Ruth 66 Cafe [Column_Cisco Townsite]
: estimated site of Ruth 66 Cafe
I’m trying to duplicate the whole town of Cisco, Utah in N scale. This post introduces one of the structures in the town.
A few businesses survived along US Hwy 50 & 6 at Cisco in the early 70s; 4 gas service stations, a mercantile/cafe, and a motel. Some private houses also seem to exist along Second Street. Next to Duke's Service on the west sat this structure on Lot 1 to 5 of Block 6, Cisco Townsite.
The 1944 aerial photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey barely shows the particular structure. 1974 USGS photo shows the structure still standing at the site on US Hwy 50 & 6.
The particular structure appears in the 1971 movie Vanishing Point as a vacant space[1]. The “RUTH’S 66 CAFE, OPEN 24 HOURS” sign left on the facade can also be seen in the movie.
In the book Helldorados, Ghosts and Camps of the Old Southwest, both the closed storefront and the west elevation of the structure are seen[2].
Block 6 of Cisco Townsite, consisted of 21 lots, was the "downtown" of Cisco. The Block one-time contained a hotel, a restaurant, a garage, a post office/store, and some dwellings according to 1919 ICC valuation map. The particular structure is shown as a restaurant and measures 25' x 43' in the map.
Victor Putman Hanson(1841 - 1920), who established the Cisco Townsite, Cisco Mercantile Company, and Cisco Hotel built a saloon next to his hotel in 1905[3].
Shideler family, William Andrew Shideler(1872 – 1939), his father Riley P. Shideler(1848 – 1921), and his son Lawrence A. Shideler(1901 – 1954), succeeded the hotel, saloon, garage, dwellings, and the post office in 1911 and operated them until 1921[4, 5]. The particular structure must have been Bill's Pool Room operated by Riley[6].
: Dec. 4, 1919 Times Independent
Patrick Franklin "Pat" Dyer(1861 – 1936) succeeded the business in 1922 and operated both the hotel and the pool hall until 1936[7, 8]. While Clive Charles Stewart(1899 – 1971) succeeded the pool hall after the demise of Pat, the hotel built by W. A. Shideler in 1917 was moved to Moab in 1940[9].
The structure was verified as Vic’s Cafe since 1944[10]. Victor Kirby Murray(1893 – 1962) owned the particular property in between 1944 and 1948[11]. Accordingly, Victor might have operated the Vic’s Cafe.
Brothers, John William(1898 – 1964) and Edgar Malcolm(1893 – 1954) Burke purchased all the Block 6 from Victor in 1948[12]. They opened up the Burke Cafe on Memorial Day−May 30, 1949[13].
The particular structure may have been Taylor Cafe at least in 1954 and 55, maybe operated by Robert Lloyd "Red"(1902 – 1969) and Della Larsen(1903 – 1984) Taylor[14, 15].
And then, here comes Ruth.
Jay Lowell "J."(1912 – 1968) and Ruth Maxine Craig(1918 – 1999) Mealey came to Cisco in 1956[16]. They started running the J&M STATION & CAFE, selling diesel, gas, oil, beer, and food.
The business was worth eighty-thousand dollars a year when they tried to sell the business in 1960 according to their advertisement in newspaper[17].
: ashtray
: Mar. 29, 1962 Times Independent
In 1961, Mealeys moved to Moab and began operating the Holiday Haven Mobile Home Resorts owned by a namesake company of Phoenix, Arizona[18]. Teddy D. "Ted"(1935 – 1961) and Jeannie Haeck(1938 – ?) Johnson succeeded the business[19]. Unfortunately, however, Ted died accidentally by electrocution touching live wire under their trailer house the same year[20].
Lloyd Frank(1918 – 1997) and Virginia Labrum(1923 – ?) Nelson, the owner of the Fruita Pool Hall, accepted all of Block 6 in 1963[21]. But whether they succeeded the business is uncertain.
