Route 66 Association of Missouri

Home , Chain of Rocks Bridge, Irwin Allen, Poplar Street Bridge, Route 66 Association

Same Location ·u...••• for 50 Years! Historic Route 66 stretches across the U.S. from Chicago to Los Angeles. Along the way, in Lebanon, Missouri is a growing popular landmark stop for any history enthusiast, tourist, or local Ozark resident. Shepherd Hills Factory Outlets started in the outlet business in 1972 as an outlet for locally made Walnut Bowls. Ida and Rea Reid, founders, began their entrepreneurship operating a motel in the 1960's called the Capri Motel which was located right along Route 66, known today as Interstate 44. ' They sold the Capri Motel in 1966 and along with their sons, Rod and Randy, started a new business in 1972 called the Shepherd Hills Gift Shop which was leased as a part of the Shepherd Hills Motel and happened to be located in virtually the same spot as the Capri Motel.

Later, as they began expanding, they bought a portion of the motel as well as the gift shop and began construction of their current building in 1999. In the meantime, Shepherd Hills added additional locations including those in Osage Beach, MO, Branson, MO, and Eddyville, KY, and brought in other quality products to the lineup including Chicago Cutlery, Denby Pottery, and of course Case XX pocketknives--making the latter also available through catalog mail order and eventually on the web at www.CaseXX.com. Leach Service Serving the motoring public since 1949

9720 Manchester Road Rock Hill, MO 63119 • (314J 962·5550 www.I.eachservice.com Open 6AM-Midnight

We now have fountain soda and lottery! Missouri Safety & Emissions Inspections Auto Repairs, Towing, Tires-new & repairs Diesel, bp Gasoline, Kerosene Propane Tank Refills or Exchanges 7f/e - ~ tee 5o't ~ ~, Ask about our Buy 5 Oil Changes Get One FREE! Special Full Service Customers, ask about a FREE Oil Change punch card. Yes, we still have Full Service where friendly attendants pump your gas, clean your windows and check your oil and tires.

Member Brentwood Chamber of Commerce Business Member Route 66 Association contents ~

features

2 OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES EDITOR'S NOTES 3 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Robert Gehl 4 JEEP GIRL'S JOURNAL Carolyn Hasenfratz 5 NEWS FROM THE ROAD 10 SORTING OUT 661N ST. LOUIS Jim Powell 18 ROUTE 66 ACROSS OLD MAN RIVER Joe Sonderman 26 REMEMBERING THE MIDWAY Jane Reed 28 16 SEATS IN HEAVEN Rich Dinkela II 30 YOUTHS CELEBRATE 66 Norma Maret Bolin 32 CRUISING ROUTE 66 AT 20,000 FEET KipWelborn 38 MONUMENT DEDICATED Glenda Pike 40 GETYOUR KICK START • ON ROUTE 66 Rich Dinkela II 42 NEW MEMBERS Robert Gehl 43 BUSINESS MEMBER DIRECTORY Robert Gehl 48 THEN AND NOW Joe Sonderman

ADVERTISING RATES PER ISSUE Inside Cover Full Page Color - $175, Back Cover Full Page Color - $185, 1/2 Page B&W - $70,112 Page Color - $85,114 Page B&W - $50, 1/4 Page Color - $60,118 Business Card B&W - $40. Other rates are available upon re9uest, call (314) 965-5751.

PUBLICATION SCHEDULE Summer Issue, July 2012 Fall Issue, October 2012 Winter Issue, January 2013 Spring Issue, April 2013 Submission deadline 5.19.12 Submission deadline 8.19.12 Submission deadline 11.19.12 Submission deadline 2.19.13

FUTURE MEETING DATES April 14, 2012 - Rosati Winery & Museum, Rosati / July 14, 2012 - The Wallace House, Cuba / Nov. 17, 2012 - Stones Throw Dinner Theatre, Carthage

FOLLOW THE ASSOCIATION ON FACEBOOK Please become a fan to stay up to date on meetings, activities, news from the road and magazine previews. You are welcome to post your favorite Route 66 pictures. Thanks to Internet Services Director Carolyn Hasenfratz. www.facebook.com/missouri66

Show Me ROUt( 66 Magazine is the official publication of The Route 66 Association of Missouri. Show Me Route 66 Magazine is published quarterly and is distributed free of charge (Q all paid members in good standing of The Rome 66 Association of Missouri. Additional copies may be purchased for the cost in advance of $6 USD each including postage. Request for additional copies may be made direct to The ROLIte 66 Association of Missouri, P.O. Box 8117, St. Louis, Missouri 63156. Manuscripts and photographs submitted for publication are welcome and should be sent electronically to Joe Sonderman, Magazine Coordinator, Route 66 Association of Missouri, at sdrr66@aoLcom. Reproduction of this magazine in parr or in whole, is prohibited wirhour written permission from the President andlor Board of Directors of The Route 66 Association of Missouri. The Route 66 Association of Missouri and the production staff are nor responsible for errors or omissions contained herein. The Route 66 Association of Missouri and the production staff retain the right to edit any submitted materials and to nor publish an article of questionable content or that goes against the purpose of The Route 66 Association of Missouri. The Route 66 Association of Missouri is a non-profit corporation established to preserve. promote and develop Old Route 66 in Missouri.

