FLAVOR COMFORTS
OF THE OF
40's TODAY
Route 66
Owner and President Alan J McNeil
Secretary Marianne McNeil Logan
CHANGES, CHANGES, CHANGES
Changes have really been taking place at the Triangle Motel on Route 66 in Amarillo, TX.
After waiting a year and a half to get a roofer approved, Alan McNeil was finally able to start
planning the tearoff and installation of the new roof. However, the roofer then claimed his firm
would not include the tear off or hauling off the debris for the $16,000 agreed upon in his
contract for the north wing of the motel, even though both were clearly included.
Alan now has his own roofing license and a contracting license, and will do the work with
his own crew. The Amarillo City Permit was issued May 27. The tearoff is finished and
approved. Alan worked 28 hours straight one time. The new roof is finished and approved.
He finally located some tongue and groove material to finish three awnings, and is still
searching for more. He needs six more panel doors. Rusty bolts are all removed ready for
the awnings. Broken windows have all been replaced. It is so good to finally be able to see
some progress.
It's such a shame we didn't realize two years ago that he would be able to do this.
The timing would have been perfect. But we would not have been nearly as close to
matching the $26,056 grant as we are now. The Reimbursement Form has been filed,
and we are $3,000 short of matching the entire amount--which must be done to receive
the next two payments. As Kaisa Barthuli says, "The Triangle work was done so
economically that the money spent does not add up to balance the entire cost-share grant."
Kaisa Barthuli and the National Park Service have generously extended the time, since the
roof was so nearly finished. They are truly marvelous and generous people.
Have you noticed how many of the motel chains are flaunting carbon copies of themselves
with huge windows, canopies and blocks of structure? No wonder the simplicity and quiet
charm of the historical Triangle’s art moderne architecture with gently rounded corners is so
prized. Did you know that it is indeed one of the finest—and one of the last—historical
Tourist Courts in the country to be restored? Oh, yes, it was one of the most welcoming icons on Route 66, and will be again. Tourist courts, 70 years ago, were really the way to travel. The Triangle
offered comfortable suites of two rooms, a 12x16 living room with a 12x12 bedroom and the
unheard luxury of 3x5 tiled showers, made the Triangle a welcoming haven for those weary
travelers heading to California.
The National Park Service Corridor approved the Historic Structure Report for the Triangle
Motel. The first payment, $13,000, of the cost-share NPS grant helped pay the $10,000 bill
from Architect Gregg Bliss. $2,000 from the Ft Worth National Trust helped pay for the Historic Structure Report.
Finding a historical architect took over a year and a half. His 65 page report was the NPS's
first priority, and took eight months to complete. But, since this was the first priority, it had to
be done. The next priority was the Session 106 Review, or SHPO. Alan’s plans for doors and windows were approved by SHPO. The new roof of course was first. SHPO also approved
doing the north wing roof first, then the rooms. We might need some historical help to get the
City’s approval.
Since the Triangle Motel was such a favorite on Route 66 with two large wings surrounding a fine courtyard, it truly was one of the most memorable Tourist Courts in the country. The
distinctive art deco styling with the graceful curved corners made the motel a standout in the
'40s, and it will be again.
Kaisa Barthuli, Director at National Park Service, has helped us so much. She prepared the
National Registry nomination. She is a student at the University of New Mexico, and she asked to do the
Triangle nomination as part of her course requirements. Needless to say, we were delighted.
Jay and Jason Bernhardt of the Route 66 PULSE Newspaper bid $500 on Certificate #66 and
have donated it to the Old Route 66 Association of Texas. It will be proudly displayed in the
Triangle Motel Office.
In looking through a fine collection of old Amarillo photographs circa 1965, collected by
Ronn Wood, the old post card of the Triangle Motel is included. We were also delighted
with the picture of the street sign located in downtown Amarillo at 6th and Polk, with the
caption, "Many astronomers feel this is the Exact Center of the Universe". Sixth Street is
the continuation of Amarillo Blvd., Route 66, through the antique shop section. Then it
returns to Amarillo Boulevard West and Old Route 66 on the west side of town. We want to
thank Ronn for adding a link to the Triangle web site.
Did you know that Route 66 is now listed on the International List of Historical Endangered
Sites? When this article appeared in newspapers, the picture included was of the Triangle
Motel's office.
We have also found that the historic Triangle Motel on Route 66 in Amarillo is probably the
only site on the Mother Road to be banked by Route 66 on both sides. When the City dug for
sewer lines, they found the original Route 66 concrete beneath the asphalt on Triangle Drive
to where it meets Amarillo Blvd E., the new Route 66, banking the triangular motel site on both sides, and sides, giving the motel its name.