And then, here comes another Ruth.
Ernest Eugene(1923 – 1989) and Ruth Lorene Endicott(1922 – 1986) McCoy of Moab seem bought all of Block 6 in 1963. Beer license was approved to Ernest of Cisco Cafe 66 same year[22].
Grand County Receipt and Disbursements Year Ended December 31, 1964 lists their business as Ruth 66 Cafe[23]. Melvin Jack Mills(1936 – 1973) might have been the operator in 1967[24]. Unfortunately, however, Ernest put all of Block 6 up for final tax sale in 1969[25].
I captured the movie Vanishing Point and traced the elevation to draw plans. The interior of the structure appeared in the movie also helped me. The result is shown below: of course, some imaginations are included.
[1] Ruth’s 66 Cafe still from the movie Vanishing Point at flickr;
[2] Weis, Norman D. Helldorados, Ghosts and Camps of the Old Southwest, Caxton Printers, 1977
[3] Apr. 14, 1905 Grand Valley Times;
[4] May 24, 1912 Times Independent;
[5] Dec. 4, 1919 Times Independent;
[6] Dec. 8, 1921 Times Independent;
[7] Nov. 23, 1922 Times Independent;
[8] Aug. 20, 1936 Times Independent;
[9] Feb. 11, 1937 Times Independent;
[10] Bennett, Lee A. A History of Selected Ranches on the Colorado River, Bennett Management Services, LLC, 2009;
[11] Hepperle, Mary L. "Memories of Cisco", Canyon Legacy, vol. 51, Moab Museum, 2004;
[12] Jan. 8, 1948 Times Independent;
[13] Jun. 8, 1949 Daily Sentinel;
[14] Dec. 9, 1954 Times Independent;
[15] Jan. 6, 1955 Times Independent;
[16] Feb. 20, 1999 Deseret News;
[17] Oct. 27, 1960 Times Independent;
[18] Nov. 12, 1964 Times Independent;
[19] May 18, 1961 Steamboat Pilot;
[20] May 4, 1961 Times Independent;
[21] May 23, 1963 Times Independent;
[22] Oct. 10, 1963 Times Independent;
[23] Apr. 8, 1965 Times Independent;
[24] Jun. 8, 1967 Times Independent;
[25] May 22, 1969 Times Independent;
: references and drawings of Ruth 66 Cafe
: North and West elevation
ユタ州を走るD&RGWの沿線にある／あった、Ciscoという町を紹介している。この建物は「Capansky’s Bar, Restaurant and Phillips Gas Station」の西側に建っていた「Ruth 66 Cafe」である。
この建物は、1971年の映画「バニシング・ポイント」において、この出で立ちで登場する。前出のKathy Jordanによれば、ここは「cafe」というよりは「saloon」だと紹介されている。「喫茶・スナック」といった感じだろうか。前出のLee A. Bennettによれば、ここは1944年から「Vic’s Cafe」として営業していたとある。そしてママさんがRuthに代わったのだろう。映画「バニシング・ポイント」のロケ時には、すでに空き家になっている。
建物は下見板張りの壁に方流れ屋根を載せた木造家屋である。側面に大きな開口の痕跡があるので、ガレージ・自動車修理工場として使われた時代もあったと思う。全体の大きさはUSGSの航空写真を参考に割り出し、立面は映画「バニシング・ポイント」のワンシーンを参考に復元した。
I’m trying to duplicate the whole town of Cisco, Utah in N scale. This post introduces one of the structures in the town.
A few businesses survived along US Hwy 50 & 6 at Cisco in the early 70s; 4 gas service stations, a mercantile/cafe, and a motel. Some private houses also seem to exist along Second Street. Next to Duke's Service on the west sat this structure on Lot 1 to 5 of Block 6, Cisco Townsite.
The 1944 aerial photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey barely shows the particular structure. 1974 USGS photo shows the structure still standing at the site on US Hwy 50 & 6.
