Haunts along Route 66 October 6, 2007
Posted by Ron in Ghosts and Mysteries, Motels, Theaters.1 comment so far
Ghost stories abound along the old road that is Route 66. And it appears Flagstaff, Ariz., is lousy with them.
City historian James Hardy says there are multitudes of ghost stories and legends along Route 66 in town. You have a tree near the library that you should leave alone, a mischievous poltergeist at the Orpheum Theater, apparitions at the historic Monte Vista and Hotel Weatherford, and Mildred Milligan, who died unexpectedly at her parents’ house decades but apparently never moved out.
The Arizona Daily Sun has the details about the supposed ghosts and a weekly walking tour to check out those site during the month of October — ending after Halloween, appropriately enough.
Rest area October 6, 2007
Posted by Ron in Art, History, People, Photographs.add a comment
During a recent trip to New Mexico on Route 66, we stopped to check out an old cemetery near the settlement of Montoya.
A few graves predated the commissioning of Route 66, and burials occurred there as recently as 2005.
There are traditional engraved tombstones, including a fair number of markers for local soldiers of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.
But most of the grave markers are more of a homemade variety, with names, dates and messages scratched into still-wet concrete. Many graves are decorated with family momentoes, figurines of the Virgin Mary and Catholic saints, and even toys.
Some may think the cemetery appears ramshackle. But love obviously was a part of the placing of talismans and the homemade tombstones. I found the final resting place for Montoyans to be more moving than most traditional cemeteries.
For more, check out Redforkhippie’s post, along with a slideshow she created.
Santa Monica motel to become housing for mentally ill October 6, 2007
Posted by Ron in Motels.add a comment
It’s a bit of good news and bad news in this report by columnist Kevin Herrera of the Santa Monica (Calif.) Daily Press.
The bad news is that the Village Motel, which has sat at 2624 Santa Monica Blvd., aka Route 66, for more than 50 years, will soon no longer operate as a lodging establishment.
The good news is the Village Motel will be converted into Daniel’s Village, an eight-unit transitional housing complex for young adults who are in the early stages of mental illness. The motel is being bought by Step Up, a mental health provider, and the City of Santa Monica for $2.4 million. Without the housing, the youths are in danger of living on the streets and being homeless.
It’s sad that the Village Motel will no longer be a motel. But it’s good that it will remain useful.