We now have a chance to save this historical treasure for future generations to
enjoy, if we can raise enough money to match. It will add to the historical treasures
restored on Route 66. It will help attract Route 66 "Roadies" from all over the world to
the Texas Panhandle
Adopt a Brick
Our "Adopt a Brick on Route 66" camaign is still helping. Adoption checks are coming in, even with the economy the way it is, and they are so much help. Perhaps they'll be used for gifts again, especially those who have family that have moved away from the Panhandle. People have said, "It's like a breath of fresh air from home." We've gotten some wonderful comments on the certificates we've mailed out. Others have started ordering them now for children and grandchildren, so their family members can also experience the overwhelming pride of helping restore this vital site right in the middle of an American Heritage, Route 66.
The 10 Top States in our Adopt-a-Brick Campaign are TX, OK, CA, IL, SD, CO, OH, MI, AK, AZ.
People in 17 states, and every state along Route 66, have helped. We also proudly list Canada,
Belgium and Australia as countries with people who want to help see that this historic treasure i
is restored for generations in the future to enjoy seeing where their parents, greats- and grands
may have stayed if they made that historic trip to California seventy years ago.
This the listing of the 10 Top Leading States in the Adoptions. I’m writing it up rather like a horse
race below. Hope you enjoy it, and that you’ll want to help your State to be
a contender in the race.
Right now, the 10 Top States are TX, OK, CA, IL, SD, CO, OH, MI, AK, AZ.
This is fun, keeping track of the generous people who truly want to be a part of the Triangle restoration. This is my summary, written as a horse race.
Texas is still galloping away in the lead, as it should, since this highly significant icon is in the 'Texas
Tower'. Four more TX entries. One Californian is moving back to TX and wants to be aTexas entry,
so we're delighted. Oklahoma is picking up speed with three more entries. Califoria and Illinois have
surged ahead of South Dakota (my home state, which did pretty well while we were home for Mother's
Memorial). Colorado and Ohio are still in a dead heat. Missouri and Arkansas are not far behind, and
Arizona is now the 10th State. More entries have come in from Iowa, so they are nearly close enough
to be in the next "Top Ten". Isn't that great? There are some wonderful people out there who want to
be included in reaching this historical goal ! Thank you!
Special Thanks!!!
I want to take this opportunity to also extend many many thanks to Crocodile Lile, Past-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. That Association is sure going to miss him. Incidentally he has moved to Amarillo, and set up his Art Shop in the Fine Art Mall at 10th and Western. When you're in the area, he'd love to see you come by. Route 66 is well represented--pictures and paintings. He has an elegant display. And I never knew that he built clocks.
Now to brag a bit more about another special man. What a thrill to share the pride of my son, Alan McNeil, who has the dream, drive and dedication to save the historical Triangle Motel from being demolished, and restore it once again to a fine classic motel, a treasured icon once more for Route 66ers. And I'm so proud he's my son. How I wish my parents could know about it. Somehow, I'm sure they do.
When the Triangle Motel project is finished, 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. Impressive-looking back then, especially with those graceful rounded corners, it stood out as a
unusually attractive architectural site. Now it will be a wonderful restored historical feature.
New addition!
My husband Claude and I attended the Texas Historic Landmark Dedication of the wonderfully gracious home of Ben and Myrna Loy Smith at 4841 W 9th, on August 15. Their son Berry gave the welcoming speech. The Boy Scout Troop #86 gave the Presentation of Colors and the crowd participated in the correct Pledge of Allegiance. Rows of chairs from the Garden Society gave seating for first arrivals, and older citizens. There were probably 15 or 20 seats in each row, and about half a dozen rows, plus the many many people filling the front lawn to make an unexpectedly huge crowd. Young singers from the Amarillo Opera gave a great performance.
Myrna Loy Smith gave an inspiring talk on their beautiful home. Many of her family members were there, some who had also grown up in the house, and grands- and greats as well. She told about the huge house being moved from Taylor Street to 9th and Avondale by well digging equipment from Odessa and other interesting facts during the years. What a tremendous project!
And their home is absolutely beautiful, filled with artifacts, paintings, gorgeous mirrors, antique glassware including much ruby and some cranberry--it was like being in a museum--but a homey one. The tour through the home was fabulous.
Wes Reeves, President of the Amarillo Historical Society, introduced a number of people in the audience: the President of the Potter County Historical Society, theTysons from the Amarillo Foundation, and several others. Then he introduced me, saying my son was restoring the historical Triangle Motel. I was so surprised I couldn't even stand up, but I did wave like mad.
Wes Reeves and Berry Smith unveiled the distinctively unique Historical Marker, and it looks so grand standing in front of their home. What an honor! The Boy Scouts gave their Retirement of the Colors, and the choir sang more songs.
The Smith's have donated the home to the Texas State Historical Society so it can be celebrated as a true Texas treasure. It was a marvelous and a moving morning, and the weather contributed by being absolutely perfect.
