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Date Posted: 13:29:38 03/24/12 Sat
Author: Leland Gaunt
Author Host/IP: NOHLWD-Public.lapl.org / 64.183.42.37
Subject: I am very sorry to hear about your long lost friend..
In reply to: LB 's message, "My best friend died in that crash. She was going to a sorority conference. She was a beautiful, intelligent and talented girl with an amazing future ahead of her. When she heard of the crash, her mother went to bed and never got up. We still talk about it today." on 11:50:13 03/24/12 Sat



Somehow both airliners were on a close similar path of one another at the time. Bad planning, bad timing, bad everything that day.

TWA & United Airlines would clash over the Grand Canyon as you well know LB.. Somehow some of the crash debri would fall into the Colorado River below or nearest the river..

We were traveling back to the middle west as we were on vacation in California at the time in 1956. Route 66 motels, hotels, inns and motor courts were booked up with news reporters, cameramen at the time..

My dad was so tired driving that day, we could not find any inns on Route 66 or nearest the famous highway at the time. We ended up in a flea bag of a motel off Route 66 in Joseph City, Arizona. Bloody sheets and rancid odor within the crummy motel complex room. With a few hours of shuteye my dad drove to Albuguergue, New Mexico the next day and ended up in an exclusive inn. Albuquergue was toward the east and pretty much out of the area of the disaster..

I am very sorry about the loss of your friend at the time. She didn't stand much of a chance with the tragic collision. I have visited the Grand Canyon in subsequent years of the 1970s; 1980s; 1990s. There is still some wreckage atop the buttes from either the TWA or the United Airlines. The wreckage debri is too hard to get to with the steep dropoffs and such..

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[> [> [> [> Additional thought... I'm very sorry to read about the girl's mother.. -- Leland Gaunt, 14:54:26 03/24/12 Sat (NOHLWD-Public.lapl.org/64.183.42.37)



That is a bitter pill to swallow. June 30th, 1956, somehow I always remember the date. Even today..

If you tour the south and north rims of the Grand Canyon, the guides will give mention to the 1956 TWA/United Airlines collision over the Grand Canyon..

A helicopter tour service which operates about 25 miles of the south rim will flyover some of the wreckage. This particular helicopter service and company is located at the junction of U.S. Highway 180 and Arizona State Route 64 at a high mesa, wind swept area.. Across the highways is a trading post and a roadside eatery..

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[> [> [> [> Thank you for all of that information, Leland. It was front page news in my hometown. I have never been to the Grand Canyon, nor do I have any desire to visit... -- LB, 15:33:22 03/24/12 Sat (pool-108-48-65-30.washdc.fios.verizon.net/108.48.65.30)

My friend came from a wealthy family. She was an accomplished equestrienne and had won many ribbons for her skill as a horse jumper. She was also a talented artist as well as an outstanding musician. She was playing flute with the local symphony even in her teens. It was a tragic loss, one that my classmates and I commemorate at every reunion.

I have also traveled extensively, so if you would like to start a travel thread, I will be happy to contribute my views.

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[> [> [> [> [> LB... In life NEVER be afraid of visting or frequenting a known vacation spot -- Leland Gaunt, 16:07:54 03/24/12 Sat (NOHLWD-Public.lapl.org/64.183.42.37)



Events and circumstances happen. Life is NEVER fair and written out to be fair and just. Things happen for a reason one may not comprehend why..

I knew of a very close lady friend who passed away from a severe case of deadly cancer. She was very close to me as she was employed at a well known telecommunication company which is defunct as of 1995 or 1996..

We both worked at the same company. She died of cancer due to technological changes within the corporate structure. Toward the end of her life when I did not see her anymore, through her ongoing sickness she reunited with her husband. She was estranged from her husband, but this circumstance would bring her close to her husband..

She's interned and buried at the California side of Lake Tahoe. This would NOT stop me for visting her graveside and encounter Lake Tahoe years after.

Situations and events happen which may be out of your control. I would suggest you frequent and visit the Grand Canyon. I am sure if your friend would be alive today, she would encourage you to see this scenic wonder of the world..

There is nothing to fear when it comes to the Grand Canyon. The canyon DID NOT kill her. The events and tragic circumstances did...

