Cuba, Missouri traditions making it look like Christmas…

To begin the holiday season, some families head to Black Friday sales while other folks put up the Christmas tree or other holiday symbols, decorate the house with lights, and start listening to favorite songs of the season. Churches plan special holiday events. Cookies are baked and holiday menus planned. But communities also have holiday [...]

Volunteer adopts historic district for cleanup efforts…

While the Viva Cuba beautification organization has been encouraging individuals and organizations to join the Adopt-A-Street program and clean up the streets of Cuba, one volunteer took the initiative to adopt the historic district along Route 66 on his own. Stephen Land, a relatively new Cuba resident, felt the need to improve the historic district [...]

The soldier with the red band on his hat…

Viva Cuba members have told the “Chip Lange story” on many mural tours, and it draws a postive response from listeners. The appeal of the story arises from three aspects: 1. Chip’s age at the time, 2. The magnitude of his accomplishment, and 3. The situation of how he found himself to be the “soldier with [...]

Remembering…Glimpses of the Veterans Day Ceremony Cuba Missouri 2010

Bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace.” A Cuba High School choir and band performing the National Anthem and “America the Beautiful.” Presentation of the colors. Stirring words of remembrance. It all came together today in front of the Veterans Memorial on Smith Street. The Veterans Day program illustrates the planning and number of people who came together [...]

Gold Star Boy Mural Salutes Cuba’s Veterans…

The Gold Star Mural just off Route 66 in Cuba was painted just after 9/11 although it had been planned for months. With its tribute to the young men from the Cuba area who had lost their lives during WWII, it seemed an apt expression of the feeling of patriotism that swept the country at [...]

They will be here Saturday…almost 100 strong…

The registration for the Saturday, November 13 Route 66 Association of Missouri meeting and luncheon is nearing 100.  The group arrives in Cuba from all over the state, and some from out-of-state, to meet , eat, and socialize. There are also many local members of the Route 66 Association as well. The activities take place [...]

Do you remember? Standing at the 4-way on Route 66 in 2006…

I was looking for another photo from 2006, when I ran across these photos from January 2006. This was before the murals were painted on the Phillips 66 Station. It was before Viva Cuba re-landscaped the garden on the corner. It was before the traffic control boxes were painted. There were no roses, no brick [...]

David Judd takes a more colorful look at Cuba, Missouri…

David Judd is part artist, part photographer, part computer wizard. At the September Lions Club Car Show his booth attracted a lot of attention as people checked out the familiar landmarks that he had photographed then given the special “Judd Treatment” with his computer. He could also insert the car show participants’ own classic rides [...]