eyes, commenting to the group’s leaders,
"We have accomplished over $30,000 worth of cleanup and hauling in five hours. My
vision of the youth of America just got a rosy update." All workers were treated to a
picnic lunch in Forrest Park.
This savings in both time and money helps to conserve the $75,000 Community Block Grant
funds provided by the City of Victorville for future plans for the museum, according to
Ward. "Old Town Victorville has a special angel that seems to watch over us," he
said.
"Because of the poor condition of the building we had to stretch the grant monies
as far as possible. We had to get very creative and return to the oldest of American
traditions… volunteer help!"
Other angels have come forward as well. The National Historic Route 66 Federation is
assisting in a search for grant funds and the State Department of Tourism now lists the
museum as a Route 66 resource.
"I sometimes feel like I’m going 100 miles an hour on a two-lane
highway," Harlow says. And, there appears to be no slowing down. The museum staff is
preparing a special reception for Run to the Heartland participants on Friday night,
October 4, and Saturday, October 5, with extended hours on those days.
"The support and encouragement we receive from groups such as the CHR66A is very
gratifying," Harlow says. "The dedication of individual volunteers and the
positive response from visitors suggests we are doing something right. It also means that
Route 66 may remain a significant part of California’s landscape."
LIVING ON ROUTE 66 IN YESTERYEAR by Katie Hewson Wheeler
In the "olden days" (mid-1950s) when I lived on old Route 66, between Oro
Grande and Helendale, my mother was insisting on trying to develop an iris garden in front
of our cabin. Since she hadn’t developed much of an irrigation system, and we
hadn’t too much water supply, I spent many an hour moving hoses and keeping an eye
out for breaks in the "saucers" of dirt around the clumps of iris.
As I would sit in what little shade there was, waiting for the trickle of water to fill
the saucer, I would usually read to help pass the time. When some of the big rig trucks
would roll by on their way to Barstow and Las Vegas or San Bernardino, I took to waving at
the drivers.
One driver of a Post tanker got in the spirit of things and would always honk and wave
if he saw me out. After a while, he’d honk as the truck came over the rise beyond
Bryman Road, and if I was inside the cabin, I’d dash outside to wave.
After this had gone on for some weeks one summer, my mother and I heard the familiar
blast of the air horn one afternoon. As I jumped up to run outside, we heard the sound of
the air brakes. The Post tanker was stopping! We looked at each other in amazement —
what was going on?
Sure enough, the 16-wheeler rolled to a stop across the highway and the driver climbed
out of the cab. Now I have to say, that as a 15- or 16-year old, I envisioned for a few
seconds some cute young guy coming to visit. No such luck, of course! Turned out that the
driver was about my dad’s age, and just wanted to break the boredom of the long haul
across the desert.
Despite my mother’s suspicions, the driver (can’t say I remember his name)
and I visited for a few minutes and got on the subject of books. Since at the time, I was
envisioning a career as a legal secretary and I mentioned that, he described a book
he’d just read about of the top lawyers. (Was F. Lee Bailey around then?) Anyway, the
next time we heard the blast of his airhorn, we heard him stopping again. He was dropping
by to lend me the book!
As I recall, he made several other quick visits, and we had brief discussions about
other books. Nothing romantic, mind you. Just friends along old Route 66.
MODEL T FORDS RUN THE ROUTE
About a dozen "flivvers" will be driven from St. Louis to Los Angeles in the
October Run to the Heartland by members of the Model T Ford Club of Southern California.
Members have shipped their cars eastward in freight containers, then will fly to meet
them and drive home via Route 66.
They will pass through Landergin, Texas during the Run to the Heartland festivities.
They expect to return in time for lunch on Saturday, October 19, at the Knollwood
Roadhouse Route 66 Café in Rancho Cucamonga.
Each year the club members take their cars on an extended tour, sometimes to foreign
countries.
DOWN THE ROAD - In California – Helendale Exotic World, October
5 is planning an October Masquerade and Vintage Auto display. Participants are invited to
wear their duds from the 50s for $1 off the general admission of $3, vie in contests to
select "Marilyn" and "Elvis" and to swing a hula hoop. Hamburgers and
hot dogs will be available. Win a prize! Dig the tunes! Enjoy the movies! Superstar David
Presley will be there to rock you! Tours of the museum will be conducted by Dixie Evans,
curator of Exotic World. Exotic World Burlesque Museum is located at 29053 Wild Road. Call
for directions (760)243-5261.
The Kaiser-Frazer Owners Club – Spring of 1997 – is planning an
itinerary that will enable members as a club to traverse parts of Old Route 66 as it
approached the promised land (California). The trip will allow members to drive in a
leisurely day-long caravan. Contact Bill or June Reinhardt at (714)636-0915 for
information.
Victorville’s – California Route 66 Museum will honor America’s
veterans with the Veteran’s Memorial Parade on Saturday, November 9. It begins at 10
am led by three distinguished Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. It will travel over
Route 66 on Seventh Street to Forrest Street where the Old Town Victorville Veteran’s
Memorial will be dedicated and unveiled. The memorial will become the latest tribute to
veterans along America’s Main Street. CHR66A is planning a display on Route 66
& World War II for this event.
Upland’s Ford V-8 Club – November 3 – 11th Annual
Car Show and Picnic will be presented by the Baldy View Chapter of the Early Ford V-8 Club
of America on Sunday, November 3 at the Upland Memorial Park from 8 am to 2 pm. The show
is open to all pre ’72 cars, trucks and street rods, they will allow no mini-trucks
or low riders. Call Bill Collins at (714)731-7200 for information.