Take a ride down Route 66; the historic route. Williams, Arizona is an excellent stayover. Visit the area as you will have no regrets..

G-d bless your friend and her memory!

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[> [> [> [> [> [> That makes good sense. Thank you for your kind words about my friend. -- LB, 23:09:54 03/24/12 Sat (pool-108-48-65-30.washdc.fios.verizon.net/108.48.65.30)


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> You're very welcome.. -- Leland Gaunt, 23:17:40 03/24/12 Sat (netblock-208-127-102-105.dslextreme.com/208.127.102.105)



As stated, don't ever shun an area because of what happened. Sadly, it's done. The mistake was with the flight path of the two airliners that day in June.

They both would takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport. Your friend would want you to enjoy life as the astute person she obviously was..

This was one Route 66 tragedy as the highway has had several mishaps and circumstances through its history..

Or the tragedy was nearest Route 66 to the north about 110 miles..

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Heck there would be a tragedy in Kingman, Arizona as I am told by a motel manager.. -- Leland Gaunt, 23:34:10 03/24/12 Sat (netblock-208-127-102-105.dslextreme.com/208.127.102.105)



During the summertime of 1982 or 1983, I believe a motel manager where I was staying at would tell me of a motel next store. The motel was in ruins and there was a probate fight transpiring between relatives of an eldery lady owner..

It seems she was murdered by a border staying there. I believe as told to me, he was some sort of handyman. He stayed in the backroom while she ran the motel. I NEVER met her as stated she was murdered a two or three years back..

Somehow she disappeared from sight. According to the manager where I was staying she would do yard work and keep the outside clean. Her work would be light work while he handled the heavy work.

As I was told by the next door motel manager, her throat was slit and whatever proceeds was in there, the money was taken. He was captured a few weeks later and charged with first degree murder..

Somehow the place laid in ruins as any attempt to demolish the place completely was stopped because relatives of her were fighting over probate..

The ruins of the motel was there for about three or four years. Both motel locations is on the northeast side of Kingman on Andy Devine Blvd. (Old U.S. Highway 66) Interstate 40 was already open or near completion repacing the old Route 66..

I peered at the motel as the thing as stated was in ruins at the time. The probate dispute was finally resolved later on and the motel was completely demolished..

What is scary, her head was in a position at the dining room table cocked back. Her throat was slit when Kingman police entered the premises. Neighbors were suspicious because her normal activites during the morning hours was not seen or viewed..

Route 66 murder and tragedy as I would understand it.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> LB... If the above posting was too gruesome a fact. I am very sorry about it.. -- Leland Gaunt, 16:37:50 03/25/12 Sun (NoHost/199.27.175.2)



But this was my understanding as indicated from a past experience. The motel inn for which I would stay would be called the Pony Trail Motel. I believe in subsequent years the motel was changed to the Route 66 motel..

The information I would receive was from a neighboring manager of an adjacent motel..

As stated, the motel in question was in ruins as all demolition was stopped for awhile. Since then, the probate dispute was resolved the the former motel was demolished completely..

Route 66 would have some happy history to it and yet the same route would have some dark history to it...



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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> No apologies are necessary, Leland. Bad things happen. Maybe a thread about travel would be easier to read. -- LB, 23:16:50 03/25/12 Sun (pool-108-48-65-30.washdc.fios.verizon.net/108.48.65.30)


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Bad things do happen... -- Leland Gaunt, 13:54:28 03/26/12 Mon (NoHost/199.27.175.2)



One way or another, LB..

Sometimes its best to leave circumstances and events..

Getting back to Kingman, Arizona and the certain probate motel. As stated, I never met the deceased woman at the time. Pulling into Pony Trails Motel, I would observe 60 feet down the roadway of 66 and see this partial demolition of a motel. The motel manager at the Pony Trails would later tell me what happened.

I guess it was big news at the time with a murder and all..

There would be a couple I would personally meet east of Ashfork, Arizona. The old roadway in front of once thriving place was the 1931 version of 66. The roadway's small bridge over the wash has been demolished for many years..

The couple ran an eatery which served pretty good country food at the time. I joined the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona four days beforehand. They were a nice couple and I do refer to a were. They to were murdered by a hired help at the time. Both eldery couple were shot to death by this same hired help. He too escaped for awhile and later was captured probably in nearby Prescott..

