Remember these?... all along the interstates..

[Stig / Major Tom]

Must have been some kind of Beautify America campaign years ago - these big billboards have all been moved way back for the interstate highways. This one faces I-70.





(Guard Rail Story: my late Grandpop used to use the guard rail near his VFW to guide him around the bend & over the creek, on his way home after a couple of refreshments with his buddies. I inherited his Dodge "Volar" (he'd knocked most of the E's off of it). If I slammed the door too hard more bondo would fall off of that right side*. Between his cataracts and the refreshments - his piloting was a 'caution'.)

Stig
* for a few years I was single-parenting 3 little kids. They always made me stop and let them out of that Volar at least 3 blocks from school. I didn't let my new wife see that side of the car until I had a ring on her. She was OK with marrying an older man with 3 kids in tow - but I was afraid that Volar might be a deal breaker

[Kansas kymco]

Lady Bird Johnson's beautify America campaign.  All new billboards a had a certain set back from the highway.

[Kansas kymco]

Before all the interstates roads were completed I remember taking 2 lane highways in the sixties going to Canada to visit family.  We went through lots of small towns.  I remember coming in from the dark highway to these small towns lit up with a sea of Neon lights.  They too were seen as a blight and mostly removed.  I can also remember hitting Dad up for some money to buy a pop and candy bar at the gas station  candy bar .10 cents and pop was .10 cents.

During my working career I used the  Interstate exclusively to go places on vacation because of the limited time.  Now retired I'm enjoying the two lane roads again along with small town cafes that still make home made food.

Remember motels where every room had it's own outside entrance?  Now the majority are hotels with inside passage to your room and multiple floors.

[Kansas kymco]

Stig- I had a Uncle like your Granddad.  I remember he had a new  Lincoln Continental town car he wiped the right side out on a bridge.