A WHOLE NEW BAG OF KICKS ON ROUTE 6 LANCASTER GROUP WANTS RECOGNITION FOR HIGHWAY THAT WAS ONCE LONGEST.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- There's a piece of history that runs through the middle of the Antelope Valley, and Fred Hann wants High Desert residents to know about it.

The former Lancaster mayor is working to build up recognition of U.S. Route 6, a highway that once held the title of the nation's longest at more than 3,650 miles.

Before California officials cut it short more than 40 years ago, the highway stretched from Long Beach to Provincetown, Mass. -- including Sierra Highway from Santa Clarita through the Antelope Valley, leaving behind a string of motels on what is now a road mainly for people driving between Palmdale and Lancaster.

``Most people don't know about it,'' Hann said. ``To know about it, you have to have lived here or be a highway person. I'm a highway person, and I live here.''

Hann, a retired firefighter, is trying to build up interest in the old highway route to draw in tourists and motorists in much the same way Route 66 has become an attraction.

``This is about economic growth and tourism,'' Hann said. ``We have so much we haven't explored with Route 6.''

Hann's interest in the route took off about five or six years ago. Hann, who likes to travel the nation's historic routes, kept seeing references to it.

The route wasn't totally unknown to him because he was born in Gary, Ind., one of the towns along its path. At 14, he came with his family to the High Desert -- where the route ran through Mojave, Rosamond, Lancaster and Palmdale.

Hann's interest led him to the U.S. Route 6 Tourist Association, a nonprofit organization promoting economic development and cultural preservation of inner cities, small towns and rural communities located along the route. Hann now serves as the association's executive director for California.

Among those Hann has recruited to help promote the route is former Lancaster Assistant City Manager Dennis Davenport.

``I like the historic aspect of this,'' Davenport said. ``There was a period of time when these routes were the way the West was settled.''

At the request of Councilman Andy Visokey, the city of Lancaster joined the cities of Palmdale and Santa Clarita as members of the association.

``There are some things that are personal with me, and one of those is historic preservation,'' Visokey said. ``This is part of our heritage.''

Also helping out is former Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts. Roberts is working with contacts in Inyo County to gain recognition for the route, which now ends in Bishop, in Inyo County.

``When I was younger, that was how we got down to Los Angeles,'' Roberts said. ``That was the only route.''

The route has been known by many names over the years, including the Roosevelt Highway, after President Theodore Roosevelt, and the Midland Trail Roadway. Its official title is the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, named after an organization of Union Civil War veterans.

According to the association, the highway began in the 1920s as a short route between Provincetown and Brewster, N.Y. Over the years, it was extended westward, eventually covering 14 states and ending in Long Beach.

The route held the title of the nation's longest from 1937 until 1965, when the state of California requested the historic highway end at the town of Bishop. At 3,227 miles, it is now the nation's second longest route, according to the association.

Route 6 hasn't had the publicity that Route 66 has enjoyed. Route 66 benefited from a popular 1940s song, ``(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66'' by Bobby Troup, and a TV show in the early 1960s.

According to a history on the Federal Highway Administration's Web site, author George R. Stewart considered using Route 6 for a text-and-picture book about a transcontinental highway. Stewart opted for Highway 40 instead, writing, ``By comparison, Route 6 runs uncertainly from nowhere to nowhere, scarcely to be followed from one end to the other, except by some devoted eccentric.''

Hann said he thinks the route could draw in tourists seeking a nostalgic drive.

``Why do people climb a mountain? Because it's there,'' Hann said. ``It's human nature to say I want to climb the highest peak, I want to drive the longest highway.''

Hann has traveled along the route's former California path seeking recognition by the various communities along the way. Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, is also working on a resolution to help give the route a bit more recognition on the state level.

Hann is also seeking state Transportation Department approval for signs noting the location of the historic route.

Hann said he hopes one day people will give the route some thought when they are planning their next trip.

``You'll have car clubs, motorcyclists and old folks in motor homes saying let's travel Route 6,'' Hann said.

james.skeen@dailynews

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) Former Lancaster Assistant City Manager Dennis Davenport, left, and former Lancaster Mayor Fred Hann show a Route 6 sign on Sierra Highway and Avenue J in Lancaster. U.S. Route 6 was once the nation's longest at more than 3,650 miles.

(2 -- color) Before officials cut it short, Route 6 stretched from Long Beach to Provincetown, Mass. -- including Sierra Highway, above, from Santa Clarita through the Antelope Valley.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

Map:

Local history

US ROUTE 6