FLAVOR An Ikon COMFORT
OF THE on Historical OF
40's Route 66 TODAY
Owner and President Alan J McNeil
Vice President Pat Kenney
Secretary Marianne McNeil Logan
Great News followed by more!
We have found that the historic Triangle Motel on Route 66 is one of the last
Tourist Courts--AND one of the finest in the country--to be restored. Also, in looking through a fine collection of old Amarillo photographs circa 1965, we found a picture of the street sign 6th and Polk, with the caption, "Many astronomers feel this is the Exact Center of the Universe". Sixth Street is the continuation of Amar-illo Boulevard East through the antique shop section. Then it returns to Amarillo Boulevard East and to Old Route 66 on the outskirts of town. There's also an old postcard of the Triangle Motel, and Ronn Wood has added a link to the Triangle!
The National Park Service Corridor has approved the Historic Structure Report for the Triangle Motel, and architect Gregg Bliss has made the final changes. We are so thrilled that we can soon make plans for reroofing. The first payment of the cost-share NPS grant will be for $13,056 in about a month. This 65 page report was the NPS's first priority.
We will now submit the necessary forms to NPS for reimbursement. In 4-6 weeks NPS will send their first payment, We're hoping that as soon as the HSR is approved, we'll be able to start replacing the roof. But we sure will need help.
Then the NPS cost-share grant can be used for the ceilings and walls.
The Ft Worth National Trust grant of $2,000 to help on the architect's bill for the $10,000 HS Report was channeled through the Old Route 66 Association of Texas.
President Bob Lile, or 'Croc', has been such a help on this project, and his constant encouragement was badly needed at times. As soon as we've signed the architect's contract, we'll be able to pay the National Trust's $2,000 on that bill.
And More Great News!!!
Due to the wide interest in the restoration of the historical Triangle Motel in Amarillo, TX, we'd like to bring you up to date on some of the recent events. Alan McNeil, owner, and Pat Kenney, Superintendent, are bustin' their buttons with eagerness to get started. Me, too
At the Frontiers-in-Writing Conference just finished in Amarillo, got to talking to one of the speakers, and a member of the Panhandle Professional Writers, about the Triangle, and they are anxious to help, too. Hope to bring you some really exciting news from them in a couple of weeks.
And More! This was quite a Conference!
Harry Haines, another PPW member, has been a good friend for years. His book,
Orphan, won the big book contest at Mayhaven Publishing. Orphan is about horse
racing, and he is going to help me on the lingo for the horse racing so I don't have
horses' racing all over the wrong lanes. He has a signing Tuesday night at Barnes and Noble at 5-8:00 for those of you living in this area.
Our quarter page ad "Adopt a Brick on Route 66" will appear regularly in the Old Route 66 Assoc. of TX Newsletter. An article on the Triangle's progress is in the current colorful Route 66 PULSE Newspaper. Jim Conkle, Editor, and Jason Bernhardt, Associate Publisher, have been tremendous boosters of the restoration of this once highly prized Route 66 landmark. Mr. Bernhardt has bid $500 on the no. 66 brick. No one has topped it yet.
Adoption checks are coming along, and they are so much help. I think Croc has gotten in touch with some more friends, and we do appreciate it. And we've gotten some wonderful comments on the certificates we've mailed out. People have started ordering them now for children and grandchildren, so family members can also experience the pride of helping restore a once vital icon right in the middle of an American heritage, Route 66.
States' Race on Adoptions
This is fun, keeping track of the generous people who truly want to be a part of the Triangle restoration. But it sure will help to have some professional advice on the
wording. We now have 17 states, and all eight states on Route 66 are helping.
Texas is galloping away in the lead, Oklahoma is picking up speed with two more entries. South Dakota (my home state) is neck and neck with California, and then Idaho (Alan's Dad's home state). With three more entries from Illinois, they have pulled up ahead of Ohio. Colorado is also edging Ohio out. Missouri's still in front of the three M's,--Minnesota, Michigan, but just had another entry from Arkansas. Arizona and another M--Mississippi are grouped together, with New Mexico tagging along behind. The lone entry from Pennsylvania is still trailing! Special attention is given to the enthusiastic entries from Canada, Belgium and Australia. Isn't that great? Some wonderful people out there! Thank you!
We received a bid of $500 on Brick 66 from Jason Bernhardt/Route 66 PULSE Newspaper. Wow!
Bad News
My sister Marilyn, the one whose heart is not synchronizing well, was hit Saturday night April 12 by a 16 yr old red light runner in Rapid City, SD going 70 mph. Broken right shoulder, broken left ankle, may also require surgery on collar bone.
It is still immobilized and they're hoping it will heal without surgery. We are so pleased, and she is too) that she is at the nursing home where Mother had been.
She's already friends with all the nurses and other patients from all the time she spent with Mother, helping her to eat and so on. She's using Mother's wheelchair.
Mother died in her sleep early Monday morning, April 14th, not long after the wreck. We were lucky to have her for so long, but ooooh, it hurts. She was such wonderful person. She would have been 100 in August. She was such a special lady, sweet, never ruffled, so thoughtful and helpful, friendly, and such a tease.
She had a beautiful alto voice, and sang all over the Black Hills with the Rapid City Sr. Citizens Choir. And she loved to whistle. She always wanted to write, or paint, but never had time. I started the Senior Citizens Writing Group at the Amarillo Senior Center in her honor, moderated it for twenty years, and 56 beginning writers were published.
A special Memorial Service will be held July 19, the day before the Black Hills Pioneer Celebration. so we hope there will be a bunch of McFarland's there.
Marilyn is in the wheelchair all day, she doesn't rest in bed. She attended the trial, where the 16 yr old reckless driver received one year probation with no driving tickets; six months in juvenile detention if he does. Justice? She has now left the Nursing Home and is resting at home. She even drove last week. However, she fell and broke her thumb.
Claude and I are going to the Black Hills next week, and plan on returning to Amarillo the 29th.
Now back to the Triangle.
Special Thanks!!!
I want to take this opportunity to extend many many thanks to Crocodile Lile, President of Old Route 66 Association of Texas, who has helped so much on the Triangle Motel restoration project. If it weren't for his unfailing efforts, we wouldn't be as far as we are. He worked so hard on the paperwork required when a non-profit organization donates funds to a for-profit enterprise, which is the way it has to be done.
The application he carefully prepared for funding by the Ft. Worth National Trust to pay for the Historic Structure Report was accepted. They will give $2,000 to help pay the historical architect for preparation of the $10,000 report. That $2,000 will certainly help.
What a thrill to share the pride of the man, Alan McNeil, who has the dream, drive and dedication to want to save the Triangle Motel from being demolished, and restore it to a fine classic motel, a treasured icon once again for Route 66ers. And I'm so proud that he's my son.
When Alan and Pat get the project finished sometime in 2009, it's going to be as marvelous as the old Triangle Motel was in its glory days. We used to drive by it all the time going to the Amarillo Air Force Base where Alan's Dad was stationed.
Just a Thought
--It's a pity we aren't a wealthy family, or haven't won the lottery--
then we wouldn't be having these money worries.
Marianne McNeil Logan
Be sure to visit my other website.
www.poetmariannelogan.com.
www.