The particular structure appears in the 1971 movie Vanishing Point as a vacant space[1]. The “RUTH’S 66 CAFE, OPEN 24 HOURS” sign left on the facade can also be seen in the movie.
In the book Helldorados, Ghosts and Camps of the Old Southwest, both the closed storefront and the west elevation of the structure are seen[2].
Block 6 of Cisco Townsite, consisted of 21 lots, was the "downtown" of Cisco. The Block one-time contained a hotel, a restaurant, a garage, a post office/store, and some dwellings according to 1919 ICC valuation map. The particular structure is shown as a restaurant and measures 25' x 43' in the map.
Victor Putman Hanson(1841 - 1920), who established the Cisco Townsite, Cisco Mercantile Company, and Cisco Hotel built a saloon next to his hotel in 1905[3].
Shideler family, William Andrew Shideler(1872 – 1939), his father Riley P. Shideler(1848 – 1921), and his son Lawrence A. Shideler(1901 – 1954), succeeded the hotel, saloon, garage, dwellings, and the post office in 1911 and operated them until 1921[4, 5]. The particular structure must have been Bill's Pool Room operated by Riley[6].
: Dec. 4, 1919 Times IndependentPatrick Franklin "Pat" Dyer(1861 – 1936) succeeded the business in 1922 and operated both the hotel and the pool hall until 1936[7, 8]. While Clive Charles Stewart(1899 – 1971) succeeded the pool hall after the demise of Pat, the hotel built by W. A. Shideler in 1917 was moved to Moab in 1940[9].
The structure was verified as Vic’s Cafe since 1944[10]. Victor Kirby Murray(1893 – 1962) owned the particular property in between 1944 and 1948[11]. Accordingly, Victor might have operated the Vic’s Cafe.
Brothers, John William(1898 – 1964) and Edgar Malcolm(1893 – 1954) Burke purchased all the Block 6 from Victor in 1948[12]. They opened up the Burke Cafe on Memorial Day−May 30, 1949[13].
The particular structure may have been Taylor Cafe at least in 1954 and 55, maybe operated by Robert Lloyd "Red"(1902 – 1969) and Della Larsen(1903 – 1984) Taylor[14, 15].
And then, here comes Ruth.
Jay Lowell "J."(1912 – 1968) and Ruth Maxine Craig(1918 – 1999) Mealey came to Cisco in 1956[16]. They started running the J&M STATION & CAFE, selling diesel, gas, oil, beer, and food.
The business was worth eighty-thousand dollars a year when they tried to sell the business in 1960 according to their advertisement in newspaper[17].
: ashtray
: Mar. 29, 1962 Times IndependentIn 1961, Mealeys moved to Moab and began operating the Holiday Haven Mobile Home Resorts owned by a namesake company of Phoenix, Arizona[18]. Teddy D. "Ted"(1935 – 1961) and Jeannie Haeck(1938 – ?) Johnson succeeded the business[19]. Unfortunately, however, Ted died accidentally by electrocution touching live wire under their trailer house the same year[20].
Lloyd Frank(1918 – 1997) and Virginia Labrum(1923 – ?) Nelson, the owner of the Fruita Pool Hall, accepted all of Block 6 in 1963[21]. But whether they succeeded the business is uncertain.
And then, here comes another Ruth.
Ernest Eugene(1923 – 1989) and Ruth Lorene Endicott(1922 – 1986) McCoy of Moab seem bought all of Block 6 in 1963. Beer license was approved to Ernest of Cisco Cafe 66 same year[22].
Grand County Receipt and Disbursements Year Ended December 31, 1964 lists their business as Ruth 66 Cafe[23]. Melvin Jack Mills(1936 – 1973) might have been the operator in 1967[24]. Unfortunately, however, Ernest put all of Block 6 up for final tax sale in 1969[25].
