#route 80

[newjerseyisthebest]

"And the Oscar goes  to….. safe drivers!" digital highway sign on Route 80 in New Jersey.

[actaecon]

[deadmotelsusa]

Stumbled upon this abandoned motel in Lordsburg, New Mexico. A little research reveals it was most recently called Hawkin’s Court when it was last open for business in the 1960′s/1970′s. Beyond that, I don’t know its original backstory or name. I found two postcards that look like they *could* be what Hawkin’s Court looked like upon opening.

What do you think? Was it the Hildago Motel, Ellison’s Court, both, or neither?

[ccsix]

illuminated hillside with power lines and storm clouds - American Canyon, CA

[robertpallesen]

Route 80 Rest Stop, Stroudsburg, PA © Robert Pallesen

[deadmotelsusa]

Built in the 1930′s, the Hotel Hidalgo was once seen as the hub of Lordsburg, New Mexico. It boasted 12 rooms, each with their own personal bathroom, a restaurant and a Texaco service station located on the left corner of the structure. It thrived as a prime lodging spot for decades.

By 1964, Lordsburg had 31 service stations, 21 motels and 20 cafes, mostly clustered along U.S. 80, and it was the biggest travel stop between Texas and Arizona. What happened?

Like many rural towns, an interstate highway replaced Highway 80, destroying all of the local businesses. The Hotel Hidalgo was hit hard and has been vacant for many years. It was recently for sale for 450k.

[njhgc]

North Jersey's abandoned mines

The sinkhole that closed Route 80 in Wharton last week was reportedly caused by a collapsed section of abandoned mine. Iron mining in Morris County dates back to the 18th century when ore was first extracted and processed in local forges, some of which still exist.

The History Center's collections include several maps of the region's iron mines, including this one from 1855 that illustrates the underground tunnels in Rockaway Township's Hibernia mines.

Iron manufacturing remained an important aspect of the area's economy until the early 20th century when easier to extract deposits in the Midwest and advances in steel manufacturing made New Jersey iron less competitive. As the mines were abandoned, the surrounding land was redeveloped for residential and commercial purposes.

[actaecon]

Route 80 Nevada