As stated, I met them personally and we had a long coversation about the defunct Route 66 which was the main highway at one time. Interstate 40/updated Route 66 replaced the old, original 66 routing sometime in 1955 in this area..

I found this out by the Route 66 Historic newsletter I was receiving through the mail.. The old wash bridge was demolished as the old roadway is an incompleted roadway with bushes growing over much of the forgotten stretch of 66 through this area..

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> The eatery the eldery couple would run as a business would be County Line Cafe or -- Leland Gaunt, 14:06:44 03/26/12 Mon (NoHost/199.27.175.2)



Monte Carlo Cafe..

The county line of Yavapai/Coconino counties of Arizona..

The defunct roadway is called Ashfork Hill Road which is a roadway pretty much abandoned and forgotten since 1955. At the base of a steep incline going up a mountainside, there would be no guardrails and a dropoff downward about 300 feet or 350 feet into the valley below.. Or the last remaining vestages of the Ashfork Valley below.. Again, one heck of a dropoff from this incline of a relic highway... The old Ashfork Hill Road..

It was heck of a drop for cars and trucks going east up the incline on the 66/89 routings.. I remember this roadway in 1954 on a first vacation to California..

A later updated, wider Route 66/89 would be built to the south. This in return would be upgraded to a freeway, known as Interstate 40 as the U.S. 66/89 shields would disappear from this section of Arizona, eventually..

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> I however believe music can tell a given situation at times.. -- Leland Gaunt, 14:33:43 03/26/12 Mon (NoHost/199.27.175.2)



Just one song and one song ONLY..

Bill Anderson's "Get, While The Gettin's Good"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v9YUSiFVVw

If you get my drift and meaning...

I will continue to write to you about travels and other topics, non-political.. Music does tell a story oftentimes, LB..

Have a very nice day!!!

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> The song title may say all -- Leland Gaunt, 14:44:05 03/26/12 Mon (NoHost/199.27.175.2)



The lyrics is liken to let the chips fall where they may.... [hypothetical]

I write to you more about 66 and all other highways if that be the case. Too much politics warps the mind. There are other adventures in life at times...

Again, have a nice day...

LG

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Leland, have you ever tried writing as a vocation or hobby? You spin interesting stories that would be of interest to many people. You have obviously spent time investigating and researching on a human interest level.... -- LB, 17:15:23 03/26/12 Mon (pool-108-48-65-30.washdc.fios.verizon.net/108.48.65.30)

I have taught history and writing on the HS level, and I would encourage you to try your hand at writing some short stories or articles based on your knowledge of these incidents. It is likely that there is a market for them.

I have taken a giant step away from politics. Recently, I learned that I have a serious illness. Stress aggravates my condition and politics have been terribly stressful lately. I don't miss it at all; it is as though a heavy weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Country music is not one of my interests but from what I have heard, the lyrics have a way of expressing attitudes and feelings concisely. It's like listening to someone who has been through some life problems.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> The song was kind of a ride off into the sunset. -- Leland Gaunt, 19:53:17 03/26/12 Mon (netblock-208-127-102-105.dslextreme.com/208.127.102.105)

Pertaining to a certain website I use to post for. Just for the record then I'll drop it!!

Anyone who uses my moniker after Sunday, March 25th is doing it dishonestly.. Kind of like the Jim Reeves classic song; "Adios Amigo"... Sometimes things come to an end. All for the best at any rate....

To LB

I've traveled quite a bit of Route 66. Stretches east of the Painted Desert is washed out in some sections. One area in particular. You have to double back by a side road to an interchange with Interstate 40 to the south across the Mesa country.

Of course the last time this abandoned, wind grieved ghost was in full usage was in 1954 when we traveled on it. In 1955 the new, wider alignment was opened to the south as a two lane wide highway. Later upgraded to freeway Interstate 40 at a future date and year.....

The elderly couple murdered were Route 66 Historic Society members of Arizona. They were quite a couple made for each other. Their diner just a spit eye to the north of the more modern Interstate 40..

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Poor souls. So sad. -- LB, 23:20:33 03/26/12 Mon (pool-108-48-65-30.washdc.fios.verizon.net/108.48.65.30)


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