Kerouac's Johnson's Corner Moved in Colo.

From Earthlinks entertainment news.......


Kerouac's Johnson's Corner Moved in Colo.

July 1, 2003 08:11 AM EDT


LONGMONT, Colo. - Johnson's Corner, the gas station and eatery described in
Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," has been moved from the spot where the Beat
poet found it.

The rare precast concrete, 1937 art-deco structure, designed by Denver
architect Eugene Groves, was moved Sunday to its new home in Prospect New
Town, a development about a mile south of its former location on Longmont's
Main Street.

Kerouac describes taking a nap under a tree at a gas station fitting its
description and then ordering a creamy milkshake.

"It's on the road," said Mark Sofield, the development's designer. "I think
he'd appreciate it if he were here. We're going to have to replace the
tree."

Historical preservation activists, among others, battled for 18 months to
save the building, which had last been used as an office for a car lot,
finally raising the $160,000 needed to move and establish a new home for the
structure.

The Colorado Department of Transportation had planned to raze the structure
to make room for the extension of a highway.

Although Kerouac didn't mention the curvy filling station trimmed with
molded dental details by name, the book includes a description of a place
presumed to be Johnson's Corner.

Sofield said they hope to raise money to restore the building and possibly
convert it into an eatery.

For Jack K. also research Neal Cassaday.

Linda

Steven King <kingst919 DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:FY2dnaVYI6YKNZyiXTWJjA@comcast.com...
 > From Earthlinks entertainment news.......
 >
 >
 > Kerouac's Johnson's Corner Moved in Colo.
 >
 > July 1, 2003 08:11 AM EDT
 >
 >
 > LONGMONT, Colo. - Johnson's Corner, the gas station and eatery described
in
 > Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," has been moved from the spot where the Beat
 > poet found it.
 >
 > The rare precast concrete, 1937 art-deco structure, designed by Denver
 > architect Eugene Groves, was moved Sunday to its new home in Prospect New
 > Town, a development about a mile south of its former location on
Longmont's
 > Main Street.
 >
 > Kerouac describes taking a nap under a tree at a gas station fitting its
 > description and then ordering a creamy milkshake.
 >
 > "It's on the road," said Mark Sofield, the development's designer. "I
think
 > he'd appreciate it if he were here. We're going to have to replace the
 > tree."
 >
 > Historical preservation activists, among others, battled for 18 months to
 > save the building, which had last been used as an office for a car lot,
 > finally raising the $160,000 needed to move and establish a new home for
the
 > structure.
 >
 > The Colorado Department of Transportation had planned to raze the
structure
 > to make room for the extension of a highway.
 >
 > Although Kerouac didn't mention the curvy filling station trimmed with
 > molded dental details by name, the book includes a description of a place
 > presumed to be Johnson's Corner.
 >
 > Sofield said they hope to raise money to restore the building and possibly
 > convert it into an eatery.
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->