Introducing

My name is Willem Bor and I’m from the Netherlands. And now I hear you thinking, why a guy from the Netherlands makes a blog named Route 66 Art? My wife (Monique) and I fell in love with the Route 66 on our first visit in 2005. Since that time we visited the Mother Road several times. One of my hobby’s is photography and I’m so glad that it’s digital now because I make so many pictures along the Route 66! There are so many nice old buildings, hotels, service stations and not to mention, all the beautiful (neon)signs. I started this blog because I want to share some of my photos with others.

Another hobby is to make scale models of all kinds of things. In 2008 I’ve started my own business after the company I worked for, went bankrupt. In 2008 the business went very well. In 2009 the recession started and business slowed down. In 2010 it’s even worse and I’ve got a lot of spare time. What to do….!

I started to make Lucille’s Roadhouse (1927) in Hydro OK (scale 1:25). The next project is a scale model of a renovated 66 Super Service Station (1930) in Alanreed TX (scale 1:25). There’s still no work at all so my next project is the Little Juarez diner (1950s) in the ghost town of Glenrio TX (scale 1:25). On the picture we made, it seems as if there is another name on the sign under the name that we can read and I’ve mailed to some Route 66 Associations if they know what the name of the diner was. And then we got an email from Judy….!!

Judy Wallmark, Treasure Hunter for the Route 66 Museum in Lebanon MO, mailed that there is an incomplete diorama in the museum and asked me if I was interested to complete the diorama! What an honor!! But I make models in scale 1:25 and after a lot of emails, I found out that this model is a lot smaller (scale 1:100)! In between I made another Route 66 icon, the Twin Arrows Trading Post (1955) near Winona AZ (scale 1:25).

After receiving a lot of pictures and the measurements of the diorama spaces the work began! Shopping for materials, wood, glue, paint and some tools. It took a lot of hours re-building the Nelson Tavern (1930). There were only some old postcards and pictures and mostly from the front. So…. how was the back of the Tavern looking? But after a lot of thinking, cutting, sawing, painting etc. the Tavern started to look like how it was on the pictures. In June 2010 me and Monique brought the Nelson Tavern personally to Lebanon and there was an official unveiling. We were celebs for a day!!!

Also in 2010 we were on the site of the burned-down Riviera Roadhouse (1928) in Gardner IL. It was burned down two weeks earlier. At home I’ve searched the internet for pictures and John Weiss (Route 66 Association of Illinois) send me some too. And I make a scale model of the Riviera Roadhouse and the Streetcar (scale 1:100). HELP, I need a bigger house……..!!

The Riviera is followed by another place that is closed unfortunately. It’s a place in Villa Ridge MO, the Diamonds, the biggest Roadside Restaurant in the world. Joe Sonderman made some pictures for me and took some measurements. That one I had to make scale 1:100 because else it’s too big. Now I’m working on a model of a Standard Oil Gasoline Station in Odell IL (1932) (scale 1:25). As I said before…..I need a bigger house because I can’t stop making scale models!!
 

USA 2012

Route 66 here we come!!! In June 2012 we're going to deliver some scale models to the Route 66 Museum in Lebanon MO. But first we are going to meet Ken the Landrunner and his wife Melissa in Oklahoma City. From OK to Lebanon MO we drive the Route 66. In Lebanon we will meet several people, Judy and Cathy from the Museum, Ramona and Bob from Munger Moss, Jerry and Lynda, maybe Gary from Gary´s Gay Parita and we will meet Rich Dinkela for a interview for the Show me Route 66 magazine and to sign the hood of his Route 66 truck.

Gary's Gay Parita

Paris Springs, Missouri

Gary's Gay Parita, Paris Springs MO (1:25).

The Gay Parita Station of today is one man's tribute to America's Main Street and the bygone way of life it symbolizes. That man's name is Gary Turner.

After retiring from a colorful working life, Gary decided he wanted to “keep the past from slipping away,” so he acquired from his brother-in-law, Steve Faucett, what we now know as Gay Parita—a reproduction of an early-twentieth-century Sinclair gasoline station. The original Gay Parita station had been established back in the 1930s by a couple named Fred and Gay Mason, and the original native-stone garage from that early era still stands on the property.

Stop by and make a friend: Gary wants you to have one of his personalized postcards as a keepsake of your trip of a lifetime on old U.S. 66.

Quote from: Route 66 University

Gary's Gay Parita

Happy Easter

Odell Station in miniature

Route 66 News

     
Posted by Ron Warnick in Art, Gas stations. 

