Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

May 7, 2014

Gettin' My Kicks on Route 6

Did you know that Route 6 stretches from Bishop, California all the way across the USA (3,205 miles) to it's terminus at Provincetown?  Around here, it was the main route to New York before the interstates were built in the 1950s.  What I refer to as 'The Mid Cape Highway' is 6. It's also known as 'The Grand Army of the Republic Highway".  You can read about the history of the highway HERE.

Last year when we were helping my youngest stepson look for a car, we took 6 from Wareham out past New Bedford and I really enjoyed the ride.  I made a mental note to make sure that I planned a photography road trip.  We also drove right past that cool part of Fairhaven I was in last summer with my cousins when we went to Fort Phoenix.  The original plan was to go as far as Fairhaven but Russell suggested I continue into New Bedford to check out the historic waterfront.  I've always thought of the cities of SE Massachusetts as horrible, run down, crime ridden blips along I-195, and parts of them are.  But the bits off 6 are still pretty nice.  Not as kitschy as Rte. 66, but still has some cute places.  

I ended up shooting 210 pictures, mostly of the amazing architecture and old homes, plus tons in the New Bedford Whaling Museum.  I missed a few kitschy buildings on the way down there so I shot in places like Marion & Mattapoisett both going and coming.  In an attempt to break these down into viewable posts, I have condensed the pics from Marion & Mattapoisett as one entity.  The future posts will be of Fairhaven and New Bedford, respectfully.  Those of you who are my FB friends can view the album in its entirety over there.

Headed out from Wareham


Sadly there wasn't much to take pics of in Marion and I missed the road to the lighthouse, which is actually in Mattapoisett anyway!





I had to cut out the Chinese restaurant next door!  This is so delightfully retro.

Mattapoisett seems to have a seahorse theme.

It's a little crooked because I was driving and shooting!!



Technically this McDonalds is in Fairhaven.  Not sure if it's a new restaurant built to look old, or really one of the first ones.  I could only find some info on that old 'Speedee' logo which was used from the late 40s till 1967 when Ronald McDonald became the mascot of the franchise.

You don't see many of these oldies so I had to stop and get a snappy.  I did not, however, get anything to eat there because, well, Ew.

I am already planning a Mattapoisett 'do over' because of missing the lighthouse.

18 comments:

  1. Such an interesting tour! That crooked photo has a peculiar building in it.
    I'd like to try fresh seafood sandwiches!! I'm sure they are much much better than Mc )

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    1. If you like seafood sandwiches, this is the place to visit. You can get them everywhere, and I do mean EVERYWHERE! Sadly I am allergic to shellfish so I am unable to eat lobster rolls, fried clam strips, shrimp, etc.

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  2. I love all of the Old Timey buildings. You don't see many of those Old Style Mickey D's any longer.

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    1. This is the first one I've seen in a wicked long time!

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  3. I would put that sea horse in my yard. Would that be tacky?

    Well I don't know about Route 6, but Route 66 is not far me--whether I go south or east, I can jump on.

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    1. Teresa it's my dream to do 66 someday!!! You are so lucky to live near it. Looks like my Rte 6 doesn't go into MO though.

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  4. I love seeing the old retro shots like this, JoJo. And I'm glad you're going back for the lighthouse, I like those too. Route 66 has always intrigued me. It's the road that's important, and the idea of motoring 'west'.

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    1. I hope we get to do 66 someday. That would be sooo awesome. I would take thousands of pics!

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  5. Anonymous1:21 PM

    I love the Old McDonald's! Fun!! So, what is an ice cream Lobster Roll? I'm so very confused. The only one I know is sushi and it's delicious.

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    1. I think an ice cream lobstah roll would be pretty gross. lol

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  6. Wonderful trip down memory lane. Enjoyed seeing all the vintage and retro establishments via your great photos.

    It's a shame that progress many times spells the demise of things like the old Rt. 66 with all its quirky charm - "See the World's Largest Ball of String" - "Stop in and see the Two Headed Ostrich and buy some Cactus Candy". And then there were all those marvelous Brylcreem signs that dotted the roadside. They also had a catchy jingle: "Brylcreem. A little dab'll do ya. Brylcreem. You'll look so debonair. Brylcreem. The gals'll all pursue ya, They'll love to run their fingers through your hair." :D
    Oh Lord the trivia that I retain !

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    1. A local farm in Washington had a corn maze (or maize maze as I liked to call it) and they advertised along Hwy 410 in the Brylcreem style. It was really cute and amusing but the DOT took them down after a couple days. But you do get to see something like it on the way to Wall Drug, in South Dakota. So many signs and billboards.

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  7. How fun! Love the giant seahorse. Are you going to take route 6 all the way to bishop?

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    1. Well that would be really cool if we could actually do that.....like take Rte 66 out to California and return on 6. That would be a blast.

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  8. What cool places! I've seen a McDonald's similar to that in Chicago...there are some unique McDonald's out there...they're just hard to find!

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    1. I tried to find info on this McDonalds to see if it's really old or built to look old but I couldn't find anything on the net.

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  9. Very cool shot of that unique looking McDonalds!

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