U.S. Highway 11 (from Louisiana to New York)

[Sandy F.]

Construction of Interstate Highway began in 1956. Prior to that two-lane roads, often starting a dirt and gravel roads, were established under the U.S. Highway system in 1926. One of the most famous is Route 66. It runs from Illinois to California, a total of 2,448 miles. Another highway also created in 1926 that I am more familiar with is Highway 11 which runs north-south across the eastern United States, from Louisiana to New York for a total of 1,645 miles.

I live about a quarter of a mile off Hwy 11 in Lenoir City, TN. Hwy 11 enters Tennessee in Chattanooga and exits in Bristol (I believe). Over the years I have traveled most of Hwy 11 in Tennessee and it is a wonderful route to take to see some of the small towns and scenic farmland that is Tennessee.

I’m curious. Do any other quilt show family members live on or close to Hwy 11?

[Eileen K.]

Sandy,
I had to go look in the atlas because I'd never heard of Rt 11. It runs up through the Southern Tier of NY.
Sorry, I live about 10 miles from the Hudson River, approximately halfway between NYC and Albany.
eileenkny

[Sandy F.]

Until today I did not know that Hwy 11 went all the way to New York. I ran across an article that of some of the old HWY 11 landmarks near here and I started investigating a little. Sandy

[Sandy F.]

I'm not sure if I've actually been on it but I imagine I have. Many, many years ago I was born in Bristol. The hospital was on the Virginia side of town. My family lived on the Tennessee side. So I can say I was born in Virginia but never actually lived there.

[Sandy F.]

I'm not near Hwy 11 in Va. but am very familiar with it. Last summer George and I had a weekend adventure and meandered around, ended up going from Natural Bridge to Harrisonburg on 11, found one fabric shop, found a second after it was closed :cry: and decided to stay overnight in Harrisonburg to see the Virginia Quilt Museum on Sunday before driving home via James Madison's Montpelier. (if you watched Ricky on CBS Sunday morning, and kept watching, you saw this too!) This summer George will be at a camp near Harrisonburg so we'll probably stop in the museum again Florence

[Sandy F.]

Yep, I've driven that road many, many times. Actually, I drove on that road when it was being graded and paved. I was about 10-11, but it was in the middle of nowhere then and no one cared!! When I was very young, we took Hwy 11 (Lee Hwy in VA) to Roanoke to visit relatives every summer. There's a section of Hwy 11 in Kingsport that has grown quite a lot with restaurants and businesses. Actually, I try to avoid it if possible, but sometimes I just have to go to Target!! Thanks, Sandy, for that info. It's an interesting tidbit about my neck of the woods that I'd never really thought about.

Sharon in TN (quiltnlady)

[Sandy F.]

Sharon - That is interesting that Hwy 11 is Lee Hwy in VA. It also goes by Lee Hwy here in Lenoir City. I just thought it was a local thing and named after a Lee Family. Something else to check out, is all of Hwy 11 referred to as Lee Hwy, if so might be named after Robert E. Lee of VA. It goes through downtown Lenoir City and Loudon, some areas are built up more than others.

[Sandy F.]

It goes thru Lexington, VA, home of Washington & Lee University, where Robert E Lee served as President after the war. Around here, if it's named Lee there's an assumption it's named for him or his family :wink:
Florence

[Sandy F.]

It would be interesting to plan a trip to the Virginia Quilt Museum traveling via HWY 11. I googled and it is about 384 miles from my house by Interstate. I'm sure it would be more using only HWY 11.

[Sandy F.]

longer, but prettier and more sane that I-81!

[Sandy F.]

Another bit of information. This yardsale is becoming more popular along the stretch where I live.

US 11 ANTIQUE ALLEY & YARD SALE - On the backroads of Appalachia for 502 miles from Meridian, Mississippi to Bristol, Virgina. The sale is always the weekend after Mother's Day in May.
The 2008 sale is May 15th - 18th.

http://www.us11antiquealley.com/

[Sandy F.]

Thanks, Sandy, that was interesting. I've heard of this for several years, and it was even featured on HGTV a few years ago. Sandy, how far do you drive just to browse?

Margo, it may just go right through your back yard. Get all that old fabric that you no longer 'need' and we'll all be down to visit. Don't worry about what to cook - we'll eat anything!!!

Have a great weekend everybody, Sharon in TN (quiltnlady)