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Dot's Mini-Museum
Just to the north of where Old
Route 66 ends, at the corner of West Main Street and 12th Street, is
Dot's Mini-Museum.
Once upon a time, this old homestead served as a business when Harold and
Dot Levitt established the
Vega Zero Lockers here in 1944. Back in those
days, most folks didn't have freezers, and the business provided "freezer
lockers" for rent. As
Route 66 travelers passed through, they could stop
here to pick up fresh fruits, meats, vegetables and canned goods to take
along with them on their journey. As Vega moved into the future and the
small town was bypassed by the interstate, Zero Lockers went out of
business. But, Dot opened a small museum that featured an
eclectic collection gathered from decades of working on the Mother Road.
For years, people stopped to take a look at western artifacts, memorabilia
from the heyday of
Route 66, dolls, antiques, and an endless array of
"amazements." Sadly, Dot has passed away, but her daughter, Betty
Carpenter, continues to maintain the tiny museum. She's also added to the
collection a cowboy mini-museum, an Avon Bottle collection, yard-art and a
couple of items that land the museum on our Quirky Texas category,
including a "boot tree" and a tombstone for the Oldham County News,
which evidently died on March 4, 1922.
November, 2008, Amanda Gay.
Return south to Vega Boulevard (I-40 Business Loop) where several vintage
views of a more prosperous
Route 66 can still be seen including an old
Texaco Station east of the Bonanza Motel and the old Road Runner Drive-Inn
across from the
Vega Motel.
The vintage Hickory Inn at 1004 Vega Boulevard
still serves up some not so fancy, but good food, to
Route 66 travelers
and locals alike. A newcomer to town is the Boothill Saloon & Grill at
Route 66
and Hwy 385, which will transport you back in time, in true
Texas
style.
Route 66
continues westward along the north frontage road of I-40 to Adrian,
Texas.
© Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated August, 2010.
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66
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