missouri66.org 1 JIDJ officers/directors/committees

OFFICERS PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER Tommy Pike Diane Warhover Mark Stauter Robert Schulz 1602 East Dale St. 447 Clemens Ave. 309 Hutchinson Dr. 708 South Market St. Springfield, MO 65803 Kirkwood, MO 63122 Rolla, MO 65401 Waterloo, IL 62298 (417) 865-1318 (314) 965-5751 (573) 341-2932 (618) 939-7021 furyon66(O)earthlink.net warhoverdiane(O)gmail.com mstauter(O)fidnet.com schulz(O)htc.net

BOARD OF Jerry Benner Robert Gehl Debbie Rhew Ted Terbeek 1115Chatelet Dr. 1667 Timber Ridge Est. Dr. P.O. Box 761 5601 S. Foxboro Trail DIRECTORS Ferguson, MO 63135 Wildwood, MO 63011 Dixon, MO 65459 Springfield, MO 65804 (314) 521-4255 (636) 458-4585 (573) 433-9812 (417) 823-9166 ~benner(O)mindspring.com (636) 458-4080 fax dprhew(O)windstream.net terbeektn(O)sbcglobal.net rgehl66(O)earthlink.net James Crooks Joe Schulte James J. Thole 2540 Christopher Oaks Ct. Norman L. Heirnonimus 940 Saint Antoine St. 1264 Jade Wind Cir. St. Louis, MO 63129 P.O. Box 504 Florissant, MO 63031 Manchester, MO 63011 (314) 293-2540 Cuba, MO 65453 (314) 921-1329 (636) 227-2258 jimmy52(O)sbcglobal.net (573) 885-4651 joedo9(O)swbell.net 66thole(O)sbcglobal.net normanh(O)centurylink.com David J. Eslick 3311 South Elmira Jerry L. Law Springfield, MO 65807 434 N. 5th Street (417) 889-9332 Wood River, IL 62095 djeslick(O)undata.com (314) 440-0040 thelaw1(O)sbcglobal.net

COMMITTEES HISTORIAN! PRESERVATION MOTOR TOUR PUBLICATIONS ORAL HISTORY Jane Dippel, Chairperson Kip Welborn, Diane Warhover, Jerry Benner, Chairperson 7920 Captain Conn Dr. Co-Chairperson Chairperson • 1115Chatelet Dr. St. Louis, MO 63123 Jane Dippel, 447 Clemens Ave. Ferguson, MO 63135 (314) 843-7132 Co-Chairperson Kirkwood, MO 63122 (314) 521-4255 vestaon66(O)cs.com 3947 Russell Blvd. (314) 965-5751 ~benner(O)mindspring.com St. Louis, MO 63110 warhoverdiane(O)gmail.com MEMBERSHIP (314) 853-7385 NEON HERITAGE SERVICES rudkip(O)sbcglobal.net Joe Sonderman, Editor PRESERVATION Robert Gehl, Director 1710 Coachway Lane James J. Thole, Chairperson 1667 Timber Ridge Est. Dr. INTERNET SERVICES Hazelwood, MO 63042 1264 Jade Wind Cir. Wildwood, MO 63011 Carolyn Hasenfratz, (314) 609-6370 Manchester, MO 63011 (636) 458-4585 Director stlrt66(O)aol.com (636) 227-2258 (636) 458-4080 fax 1544 High School Dr. 66thole(O)sbcglobal.net rgehl66(O)earthlink.net Brentwood, MO 63144 (314) 963-0930 carolyn_hasenfratz(O) sbcglobal.net J:IDJeditor's notes

his issue is our second designed by Jamie research he did for the 75rh Anniversary of Rome 66 in 1992. Mr. TKlopmeyer and printed ar Universal in Powell is also providing a wealth of knowledge on other Rome 66 Sr. Louis. I cannot thank Jamie and Linda related ropies and it is truly an honor ro have him contributing! Kujawa enough. Their work has cut the Rich Dinkela has done it again for us, this rime with a tribute to production rime in half, improved the prod- the iconic Carl's Drive-In on rhe often overlooked Original 66/ uct, added more color pages and saved our Manchester Road. Regular contributor Jane Reed rakes a poignant membership money roo! We really hope you look at the Midway Cafe, a landmark we just lost in Cuba. Thanks like the new look, which we think gives us the ro Kip Welborn for an idea I never would have thought of, a look at best Rome 66 Association publication on the Ozark Airlines.Won't you join them? If you have an idea or would Mother Road. like ro submit an article please contact me at [email protected]. We This one was a true group efforr. There is so much confusion are particularly searching for vintage photos and stories of small over the paths of Rome 66 through the Sr. Louis are that we turned businesses along the romeo Well, now it is springtime! Let's hit the ro our founder, Jim Powell. He graciously provided the extensive highway!

