Driving through Depew, a small town along the Depew Loop of old Route 66, we couldn’t help but feel a wave of mixed emotions. Once a lively stop for travelers, today the town carries a quieter rhythm—where every brick wall and faded sign seems to whisper stories of the past.
One of the first things that stands out is the tall water tower, proudly rising above the town, a symbol that Depew is still here, still holding on to its history. The massive tank holds 60,000 gallons of water, supported by four steel legs each standing 97 feet tall. We didn’t manage to capture a photo of it during our visit, but it remains one of the most recognizable features of the skyline.
Depew thrived in the earliest years of Route 66, when Main Street was part of the 1926–1928 alignment, known as the Depew Loop. But in 1928 the town was bypassed by a straighter alignment to the south. Like many other small communities, this shift redirected the flow of travelers and left Depew facing quieter days.
Walking or driving through the streets, we spotted signs marking different Route 66 alignments, reminders of how the Mother Road once pulsed through this place. If you look closely, you can still find pieces of the original pavement, sometimes closed or abandoned, but still full of historic charm.
Passing through villages like this always stirs something inside us. There’s a touch of nostalgia and sadness for what was lost, but also fascination and hope—because behind these places there are still people who keep the stories alive, welcome travelers, and proudly preserve the spirit of Route 66.
