Urban Route 66, Williams

Urban Route 66, Williams
LocationBill Williams Ave. between Sixth St. and Pine St., Williams, Arizona
Coordinates35°14′56″N 112°11′31″W / 35.24889°N 112.19194°W / 35.24889; -112.19194
Area3.2 acres (1.3 ha)
MPSHistoric US Route 66 in Arizona MPS
NRHP reference No.89000376[1]
Added to NRHPMay 19, 1989

U.S. Route 66 through Williams, Arizona began as a dirt street in the center of town which was later cindered and then paved. Despite some modern encroachments, most of U.S. Route 66 through Williams is lined with properties dating from the historic period. The four block long Williams Historic Business District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 1984.[1]

It is flanked on the east and west by a commercial strip with motels, service stations, and restaurants dating to the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. One block of this commercial strip is west of the business district, and four blocks are to the east. The distribution and construction dates of these associated properties in Williams are directly related to construction of U.S. Route 66.[1]

Unlike many stretches of U.S. Route 66 today, it is a good example of what the highway "looked like" during its heyday.[1]

Williams continues to cater to the tourist trade, although Interstate 40 bypassed Route 66 on October 13, 1984.[1]

Notable buildings Along Bill Williams Avenue
Name Year Built Architectural Style Comments
Rock Building 1936[2]
Babbitt-Polson Building 1907 Only Art Deco style building in Historic District[1] Originally five smaller buildings combined and covered with stucco; housed grocery, hardware, department stores and bakery[2]
Bennett's Auto 1930's Modern Style Gas station during heyday of Route 66 when gas sold for $0.16/gallon[2]
The Postal Telegraph Co. 1910 Operated until 1940's
Unknown named original building ca. 1910[2]
Rittenhouse Haberdashery ca. 1910 Was a men's clothing store for 60+ years[2]
Grand Canyon Drug Company ca. 1912 Pharmacy and soda fountain in front, doctor's office in rear[2]
Old Parlor Pool Hall ca. 1910[2]
Lebsch Confectiionery ca. 1914[2]
Dime Store ca. 1912[2]
Duffy Brother's Grocery 1912 Originally a bank, mostly grocery store, also a dime store. Original tin ceiling[2]
Citizens Bank 1918 Neoclassical revival Financial center of lumber, ranching, and railroad operations; closed in 1958[2]
Sultana Theatre 1912 Saloon, billiard hall, silent movie theatre; liquor and gambling during prohibition; first "talkie" in Northern Arizona shown in 1930[2]
Pollock Building First floor constructed after 1901 fire; 2nd floor 1927 "Rusticated" Romanesque Revival Originally bank, has been newspaper, telephone/telegraph office. Constructed of locally quarried dacite; 2nd story brick[1][2]
Grand Canyon Hotel 1892 Victorian Commercial style Has survived several fires; the ground floor has served as a drug store, grocery store, dance hall, curio shop, and a meeting hall for Knights of Pythias Lodge[2]
Unknown originally named building 1907[2]
Old Post Office ca 1907
General Store 1907[2]
Adams Grocery ca. 1907[2]
Bowden Building 1947 Flagstones quarried from "Flagstone Capital of the World", 18 miles west of Williams; built during the post-WWII migration to California[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Historic Walking Tour With Map (Map). Williams-Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce Publication.
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