Alanreed to Britten, Texas - Gone Are the Glory Days

Alanreed to Britten - Page 2

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This was once the first section of the infamous Jericho Gap that during Route 66' heydays, trapped numerous travelers on it's 18 mile swath of muddy black soil. By passed in the 1930's, the original stretch of road is now missing segments and is partly on private property.

Locals often benefited from the many stranded vehicles on this stretch of the Mother Road, pulling stranded cars out of the quagmire, to such a degree that there were rumors that some locals watered down the road to increase their business.

Car Stuck in the Mud in the 1940's

Stuck in the mud.

Beyond Johnson Road (exit 132), old Route 66 continues paved for a while, before turning to gravel, turning paved again, and back to gravel for about two miles. At that point, it becomes a rutted dirt road and enters a private ranch.

The old site of Jericho can be accessed by taking exit 124 south on Highway 70 about one mile. Here you can see the endings of both the Jericho-Alanreed and Groom-Jericho sections of the Jericho Gap at County Road B.

The Jericho Gap Road is now County Road B, west of Highway 70, about

one mile south of I-40, Kathy Weiser, September, 2007. This image available for photographic

prints and downloads HERE!

The area that would become Jericho was first inhabited when a stage stop was established in the late 1880's along the stage route that carried passengers and mail from Saint's Roost (modern day Clarendon) to Fort Elliott (today's Mobeetie). There was little here at that time as the station was composed of just a dugout and drinking water had to be hauled in from a nearby spring.

When the Indians were removed to reservations, more people began to settle the area and in 1894, when an unusual outbreak of Malaria killed several settlers, the Jericho Cemetery was established.

When construction on the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Texas Railroad began through the area, even more people settled there and the town was officially establish ed in 1902 when the railroad established a station there. A post office was founded that same year and the town was named for the biblical city in Palestine. In no time, the small town began to grow as cattle where shipped from here and passengers could take the train to the area. When Route 66 was established through Jeriocho, it brought with a number of gas stations, stores, and a motel. It was then that the town gained its infamous reputation as the Jericho Gap helped the locals to prosper.

Jericho peaked in the 1930's when it boasted a population of about 100 souls, a post office, three stores, a grain elevator, a tourist court, a service garage and a filling station.

Remains of the old Jericho tourist court, Kathy Weiser, September, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

The windmill that once filled this water tank in Jericho has

long since fallen down, Kathy Weiser, September, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

However, Route 66 was moved one-half mile north, by-passing the town and by 1939, its population had dropped in half to just 50 people. The post office was discontinued in 1955, and by the 1980s little remained at the townsite.

Today, Jericho is a ghost town, surrounded by cattle and ghost farms. The ruins of the old tourist court can still be seen, as well as a house and another unidentified brick building. What little is left is located on County Road B, just west of Highway 70. The cemetery also remains about two miles west of the old townsite, south of County Road B.

Return to the frontage road where you will pass by the Leaning Water Tower to the north before entering Groom, Texas.

Britten Truck Stop

Next to the leaning water tower was once the busy Britten Truck Stop, garage and restaurant. Though the business is long gone, the vestige remains of the tall sign still stand next to the tower. Many people have often wondered how this water tower came to stand this way, some thinking that one leg of the tower is shorter than the others. Not true, nor was the tower swept to one side by a raging Texas tornado. Quite simply, it was planned that way, making for a good gimmick and lots of traffic at the Tower Restaurant when travelers stopped to inquire.

After taking advantage of the photo opportunities, travel on to Groom, Texas.

Britten, USA water tower just west of

Alanreed on I-40. September, 2007, Kathy Weiser

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

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To Groom

Return to Route 66

To McLean

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Route 66 Postcards - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected numerous postcards for our Route 66 enthusiasts. For many of these, we have only one available. To see this varied collection, click HERE!