Route 66 in the News
Corner in Winslow May Have to Move
2004-10-25 20:17:26
It's a good thing the Eagles didn't say which corner they were standing on in Winslow, Ariz., in their hit "Take It Easy." That's because this city's centerpiece, Standin' on the Corner Park, may have to find a new home in the aftermath of a fire last week that destroyed a building next to the park.
Come on down: The fire incinerated a historic two-story building that its owner had hoped to turn into a mini-mall. About the only thing that wasn't gutted was an exterior wall, facing the park, that has murals depicting a street scene on Route 66 in the 1950s and "Winslow" emblazoned on the brick facade. It is the backdrop for photographs by tens of thousands of visitors annually who take in the city's main tourist attraction.
Wall of worry: The wall may have to be demolished if it is determined to be unstable. Inspectors said the wall has cracks in it, and they are examining it to see if it can be salvaged. "I'm glad many of the murals were just attached to the wall and weren't painted on it," said City Administrator John Roche Jr. "We may have to move the whole thing to another corner."
Signs of the time: Greg Hackler, former president of the Standin' on the Corner Foundation, isn't so sure that would work: "It's debatable whether the elements of the mural can just be moved because it was an elaborate process that put it in place. ... We may have to pay the same artist to come and do it again. It cost about $25,000 to do all that back in 1996 and 1997."
~from The Arizona Republic
Comments about this article? Tell us.
Need to Know More?
SEARCH Route 66 University.
Home : Our Campus : Maps : Businesses : Events
Study 66 : COMMUNITY : Photo Tour : Campus Rag : Catalog
