stroud to depew, ok

between stroud and depew there are a few places that the original highway 66 runs parallel to the new highway 66 and it is pretty easy to get over to the old highway at a couple of them that are on the north side of the highway. since we do not have to cross traffic and these little stretchs are the real mother road, we are going to take them!

1) 7.3 miles after stroud aid station is a sign that says old highway 66. turn left and go a few yards to the old highway. this stretch heads east for approximately 0.7 miles.

2) 8.5 miles after stroud aid station (0.5 miles past the end of the first stretch) is another old highway 66 sign on the left. there is also a “cemetery” sign. turn left and run east on old highway for approximately 0.5 miles.

as we approach depew, turn right (south) on old hwy 66 right before the citgo station and head uphill across the railroad tracks into depew. after about 0.25 miles turn left (east) toward dowtown. the aid station is just west of the post office.

click here to view the route in gmaps pedometer.

just a few miles later you arrive in the small hamlet of depew, population a bit over 600. depew was founded by w. f. malley who first came to the area on january 15, 1901, naming it depew after chauncy m. depew, a u. s. senator from new york. the first post office was established on april 12, 1901. the town was platted and opened to the public by the depew investment company in june, 1905. after oil was found near depew in 1911 the town grew rapidly. it was a boomtown during the 1920's and early 1930's but the population began to decline by 1940. the original route 66 alignment went right through town on top of the hill, where several old buildings continue to dot the downtown district. while in depew, grab a bite at the coach's corner cafe at 324 main street. though small, depew's residents are proud of their history and heritage along the mother road.