It’s been rumored for weeks, and it appears the Tulsa World has confirmed it — that Swinney’s Hardware in Tulsa, which has been operating since 1934, is set to close Aug. 1.

Swinney’s has a long association with historic Route 66. Swinney’s originally opened as a furniture store near Lewis Avenue and Admiral Place, the original Route 66 alignment in Tulsa. In 1941, it took over an existing hardware store at 32 S. Lewis Ave., which also is on the Admiral Place alignment, and went into the hardware business full-time.

Swinney’s also is well-known for its animated neon sign (see above).

However, not many Route 66 enthusiasts know about Swinney’s because hardware stores often aren’t necessary stops during road trips. Also, the Admiral Place alignment is the lesser-known way through town on Route 66.

The reason for Swinney’s impending demise isn’t surprising — sales dropped precipitously with the opening of the big-chain hardware stores in the 1990s. A Home Depot sits about three miles away.

Swinney’s hung in there because it prided itself in hard-to-find items:

The items include pumice stone polishing powder, old-style varnishes and window glaze, industrial cleaning aids and the WhirleyPop crank popcorn popping machine. John Swinney said their tung oil, used for treating outdoor furniture, is similar to what the Chinese used during construction of the Great Wall centuries ago.

Also among the inventory are bat houses. A sign on the front of the store advertises habitats for the flying, insect-eating mammals. [...]

Unable to keep up with their vast stocks, Swinney’s concentrated on smaller and harder-to-find items. John Swinney said his family’s store also has a big advantage in customer service.

“It’s not just about the items — it’s the knowledge,” he said. “The other stores don’t know anything about the more obscure items.”

According to the article, there’s still a “remote” chance that the store will be sold. Here’s hoping.

In the meantime, check out Swinney’s while you can. It’s a bit far from where I live in west Tulsa, but there’s almost always something worthwhile to pick up there.

(Photo courtesy of IndieTulsa.com)

The Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County announced this week it had secured a grant to install new windows at The Mill, a historic restaurant on Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill., that will be converted into a tourism center.

New windows doesn’t sound like much. But there are 40 of them in The Mill that were broken out since the circa-1929 restaurant closed more than a decade ago. Cost of the new windows is $17,000 to $18,000, reports the Lincoln Courier.

Covering the cost will be a grant from the Danner Trust, which aims to help historical sites around the county.

Also, the tourism bureau announced there will be a volunteer work day at The Mill on May 10. Those interested should call 217-732-8687.