FLAVOR COMFORTS of the of
40's TODAY
TRIANGLE MOTEL
7954 East Amarillo Blvd.
Amarillo, TX 79107
Route 66
Buyer and President Alan J McNeil
Secretary Marianne McNeil Logan
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EXCITING NEWS!!!
The Triangle Motel is now listed on the National Registry of Historical Places.
About three weeks ago, I sent out an email that the Triangle Motel had been unanimously approved by the National Registry List for Historical Places. It's been like a whirlwind since then. I sent out some emails to Route 66 friends, teling them about it and that the registration papers will be made out in Mrs. Price's name unless Alan is the owner. He owed $3,600 to pay the motel completely off. She is preparing the final paper work now.
However, there are several properties on the Deed of Trust that need to be taken off. She has a surveyor working on the details, then it can be paid off and in Alan's name.
Kaisa Barthuli from National Park Service gave me the name of the lady at the Texas Historical Commission to contact about the change of ownership and get it listed in Alan's name. I've talked to her and she's anxiously waiting, too.
On 10/10/10, we received an email from Dale Butel, in Australia, saying he was sending $100, and if 35 more generous people would join him, the motel would be clear of debt.
I think it's a miracle that a man halfway across the world would come up with such an awesome idea to help us. And the Route 66ers are fabulous with their help. Thank you.
Part of the amount received included a $1,000.00 check from David Wickline, author of Images of Route 66. Years ago, he stopped and inspected the Triangle. It was covered with stacks of trash and debris, and weeds shoulders high. He could see the powerful potential, and thought seriously about restoring it. However, he lived in Ohio with his family, and had a business there. As he considered, he had an overwhelming feeling that someone else in the near future was going to be restoring the motel, and found peace in that knowledge. So he was delighted when he got Croc's email that it was being restored, and wanted to be part of it. His contribution helped so much.
Would you talk to some of your friends or perhaps groups where you are a member and see if they still might be interested in helping? There is an awfullly lot left to do. If you want to help, it will really be appreciated. Send donations to this paypal email addresss
ajm.trianglert66@yahoo.com.
MORE NEWS, AND THIS ONE IS A WHOPPER!!!
So I'll be sure to have everything right, I've pasted these messages just as they came.
Did you hear that the State Board of Review unanimously voted to recommend
the Triangle Motel for listing on the National Register of Historic Places
on September 24th? The Commission will now forward it to State Historic
Preservation Officer Mark Wolfe for signature, then to the Keeper of the
National Register in Washington, D.C.. Upon receipt of it, the Keeper will
have 45 days to take action to finally list it on the National Register.
Congratulations to everyone!!!!
Kaisa Barthuli
Program Manager
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
National Trails System - Intermountain Region National Park Service
PO Box 728
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-0728
This was received 10/10/10 from Crocodile Lile, Amarillo, Past President of
Old Route 66 Association of Texas, after Dale Butel, Australia,
Route 66 Tours, contacted him with this awesome suggestiion.
Below is what I received from Alan McNeil's mother, Marianne McNeil Logan
( BTW, she is a famous poet ). Dale Butel from Australia (
www.route66tours.com.au ) has offered to give a $100 donation to help pay
off the Triangle Motel & he says if we can get 35 more to do the same Alan
can pay it off......or 70 people to donate $50...........or 175 people to
donate $20. Dale, Marianne, Alan & I want to make it happen and we are excited.
WILL YOU HELP US? Website for the Historic Triangle Motel is:
www.trianglemotelrt66.com and their mailing address is: 7954 Amarillo Blvd.
East, Amarillo, TX 79107. When Alan gets it paid off he can put his money
into restoration.
Thanx,
croc Texas 66
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.
NOW: Alan now has all the windows replaced, seven scalloped awnings cut out, primed, and in the process of being painted, and doors are being finished.
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. The last payment from the National Park Service was received. We hope to start the electrical and plumbing portion soon.
We might need some historical help to get the City’s approval on some of the projects. The
North Wing is looking great. Alan and his crew have worked so hard and gotten so much
done. By the time of the International Route 66 Festival June 9-12 in Amarillo, we hope some of the "roadies" will want to help with painting.
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 gracefully curved corners made the motel a standout
70 years ago, and it will be once 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 find the funding. It will add to the historical treasures already restored on Route 66 and 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 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!
If you prefer to use Pay pal for a donation, email paypal account ajm.trianglet66@yahoo.com
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 great restored historical feature.
Be sure to visit my other website.
www.poetmariannelogan.com.
