The Spirit of America Route 66 Museum is just a couple of months away from owner Steve Brant’s anticipated opening date.
It is going to be an exciting addition to not only our Main Street but for Route 66 as well. I had the opportunity to tour the museum last week and get some insight into the project from Steve.
He hails from New York City (Manhattan) and Central Park was his backyard. Even though he was a big city guy he said he had a small-town heart and always wanted to live somewhere like Mayberry.
After retiring as an engineer, he made a cross country trek and happened upon Stroud, Oklahoma. It felt right to him, so this is where he decided to relocate and open his museum.
Raised by an emotionally abusive father, and with a mother who tried to give affection but having her own limitations due to the same abusive relationship Steve was dealing with, he retreated inward to find his own happiness.
His father was so controlling that he wouldn’t allow his children to socialize outside the home and the family also did not mingle with outsiders.
Steve’s grandparents were Ukrainian immigrants, and his dad grew up very poor. Because of this fact, even though he withheld affection and love, he did make sure Steve and his sister had the toys that they wanted for birthdays and Christmas.
It was the only time his father wanted their opinion on anything. These toys became Steve’s escape which brought him happiness. He was also inspired by the space program and what he learned about world peace during a 2nd grade class trip to the United Nations; to dream of a future in which all of humanity boldly goes to a better future for us all.
Steve wants to leave a legacy and share with people the things that allowed him to overcome his upbringing and grow into the man he is today.
He hopes visitors to his museum are taken back to a time when there was less hate and more innocence in the world. He also hopes visitors leave wanting to spread the gift of kindness instead of anger and hostility.
The museum will showcase superheroes as well as real-life heroes. There will be permanent exhibits as well as “changing” exhibits, and you may watch movies, tv shows and documentaries in the Wonder Woman Theater.
Don’t be surprised when you visit the museum if you see Clark Kent sitting at his desk in his office at the Daily Planet or Superman exiting a phone booth. Steve has thought of every detail.
He is a very interesting guy with a very interesting story. If you haven’t met him yet, you are in for a treat. Put your spaceship seatbelt on and hold on tight while we all wait for the grand opening of Steve Brant’s Spirit of America Route 66 museum to open on our very own Main Street!
Upcoming activities are a Route 66 Metal Detecting Club meeting at City Hall at 7:00 p.m. tonight, Thursday January 19th, and the Stroud Community Clothing Ministry is also open from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Oklahoma Blood Institute blood drive will be in Stroud from noon to 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 20th and Stroud Food Pantry will be open from 9:00 a.m. until noon on Tuesday, January 24th.
The Stroud Tiger High School basketball teams will play a non-district away game on Tuesday, January 24th in Ripley and host Meeker in a home district game on Friday, January 27th.
The 6th grade boys and girls teams will play Davenport at home on Monday, January 23rd with games starting at 4:30 p.m. The 7th and 8th grade teams are playing in a tournament beginning January 23rd with the location to be announced.
I traveled to Chandler this past Saturday for an exciting game of 1st grade basketball. It’s funny how excited and intense you can get at a game for six and seven year-olds.
Stroud’s team was missing a couple of kiddos so we played the game against five Chandler players with only four Tigers. It was a close game but we pulled off the win with a score of 15-14.
Those teammates clenching the win were Grayson Hubbard, Mason McCammon, August Smalley and Lincoln Smalley. They will take on Bethel this Saturday, January 21st, here in Stroud at 10:00 a.m. If you think your heart can stand it, come out and watch them play.
Class of 1985 Stroud alum Jack Fletcher passed away in Texas on January 4th. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 5th at 2:00 p.m. in Early, Texas at Heartland Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made in his memory to Wounded Warriors. Town Talk offers condolences to Jack’s family and friends.
We had to postpone the date for our Bugle Boy fundraiser to February 5th, but it is happening. I will let you know location and time later.
Sunday after church you can treat yourself to an Olive Garden lunch for a donation of $20. Your meal will include lasagna, breadsticks, salad, dessert and drink. A lasagna dinner at Olive Garden is $17.99 and doesn’t include dessert, drink, tax or tip and you must drive out of town to enjoy it. Children 5th grade and under can enjoy a spaghetti dinner free of charge when accompanied by their parent(s).
Come join us for a Taste of Italy. Grazie! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. It’s taken me 66 years to realize if I don’t purchase holiday items early, they are sold out and the next holiday is on the shelf.
Whether you’re looking for a box of chocolates, a gift item, fresh flowers you can find it all right here in our hometown.
Thank you for choosing to shop local………….. first!