Vanishing Postcards

Ron Metzger defines a motorhead as “Anybody who loves anything with a gas pedal or a brake pedal.” Raised in a family of car fanatics he says, “I’ve been a motorhead pretty much since the day I was born.” For this, when the time came to fulfill his years long dream of opening a restaurant, it only seemed right to call the place Motorheads.

Housed in an old Stuckey’s just off I-55 on Route 66, the building had suffered from years of neglect. Yet he was captivated by its wooden, ship-like ceilings and recognized the property’s potential. “I’m a car guy,” he says. “If you find a ’67 Corvette, I don’t care how bad it is- you’ve got to restore it. You can’t just throw it away. And when I looked up, this building was just that deal.” Decorated with tins and neon from old local businesses like Shea’s Gas Station and the A. Lincoln Motel, Ron insists his interest in these objects extends beyond their visual appeal. “That’s what built America,” he says of small businesses, and emphatically proclaims- “Route 66 is here to stay!

Hear Ron share his story in this clip from Springfield’s Stewards of 66- an oral history project we’re honored to share in conjunction with .

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“Beer is good for the soul,” says George Reisch. A successful fifth-generation brewmaster, his great-great-grandfather Franz learned the craft in Germany before bringing it to Springfield where he christened the Reisch Brewery in 1849. Open for 117 years, at its peak Reisch Beer sold more than 100,000 bottles annually until steep competition forced the company’s closure in 1966. Yet its memory persisted and is enjoying a miraculous rebirth thanks to hobbyists like Vince Salvo whose appreciation for Reisch artwork or “breweriana”
inspired them to revive the brand as a charity. Relaunched in 2019 with George’s blessing
and stewardship, its first batch sold out in under an hour. Now available at many local retailers and restaurants, George attributes this success to Reisch’s history. “The story brings people to their first beer,” he says. “We have a story that just knocks people’s socks off… I just hope that 117 years from now the charity’s still running and we’re doing some
really good things in this world. The world needs some more good things to be done.” Hear George and Vince share the story of Reisch Beer in this clip from Springfield’s Stewards of 66- an oral history project we’re honored to share with . 📸

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More from Springfield’s Stewards of 66- an oral history project we’re honored to share in conjunction with Visit Springfield…