Baby Boomer Memories: Trolley car had long run as home to popular restaurants
The Berkshire Hills, a 1902 trolley car built in Springfield for the Berkshire Street Railway, traversed routes in four states before being converted into a popular diner. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JIM SHULMA
From The Berkshire Eagle: Most Berkshire baby boomers remember the Holly K and Coachlite restaurants once located at 1485 West Housatonic St. in Pittsfield.
These eateries had an interesting history with several owners and different names over a 50-plus year period they served food.
Before becoming restaurants, the original main structure had actually been a trolley car owned by the Berkshire Street Railway, the only streetcar company with routes reaching into four states.
This trolley, named The Berkshire Hills, was built for the Berkshire Street Railway in 1902 by the Wason Manufacturing Co. of Springfield.
Denver’s Old Airport Tower is Now a ‘Social’ Diner/Bar
From New Country 99.1: Stapleton International Airport in Denver shut down 20 years ago. Today, the air traffic control tower building is a trendy hot spot for fun. Take a look.
Punch Bowl Social has about 20 locations across the U.S, including two in Denver. Imagine a cool diner with a bar and a bowling alley. That’s just the start.
They’re known for taking unique/historic buildings and turning them into these hot spots. The Stapleton one, which opened in November of 2017, is located at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Central Park Boulevard.
MORE THEATERS, FEWER SEATS PLANNED FOR BELLEVUE THEATER
The Bellevue Theater developers appeared before the zoning board to reveal more plans last week. ADAM ANIK/ FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL
From Montclair Local: The Bellevue Theater developers plan to create six theaters, more than the four housed previously in the facility when it closed in 2017, but with four hundred fewer seats.
The developers envision a family-friendly theater, running first-run movies and offering in-theater dining and beverage service to the occupants of the first class airline sized seats. Because the seats will be so large and there’s a need for ADA seating, the number of seats will be reduced by 45 percent. The facility will also offer an indoor/outdoor bar on the first floor and a restaurant on the second floor. More bathrooms will be incorporated, as will an elevator for the first time, according to testimony given at the Jan. 15 zoning board meeting by architect Paul Sionas. The theaters will range in size from 42 to 106 seats.
State Preservation Office Looking to Update Inventory of Route 66 Structures
CREDIT MATT TROTTER / KWGS
From Public Radio Tulsa: It’s time to take stock of Route 66.
The State Historic Preservation Office is looking to hire someone for a survey of the entire stretch of road in Tulsa and Oklahoma counties. Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Lynda Ozan says they’ll create an inventory of structures like movie theaters, gas stations and restaurants built during Route 66’s heyday, 1926–1985.
“And so, what we’re doing is looking for these historic structures that we may be able to help preserve and protect and save along Route 66, get people interested in saving resources and taking advantage of those tax credits to do so,” Ozan said.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE DECISION REVERSED BY SALIDA CITY COUNCIL
The awning in question in front of the Ghost Sign at the Manhattan Hotel Photo Courtesy of Salida City Council Packet Jan. 21
From Ark Valley Voice: Local business owner of the Boathouse Cantina and Manhattan Hotel Ray Kitson appeared before the Salida City Council on Tuesday evening to appeal a Dec. 26 decision by the Historic Preservation Committee that denied a Certificate of Approval for a shade structure at the Boathouse Cantina, located at 228 North F St. that had already been built. At the end of the contentious proceedings, two split decisions by City Council reversed the decision of the HPC to retroactively approve the structure, with Mayor P.T. Wood breaking the tie votes.