History of the Interstate

chetjester · Jan 6, 2007

Jeff did a great job on this article. I had no idea Dwight D. was involved so early in making the interstates happen.

Of course, my great state of Texas (only been here since 1997) has the most highways. And, the least open weigh stations.

I remember as a boy traveling to Maine from Rhode Island to stay at my grandmother's house in Brooklin, ME (1950's and 60's). It was all US Rt. 1 until we finally hit the Maine Turnpike. It was so exciting to be on a turnpike. And the best thing was to stop at the Howard Johnsons. I think it was going north that we had to park the Ford station wagon, wake everybody up, go down some stairs and cross over to the restaurant through a tunnel under the highway. It was so exciting. We all looked forward to Howard Johnson BLT's. Like we couldn't make our own, huh? It was just that we had to walk under the highway to get there. And, it was 2 AM!!!!! Talk about an adventure for a 9 year old boy!!!!!

Thanks for the article, Jeff. We've come a long way.

Moot · Jan 6, 2007

Howard Johnson's BLts? What about the fried clams!

chetjester · Jan 6, 2007

I lived in Rhode Island. I had access to so much seafood. We had fish and chips every Friday at school and at home. We could walk down the street to the bay and dig our own clams and quahogs. That was before all the marinas and boats came in. I lived in a place called Oakland Beach in Warwick. We were surrounded on 3 sides by water. Naragansett Bay. But, this is off subject.

But, once we got to Maine, the crab rolls and lobster rolls couldn't be beat.

Moot · Jan 6, 2007

From Ike and the Pike to seafood, only on E.O. Chet I truely envy you growing up in seafood heaven. I love seafood. I didn't mean to imply that HoJo's fried clams were seafood. In fact they are probably more closely related to fossil fuel (oil, grease) than seafood.

When I first started driving, Howard Johnson had a lock on the Illinois oasis.(Oasises or whatever the plural of oasis is) I often had a craving for fried clams. I was younger then and so were my arteries.

Being a native Minnesotan I grew up eating walleye, smelt, walleye, perch, sunnies, bass, walleye and eel pout. (yes some parts are edible) I must also include pickled herring and pickled northern. I have never had lutefisk but I would try it at least once.

HoJo's and Stuckeys, things of the past and that might be a good thing!