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 remaining unrestored historical
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 Amarillo Boulevard East through the antique shop section. Then it returns to Amarillo Boulevard East and Old Route 66 on the south side 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. The next is the Session 106 Review which I believe is being set up now. These must be done before any construction is allowed to start.
We have submitted the necessary forms to NPS for reimbursement. In 4-6 weeks NPS will send their first payment, and we'll be able to start replacing the roof. But we sure will need help. If we can get some donations,
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 Alan has signed the architect's contract, we'll be able to pay the National Trust's $2,000 on that bill. The remainder for Gregg Bliss' HSR is to come from our first NPS payment.
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 horseracing, 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.
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 May's 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. Belgium, Australia and Canada are also represented.
Texas is still galloping away in the lead, as it should, since this highly significant icon is in the Texas Tower. Oklahoma is picking up speed with two more entries. South Dakota (my home state) edged ahead of California while we were home in the Black Hills. With three more entries from Illinois, they have pulled up ahead of Idaho, (Alan's Dad's home state). Now Colorado has pulled in front of Ohio. Missouri's a little in the lead of the three M's,--Minnesota, Michigan, but just had another entry from Arkansas. South Carolina, (my twin sister's state) came in and edged out Arizona. Mississippi, Kansas and New Mexico are keeping each other company. And one lone entry from Pennsylvania! Special attention is given to the enthusiastic entries from Canada, Belgium and Australia. Isn't that great? Some wonderful people out there! Thank you!
Claude and I just returned from the Black Hills. We are now back safely. Mother's Memorial was wonderful. We saw relatives and friends I'd not seen for years. My twin sister, Marietta, Marilyn (the one who was so severely injured), Loretta, spouses and friends had a wonderful reunion. We did a bunch of Black Hills things--including Deadwood's Days of '76, riding on the Society of Black Hills Pioneers float in the parade, and visiting with my son, Roger, and his wife Leslie, from El Paso. Marilyn, surprisingly, participated in almost all of the family activities. She is a very strong and determined lady, as was her Mother.
Loretta, my youngest sister, and her husband, Lamont Hill, built a covered wagon for the Ft. Pierre-Deadwood Wagon Train, which left Ft. Pierre Wednesday morning, August 27th. --How I hate to add this, but it's the reason I'm leaving the Black Hills activities on this site for a while longer--Wednesday, September 10, Lamont was thrown from a horse and badly injured. He died Friday. His funeral was the 15th at the Rapid City Fairgrounds. Over 500 people attended. He was from an old and distinguished western family. They had only been married for five years.
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. I don't know how he gets everything done that he does. We're so fortunate to have such a capable man as President.
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. How I wish Daddy could know about it. Somehow, I think he does.
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.
Our half 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 May's colorful Route 66 PULSE Newspaper. How we are going to miss that fine newspaper! Maybe some philanthropist will realize how important it really is to Route 66 and offer to keep it going. We hope and pray so.
Marianne McNeil Logan
Be sure to visit my other website.
www.poetmariannelogan.com.