Willem Bor, a resident of the Netherlands who has created miniature versions of Route 66 landmarks, has finished a new one — the historic Odell Station in Odell, Ill., in 1/25th scale. Bor even made a miniature of the travel trailer that sits next to it.
  

 

 

More of Bor’s work can be seen here, here, and here.
Also, Bor’s Route 66 Art blog shows more of his work.

(Photos courtesy of Willem Bor)

Source: Route 66 News

Biography Ken Turmel - Route 66 PostmarkArt

Ken Turmel was born October 19, 1956, directly on Route 66 (Santa Monica Blvd.), just a few blocks from route's end in Santa Monica, California and has been cruising somewhere heading someplace along the Mother Road each and every year to date since his very first roadtrip with his Mother and Father in 1959. He graduated from El Camino Real High School in the San Fernando Valley in 1974. Upon graduation, he enlisted into the United States Air Force later that same year. Throughout his entire military tour of duty, Ken remained in the top ten percent of his training classes in the radio communications career field.

After his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1979, he joined the ranks of the United States Postal Service as a mail clerk and retired from his position in 1994, after 20 years of dedicated Federal Government service. Ken was extremely versatile during his postal career, for he had acquired the knowledge and skills of 35 different jobs and positions. He received several awards and certificates of recognition for his suggestions and ideas to postal management. Ken is also a song writer, producer/engineer and part-time musician. From 1982 until 1987, he owned and operated a multi-track recording studio. Two songs, which Ken wrote and recorded in 1985, have received regional airplay in the central Oklahoma area.

In the spring of 1993, the Oklahoma "Cherokee Strip Land Run" postage stamp was introduced by the United States Postal Service. That sparked Ken to put his music career on the back burner for a while, in order to concentrate on a "new idea" that he had. Ken will always admit that this new idea came to him in a dream from the Lord. He woke up one morning and promptly put his dream to work and the result is what he calls "PostmarkArt."

His "PostmarkArt" artworks consists of mint postage stamps placed on colorful, hand-painted backgrounds of state border outlines. These very large pieces of artworks are then hand-carried to hundreds of post offices throughout the United States, specifically for the purpose of acquiring historically significant postmarks to be placed directly atop the original artwork background. Each postmark is inked in its own city and mile by mile the artwork blossoms into a wonderful collage masterpiece. His methodical procedure of personally delivering each artwork to each and every post office is never compromised. The artworks are never mailed to accomplish this tedious task. Besides that, creating a large PostmarkArt project is extremely time and cost sensitive, and Ken would never let the original artworks get very far from his sight.

The "pictorial postmarks" which were placed on the artworks, commemorating specific celebrations along Ken's postmarking routes, have all expired and have been destroyed by the postal service according to regulations. This means that the PostmarkArts become historical documents at the same time as they are being created. These works have been acclaimed to be a "first of its kind" by over 1000 postmasters and postal officials, including many confirmations from various museums, collectors and professional artists.

Frequently dubbed as "the land runner", Ken has accumulated well over 150,000 miles of travel gathering postmarks and autographs within a 20 state region. Besides his Route 66, Texas and Oklahoma projects that have been completed, he is also working on some new and interesting PostmarkArt projects which include the topics of the Lincoln Highway, California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Ken believes that someday soon, all the postmarks he has acquired will be "lost in time" and will be no longer available as more and more post offices are closed down. His plans are to keep landrunning for postmarks for as long as he can.

ROUTE 66 POSTMARKART:
"Route 66 and More..." is the first and original Route 66 Historic Artwork document to actually travel city to city along the entire length of the Mother Road from Chicago to Los Angeles.

The completed documentation project was released as a museum quality limited edition of only 2,448 signed and numbered prints commemorating the 70th anniversary of Route 66. This beautiful masterpiece is more than an ordinary memorabilia item. "Route 66 and More..." is truly a historical document commemorating the 70th Anniversary of Route 66. From 1995 to 1997, the original artwork piece was hand carried into every post office that still existed along the route. Each postmark was inked directly onto the artwork in its own city. An effort, that all diehard Route 66 enthusiasts can appreciate, and one that could never be duplicated again.

Noted Landrunner and postmark artist, Ken Turmel, accumulated over 28,600 miles of cross-country travel in order to acquire all of the special commemorative "pictorial postmarks" on Route 66, that were officially issued by the U.S. Postal Service during that time period. Many of these postmarks are no longer available, as post offices have closed, making this artistic document an even more important historical piece.