I captured the movie Vanishing Point and traced the elevation to draw plans. The interior of the structure appeared in the movie also helped me. The result is shown below: of course, some imaginations are included.
revised Dec. 24, 2013
revised Sep. 22, 2014
revised Dec. 22, 2014
revised Jan. 9, 2015
revised Feb. 4, 2015
revised Jul. 30, 2015
revised Oct. 26, 2015
revised Nov. 10, 2015
revised Jul. 26, 2016
revised Aug. 23, 2016
revised Oct. 23, 2016
revised Dec. 28, 2016
revised Jan. 8, 2017
revised Jan. 30, 2017
revised Feb. 19, 2018
revised Oct. 14, 2020
revised Aug. 5, 2021
revised, Sep. 23, 2022
revised, Apr. 14, 2023
[1] Ruth’s 66 Cafe still from the movie Vanishing Point at flickr;
[2] Weis, Norman D. Helldorados, Ghosts and Camps of the Old Southwest, Caxton Printers, 1977
[3] Apr. 14, 1905 Grand Valley Times;
[4] May 24, 1912 Times Independent;
[5] Dec. 4, 1919 Times Independent;
[6] Dec. 8, 1921 Times Independent;
[7] Nov. 23, 1922 Times Independent;
[8] Aug. 20, 1936 Times Independent;
[9] Feb. 11, 1937 Times Independent;
[10] Bennett, Lee A. A History of Selected Ranches on the Colorado River, Bennett Management Services, LLC, 2009;
[11] Hepperle, Mary L. "Memories of Cisco", Canyon Legacy, vol. 51, Moab Museum, 2004;
[12] Jan. 8, 1948 Times Independent;
[13] Jun. 8, 1949 Daily Sentinel;
[14] Dec. 9, 1954 Times Independent;
[15] Jan. 6, 1955 Times Independent;
[16] Feb. 20, 1999 Deseret News;
[17] Oct. 27, 1960 Times Independent;
[18] Nov. 12, 1964 Times Independent;
[19] May 18, 1961 Steamboat Pilot;
[20] May 4, 1961 Times Independent;
[21] May 23, 1963 Times Independent;
[22] Oct. 10, 1963 Times Independent;
[23] Apr. 8, 1965 Times Independent;
[24] Jun. 8, 1967 Times Independent;
[25] May 22, 1969 Times Independent;
: references and drawings of Ruth 66 Cafe
: North and West elevationユタ州を走るD&RGWの沿線にある／あった、Ciscoという町を紹介している。この建物は「Capansky’s Bar, Restaurant and Phillips Gas Station」の西側に建っていた「Ruth 66 Cafe」である。
この建物は、1971年の映画「バニシング・ポイント」において、この出で立ちで登場する。前出のKathy Jordanによれば、ここは「cafe」というよりは「saloon」だと紹介されている。「喫茶・スナック」といった感じだろうか。前出のLee A. Bennettによれば、ここは1944年から「Vic’s Cafe」として営業していたとある。そしてママさんがRuthに代わったのだろう。映画「バニシング・ポイント」のロケ時には、すでに空き家になっている。
建物は下見板張りの壁に方流れ屋根を載せた木造家屋である。側面に大きな開口の痕跡があるので、ガレージ・自動車修理工場として使われた時代もあったと思う。全体の大きさはUSGSの航空写真を参考に割り出し、立面は映画「バニシング・ポイント」のワンシーンを参考に復元した。
2013-09-06 09:00
コメント(1)
arx_Ph.D. さん
Here represented are my model railroad enthusiasm generated from the photos I took during my childhood at Knoxville, Tennessee, or from the photos I took during my recent trips.
I'm a retired professor of design, meanwhile a part-time associate at the architectural design office in Osaka, Japan where I live with my wife.
Revised, Dec. 20, 2013
Added Ruth's story derived from the obituary found in Feb. 20, 1999 Deseret News
by arx_ph.D. (2013-12-24 18:27)