Route 66 lures German couple to Carthage – Carthage, MO – Carthage Press

Karla and Guenther Fredericksen have been to the United States from their home in Germany before. They have traveled extensively in the United States to a number of icons that people in other countries, and even in our own country, think of when they think about coming to America. this trip they were traveling another American icon, one that cuts through the heart of Carthage — Route 66. We caught the Fredericksens at the Powers Museum on Aug. 13, just before it closed for the installation of the Civil War Lee and Grant exhibit. Guenther, a retired engineer at a food processing factory, and Karla, a schoolteacher, spoke English well, but it was definitely their second language. "English is used everywhere and we have been to the States several times before," Karla Fredericksen said. "We took a trip to the Southwest and we went to Yellowstone years ago. We have been to new Orleans and we have been to the Grand Canyon." The couple had spent the night before in Springfield and were planning to spend the next night in Tulsa, Okla., but they decided to pause in Carthage to see some of the sights displayed prominently in their German-language Route 66 travel guide. They said they had not heard much about Carthage before arriving here, but they had seen the courthouse before. A photograph of the Jasper County Courthouse was displayed large in their German language Route 66 guidebook. "The courthouse is very interesting," Karla Fredericksen said. "The elevator inside is interesting and the big picture (Lowell Davis' mural) and all the old things around in the exhibits are good to look at." The couple also wanted to see some of the other sights in Carthage. "Red Oak is in our traveling guide," Karla Fredericksen said. "but we couldn't find Red Oak. It's also difficult to find all the signs that shows where Route 66 leads on. We drive along the road and there is a sign left and then we drive along and we had to go right, but we didn't see it, there was no sign. On the whole tour it's a problem." The Fredericksens said Route 66 is legendary in Germany and in other parts of Europe. "Many friends of ours are driving Route 66 with Harleys," Guenther Fredericksen said. "On the television, some actor driving Route 66 on a Harley is very famous. Dennis Hopper is his name. He's in the film with Henry Fonda and Dennis Hopper. It's the movie 'Easy Rider.'" "It's a big thing," Karla Fredericksen added. "when we hear of the States, the first thing that comes to mind is Route 66, we have to go on Route 66. there are songs about Route 66."  

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