During his adventures and travels, Ken has met with many Route 66 VIP's, some of whom have graced the original artwork with their signatures. These include people such as Bobby Troup, who wrote the song Get Your Kicks on Route 66; Jim Rogers, son of the late Will Rogers; Martin Milner, actor in the 1960-1964 CBS Route 66 television series; Lucille Hamons, legendary store/motel/filling station owner since 1941; Ron Shutiva, Acoma Tribal Governor in New Mexico, Keith Birdsong, artist of the Indian Dances U.S. postage stamps; Michael Wallis, author of the award winning Route 66: The Mother Road; Hody Porterfield, a "well versed" mountain man at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas; Ira Letterman, retired Missouri Highway Patrolman of 36 years on Route 66; Jerry McClanahan, Route 66 artist/historian "extraordinaire"; Jim Ross, Route 66 historian and author of Oklahoma Route 66, Bob Waldmire; famous "Bird's Eye View" pen and ink artist and 17 other extremely interesting guests.

Each "PostmarkArt" Route 66 document is a limited edition lithograph reproduction, which has been created in full color of the actual size of the original artwork. The documents are printed on museum archival, acid free 80 pound linen stock. Each is individually hand signed and numbered by the artist. This exclusive one-time edition was limited to only 2,448 prints -- representing one print for each mile of Route 66. Less than 500 prints remain available in the series.

To date, several post offices have already closed their doors for good and nine out of the 29 guests who graced the artwork with their signature have since passed away.

To own your own signed and numbered historic milestone print visit: www.Route66Artwork.com

ENDORSEMENT:"This stunning artwork is not only a fitting tribute to our beloved Mother Road, it is truly a piece of tangible history that will always be cherished by Road Warriors yet unborn."
-- Michael Wallis, Author of Route 66: The Mother Road --

ARTWORK PHOTO:

ARTWORK PHOTO CLOSE-UP VIEW:

Beware of Artists

Somewhere on the Route 66...

Click on the picture...
  

Scale Models, Standard Oil Co.

Odell, Illinois

This beautiful old gas station was built in 1932 and served travelers on Route 66 until the mid 1960s when it stopped selling gas. This station then was used as a body shop until it closed its doors in 1975. Years of neglect took their toll on this old Standard station. The station would have disappeared if it had not been for the preservation efforts of the Illinois Route 66 Association and their Preservation Committee. A total of $55,000, from grants, matching funds and donations was raised to restore this station to its former glory - not bad for a grass roots effort.

John and Lenore Weiss were the driving force behind this restoration. These two, along with the dedicated volunteers from the Preservation Committee, did what others said couldn't be done. Hampton Inn® even donated $10,000 for this worth while project. In fact it could be said that the Odell Station preservation project was the start of Hampton's interest in Route 66 with their Save-A-Landmark® project. Now this station has been restored to its former glory. The Odell Station may not sell gas anymore, but it has become a Mecca for the Route 66 road wanderer and is the focus of many car rallies and motorcycle tours.

Quote from: The Road Wanderer

Almost ready...

Standard Oil Co., Odell (1:25)

 

Scale Models, Riviera Roadhouse

Gardner, Illinois

Gardner's Gangster's Hangout


The Riviera Roadhouse in Gardner has a fascinating history. Jack Rittenhouse mentions it in his guide book as a cafe at the intersection of the road into Gardner and Route 66. The Riviera Restaurant and Tavern was built in 1928. James Girot, a South Wilmington businessman, moved buildings from Gardner and South Wilmington and put them all together to form the Riviera structure as it stands today. The Riviera is a true roadhouse! Once movie legends Gene Kelly and Tom Mix regularly stopped here. This was a favorite haunt of Al Capone and was known as a gangster hangout too. Slot machines and booze were offered to the discrete customer during prohibition. In fact, there's a freezer in the basement with a heavy iron door that was used to hide booze and gambling machines in case of a raid.

Today the Riviera still serves the traveler a good home cooked meal and a stop at the Riviera is to step back in time to the 1930s and 1940s. Speaking of stepping back, while at the Riviera make sure to step out back and see the old Streetcar Diner. The Streetcar Diner is a preservation project of the Illinois Route 66 Association. The Preservation Committee rescued it from destruction and are in the process of restoring it now.

The streetcar is over one hundred years old and yes it truly was a horse drawn streetcar at one time. In 1932 George Kaldem purchased it with the intention of converting it into a roadside diner and moved the streetcar to Gardner. This was a no-frills operation, simple and to the point. A small sign on the exterior identified it as a diner, and its reputation for good food soon brought in the customers. For a while it was even used as an unofficial bus stop for the Greyhound line. The diner closed in 1939 but its history was not complete yet. Over the years it became a summer cottage, a children’s playhouse and rental property for workers at the Joliet Arsenal in W.W. II. In 1955 Gordon Gunderson who had married the daughter of Jim Girot, original owner of the Riviera Restaurant purchased the streetcar, and the streetcar was moved once more to its present location behind the Riviera.

