We call it the Old Macon Road or the Old Savannah Road, depending on which way you are traveling. It was once the way to Macon for Christmas shopping. It was once the way to Savannah, Tybee Island and fresh seafood dinners. It was once the primary coast to coast route across the southern half of the United States. It brought travelers, some rich and famous and some just regular folks, through our community, ranging from Dr. Martin Luther King to Henry Ford to Elvis Presley. It was known by those living west of El Paso, Texas as the "Broadway of America." Texans called it "The Main Street of Texas." Those east of Texas called it the "Dixie Overland Highway". It was Highway 80, "America's first All Weather Coast to Coast Highway." Some say that portions of the highway followed an old Spanish Trail from St. Augustine to San Diego.
The planning stages for the Dixie Overland Highway began in 1915. By the summer of 1916, Dublin was chosen to be located on the route. The highway was formally opened in the fall of 1917. In 1926, President Calvin Coolidge designated the highway as U.S. Highway 80. Much of the credit for the highway's location through Dublin belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and Congressman W.W. Larsen for their unceasing efforts in the project. The highway began on the Atlantic Coast at Tybee Island, a premier summer resort. After running along the palm-lined Victory Drive near the heart of Georgia's ancient city of Savannah, the highway passes through the east-central Georgia cities of Statesboro, Swainsboro, and Adrian. In the early 1930s, legendary gangster John Dillinger traveled along the highway between the latter two cities.
Highway 80 wasn't paved throughout Laurens County until the 1930s. The portion between Scott and Dublin was paved first in 1931. The benefits of the national highway, although substantial, were heavily outweighed by the burden of the economic depression of the 20s and 30s. Automobile magnate Henry Ford was a regular visitor to Dublin on his trips to his home near Savannah. From Dublin the highway ran to Macon in the heart of Central Georgia. From Macon, it followed the fall line to the west Georgia city of Columbus. During World War II, Highway 80 was an important link between Fort Benning at Columbus, Camp Wheeler in Macon, and Savannah.
As the highway entered the state of Alabama, it passed through Phoenix City, one of the most notorious hives of immoral activities in the 1930s and 1940s. Next the highway passed through the town of Tuskegee, where George Washington Carver established a college for Negroes and where the legendary Tuskegee Airmen trained for aerial service in World War II. The capital of Montgomery is the next stop on the highway, where it runs by the Alabama State House, where the Confederate States of America organized in 1861. Highway 80 between Montgomery and Selma is one of the most famous stretches along this 2700 mile highway. Dr. Martin Luther King led his famous march along the highway. The march, which included unfortunate deadly acts of violence, led directly to the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In the state of Mississippi, the highway passes through the state capital of Jackson. West of Jackson, Highway 80 comes near the site of the Battle of Baker's Creek, which was fought on May 16, 1863 and caused deaths and severe injuries to more than a dozen young Laurens County men serving in the 57th Ga. Infantry. After the defeat at Baker's Creek, the battered Confederate Army retreated along the approximate route of the highway to the bastion of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River. The Union Army laid siege to the embattled Confederates for six weeks until the city was surrendered on July 4, 1863. After crossing the Mighty Mississippi River and before entering Texas, the highway passes through the Louisiana cities of Monroe and Shreveport.
"The Main Street of Texas" runs into Dallas, where it becomes Commerce Street. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on Elm Street, a short distance from Commerce Street. From Dallas the highway goes to Fort Worth, the livestock capital of Texas. It passes along the old trail from Fort Worth to Abilene and runs southwest to the western tip of Texas at El Paso.
After leaving El Paso, Highway 80 passes within a short distance of Mexico before heading up the Rio Grande River to Las Cruces, New Mexico. At Las Cruces, it joins with Highway 70 for a short distance along a route where the two highways cross the Continental Divide. The highway then turns south toward the New Mexico/Mexico border. The route turns north near the border and heads into the infamous Old West town of Tombstone.
On October 26, 1881, Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan Earp, along with their compatriot, "Doc" Holiday, walked down Fremont Street, which later became part of Highway 80, to C.S. Fly's Boarding house. There they met the Clantons and the McLaurys in the famous "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Just outside of town, overlooking old Highway 80, is the equally famous burial ground, dubbed "Boot Hill" by the locals.
The highway passes northwest toward the cities of Tuscon and Phoenix through miles and miles of desert. At Phoenix, Arizona, Highway 80 passes by the Arizona state capitol, the third and final capital along the route. From Phoenix, the highway passes through the famous Gila Bend area of Arizona. After passing through Yuma, Arizona, Highway 80 enters the California Desert. In the early days of Highway 80 auto passengers had to drive over 12' x 8' sections of cross ties, bound together with steel bands. In the lower edge of California, Highway 80 passed by the legendary Petrified Forest. The highway nears its end as it enters the city of San Diego, where it passes by Balboa Park, home to the world famous San Diego Zoo. Highway 80 originally ended at its intersection with Hwy. 101. The highway was unofficially extended to the San Diego Bay during World War II to accommodate military operations in the area. Finally, at Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma, Highway 80 comes to an end at the Point Loma Lighthouse, which was built in 1854.
Today, Highway 80 no longer officially exists west of Dallas, Texas. What remains of that original route has been blown away by desert winds or replaced with interstate highways and new state roads. Fortunately, for those of us east of Dallas, Highway 80 is still with us - a reminder of when travel was at a much easier pace and the coast to coast route was lined with of good eating places, gas and comfort stations, and plenty of good folks.
No comments:
Post a Comment