Limitations

Route 66 has completely overtaken my life. That’s not a complaint; it’s just a fact. Ever since the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association stepped down last fall I’ve been pulling double-duty. Most of the time it’s fine; sometimes it’s overwhelming. But it’s all getting done and things are continuing to move forward. This past weekend, we had our quarterly meeting in Canute, a small town in Washita County. Since that is several hours from Tulsa, Samantha and I hopped in the car on Saturday morning and made a weekend out of it.

Our first stop of the day was the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. We’d been wanting to visit for a while and timing just hadn’t worked out. Well, it was definitely worth the wait. The museum is built to tell the stories, or at least the overarching story, of the 39 tribes of Native Americans that were relocated to what is now Oklahoma. It was a stunning exhibit from the very beginning, where you sit in an immersive room, learning several tribes’ creation stories with stirring voice and beautiful image. One section called out how native culture has been historically misrepresented, something closely associated with the so-called “Glory Days” of Route 66. The upper floor held an exhibit of artifacts, the 19th-and-early-20th-century collection of which caused further erosion of tribal identity. Items were contrasted with their monetary value vs. their value to the culture. It was all very moving and I left feeling not unlike I did after visiting the bombing museum in Hiroshima or the Holocaust exhibit in Kansas City a while back.

Afterwards, Sam and I discussed the visit over lunch – each of us brimming with thoughts about what we’d seen. We continued west, stopping again to check on the progress at the Bridgeport Pony Bridge west of El Reno.

The nearly 4,000-ft-long bridge, which opened on July 17th, 1934 as it happens, is undergoing a massive overhaul. The distinctive pony trusses are being rehabbed while the bridge deck is being replaced, slightly wider and better supported. The trusses will be re-attached to preserve the visual aesthetic the bridge is famous for. This was my first time visiting since the project began in October and I was happy to get a closer look at the pony truss sections, which were sitting in a nearby field. Some were rehabbed and freshly painted while others were still waiting for their turn. The bridge project is evidently ahead of schedule, with a great deal of the new decking already in place. It will be finished well before the Route 66 Centennial I’m happy to report.

Our end-point for the day was Weatherford; I wanted to experience the Best Western that we’d worked with as a host hotel for the upcoming Route 66 Cruise in conjunction with the Texas Association. (Spoiler alert: the motel is great!) Just a few minutes after we arrived, I had to head out again. The mayor of nearby Clinton was available for a visit. And we had a big topic to discuss.

Clinton has held on to two vintage Route 66 motels over the years: the Glancy Motor Court and the Trade Winds Inn. Both were sadly run into the ground by dispassionate owners and fell into disrepair, catering to those that literally had nowhere else to go and often brought their problems with them. The Trade Winds, known for the room that Elvis Presley stayed in and its longtime owner, Walter “Doc” Mason, had just recently been demolished. It was next to a school and the conditions could no longer be tolerated. Only the modern, plastic sign stood and I’m sure it’s not long for this world.

Also not long for this world: the Glancy. There’ll be a much longer write-up about its history, but the summary is not much different than the Trade Winds. A once-thriving roadside motel, once operated by a beacon of the community, fell on hard times and became a nuisance property. Several attempts to revive the Glancy failed. It’s not a cut-and-dry story; there was a land dispute, developer finance issues, and the threat of Clinton losing a long-time employer unless land was available for development. All of that to say: the City of Clinton recently opened bids to demolish what’s left of Chester and Gladys Glancy’s namesake. My visit with the mayor was to see what else could possibly be done to save the property.

Short answer: nothing. It’s a done deal.

It was a very disappointing answer. On Sunday morning, Sam and I drove back to Clinton so I could spend some time taking photos of the motel…for what I assume will be the last time. It’s in about as bad of shape as it could be without literally falling to the ground. The City and the State Representative have both assured me that the sign will be saved. I hope that happens; it’s a real icon. The rest of our time before the meeting was spent cruising some of the original Portland Cement lanes of Old 66 and stopping in Elk City for lunch at 66 To Go. They have the best frozen custard in Oklahoma!

Canute, situated between Elk City and Clinton, clocked in shy of 500 people at the last census. But there’s a passionate movement to make sure the Centennial of Route 66 doesn’t pass them by like I-40 did. They’ve been doing what they can: sprucing up abandoned storefronts, painting murals, creating a little photo op scavenger hunt. Seriously, they do more for the Route 66 traveler than some towns ten times their size. It’s remarkable! They graciously offered to host our July Board Meeting in their community center.

The meeting itself was wonderful. Not only was most of our Board present (sometimes difficult when a meeting takes place in far west or east OK) but many people showed up from the region. We had over 30 folks at one point interested in what was going on with Route 66, wondering how they could be a part of it. The preservation group in Canute made food and even held a raffle for a few items they’d collected. I won a travel mug with Canute Route 66 on it! The whole experience was really lovely and a reminder that Cruising Route 66 isn’t really about the landmarks; it’s about the people.

Then came the worst part of the meeting: the drive home. As is my way, I drove while my mind slowly spun to madness with the things I needed to accomplish and the work that needed to be done. Sam, God bless her, has a keen sense of my well-being and sets my mind at ease. She recognizes my manic patterns and slows the spin. I know it’s not just talk; it’s the promise of Together. I truly don’t know how I would do half the things I do without her support and encouragement. She’s my everything — and she has followed me down this road with enthusiasm and a creative spirit. I wasn’t into Route 66 AT ALL when we met, if you can believe it. She is always asking, “What can I do to help?” I’m a lucky guy.

And that brings me back to knowing my limits. I can’t do all of this alone. I’m glad I don’t have to. I have the love and support of so many people and together we’re looking to the future with hope and optimism. That is no small thing these days.