It was used as a place for family reunions, picnics, lodging for fisherman and eventually a storage shed. Over the years the diner fell into disrepair until John Weiss, the President of the Illinois Route 66 Preservation Committee discovered it. Restoration then began on this historic streetcar and diner from the early days of Route 66. The dinner is not quite complete yet, but knowing the Illinois crew it will be soon! Thanks guys for preserving a part of our past in Gardner.

Quote from: The Road Wanderer

Scale Model Riviera Roadhouse (1:100)

Fire destroys Riviera Restaurant

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

GARDNER — Much history went up in smoke Tuesday when flames leveled the Riviera Restaurant on Old Route 66, a reputed favorite hangout of Chicago mobster Al Capone. Authorities were not saying earlier today if arson was involved. However, investigators were checking the smoking embers this morning, and Gardner Fire Chief Randy Wilkey said the site is currently being treated as a crime scene. Oddly enough, the front wall of the restaurant, still bearing the name, Riviera, remained standing while flames gutted the rest of the building Tuesday night. The wall was still in place earlier today, noted passerby Jim Serena, who was the second on the scene when the Gardner Fire Department was dispatched at 7:04 p.m. Tuesday to the site.

Built in 1928, the Riviera was 50 percent engulfed in flames when Gardner firefighters arrived. The restaurant is four to five miles north of the village on the “Mother Road,” as Old Route 66 is known. “Because of the structure of the building and its layout, the fire spread pretty rapidly”, Wilkey said today. “We set up a defense attack, and saved what we could save”. The Riviera has been closed, and no one was in the restaurant, nor the living quarters at the back of the structure, at the time of the blaze. “It had been closed down, and had gone back to the original owners”, Wilkey said. “There was a leasee who was leasing the building, and he had backed out of his lease. The building was unoccupied. Both the residential and commercial sections of the building were unoccupied”.

The building’s history was known throughout the state, and had spread as far as Europe, Wilkey said, recalling the many Europeans who have regularly stopped at the Gardner Fire Station, local police department and other establishments through the years for directions to the site“. They were fascinated”, he said.
More than 23 area fire departments were at the scene Tuesday. Due to some miscommunication with a couple of police dispatch centers, some fire departments were delayed in their response.“Whether the dispatch centers were overwhelmed, I can’t answer that question”, Wilkey said. “All I know is, we had some area departments that should have been there that were not dispatched to be there”.

Article from:  Morris Daily Herald

Scale Models, Lucille's

Hydro, Oklahoma

This classic old gas station is only one of two out-thrust porch/live over style stations left on Oklahoma's Route 66 today. It is also the childhood home of my very good friend Cheryl Nowka. She's the daughter of Lucille Hamons ~ the Mother of the Mother Road. Lucille's was established right on Route 66 in 1941 and a nation on the move has passed right by this old station. Cheryl has told me stories of her childhood growing up above the gas pumps and for me this was a special stop. I could imagine a young Cheryl Nowka around getting into all sorts of mischief here. The more I travel up and down Route 66 the more I realize that the Mother Road community is one big family ~ sometimes dysfunctional ~ but one big family non-the-less.

Quote from: The Road Wanderer

Lucille's, Hydro (1:25)

Scale Models, Super Service Station

Alanreed, Texas

Just a few miles west of McLean is the old Route 66 town of Alanreed. The glory days are over for this Mother Road Town - the Interstate brought those days to an end. Now it is a quiet little spot on the old highway. There is a nicely restored gas station though thanks to the efforts of the Historic Route 66 Association of Texas. Perhaps part of Alanreed's fascinating Route 66 history has to do with one of the most treacherous sections of Route 66 ~ the infamous Jericho Gap.

Quote from: The Road Wanderer

Super Service Station, Alanreed (1:25)

Scale Models, Little Juarez Diner

Glenrio, Texas

The quaint cafe is silent too, its paint peeled and sandblasted by the elements. The gas stations are mere shells of their former selves, and the post office hasn't received mail in decades. Glenrio is dead, except for the lonely dogs that wander its silent streets. Photo opportunities abound in this highway ghost town and it is a fine place to stop and explore, to reflect on the passing of time, and wonder what the future holds for this silent sentinel of Route 66.

Quote from: The Road Wanderer

Little Juarez Diner, Glenrio (1:25)

Scale Models, Nelson Tavern

Lebanon, Missouri

Nelson Tavern, Lebanon (1:100)