2 Show Me Route 66 membership matters ~

BY ROBERTGEHL, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP SERVICES (636) 458-4585 OR RGEHL66(Q)EARTHLlNK.NET

IT IS SAID THAT WE ARE ALL ON AJOURNEY. ROUTE 661S THE JOURNEY OF DREAMS. IT'SJUST AS REAL TO THOSE WHO EMBRACE HER MEANING NO MATTER IF WE'RE STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN GASCOZARK, MISSOURI OR A THOUSAND MILES AWAY, TRAVELING HER ONLY IN OUR MIND'S EYE. ROUTE 66 MAY MEAN SOMETHING UNIQUE TO ALL OF US, BUT ITS FREEDOM, FAMILY, AND SPIRIT HAVE EACH OF US COMING BACK TIME AFTER TIME FOR ANOTHER TRIP DOWN THE MOTHER ROAD.

rented a car, found encouragement and renewal with their kindred spirits on Route 66, and had a wonderful weekend traversing the Ozarks and across the high plains of southwest Missouri to our final stop in Riverton, back on their home turf of Kansas. Over the course of that weekend, with all of us, naturally, feeling so sorry for them about what happened to their vintage pride and joy, it was Butch and Barb that showed all of us what's truly important - spending time with good friends and enjoying the blessings of life to their fullest • each and every day. They were living the journey and the dream of tomorrow being a better day and a better life and Route 66 took them there. Butch's journey continues. Watch for Barb back out on the Moth- er Road soon, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones as she embarks on her new journey without her companion on so many past trips. Each night, as the neon gets switched on, we'll think of Butch and all of our fellow travelers through time as we make our own journey through the heart and soul of America.

Hope to see you on the road! One of our long-time Association members began a new journey Best regards, Bob Gehl "TRVL66" on January 4th, 2012. Elmer Ray "Butch" Rairden passed away from complications of CO PD on that winter day at his home in Abilene, Until our next trip together down Route 66... Kansas, just a few months shy of his 60th birthday. Butch and his Remember, membership matters! gracious wife, Barbara, were not only loyal supporters of our organization but both truly loved their time spent together on Route 66 and were particularly fond of our 317 miles in Missouri. I first met Butch and Barb during the Association's l Oth Annual Motor Tour, the "Run to Riverton" in 1999. I was the co-chairperson for that year's event, and along with my co-chair Irv Logan, we welcomed participants from 17 states, with the Rairden's representing the Sunflower State. Butch and Barb drove their lovingly restored red 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu into the St. Louis area just before the tour, as we were traveling east-to-west that year. As we all gathered to kick-off the weekend's events, we learned of the tragic news that Butch and Barb's classic cruiser was stolen from a suburban motel parking lot while they slept the night before. That shock, disappointment, and frustration would have surely ruined not only that weekend but probably the rest of the year for many of us; for Butch and Barb, they weren't about to let that stop their fun. They immediately

missouri66.org 3 SrllOf~I\W\W'J"

Scrap booking as practiced in earlier times always acid-free so you don't necessarily want it to touch the photos. was a hobby of collecting paper ephemera Protective archival clear plastic sleeves and archival papers allow you and preserving it in albums. I was introduced to combine the two in a way that preserves both. to the modern form of scrap booking with I started thinking about how I was going to create my Route photos in the late 1990's when a friend of 66 album. I knew I was going to be traveling Route 66 again and mine became a Creative Memories consultant again but not always stopping at the same places. If I arranged my and I attended one of her workshops. I was Route 66 album by time like you do with normal vacation albums, pleased to learn about how to preserve photos my view of the road would be disjointed and it would be difficult to in archival albums and present them in an learn the geography as well as I'd like. So I decided to arrange mine attractive way. Archival presenta- geographically instead of by time and indicate the tion and storage is of great inter- dates on the pages. That would est to people who take photos as also help tell the story of how well as to artists and collectors the road changes over time. like myself. The popularity of I decided to get three-ring the scrapbooking hobby has binders, one for each of the • made archival materials more eight states.I would use 8.5 accessible and easier to use than x 11 inch card stock for the ever. AI;a result of the Creative pages and store them in clear Memories workshop I invested archival sleeves for three ring in some archival materials and binders that you can get at an versatile scrap booking tools and office supply store. That way was soon using them in differ- I could insert new pages easily ent paper crafts. in the right geographical order. Not long after my introduc- This arrangement would give me tion to scrap booking, I took the opportunity to insert other my first Route 66 trip and sleeves for my collections that soon became obsessed with the are compatible with three-ring Mother Road.A Route 66 trip binders, such as for my postcard can be a great vacation in the usual sense, but if you get hooked on collection or postage stamps.If it to the point where it becomes a way of life as it did for me, you I wanted to cut out parts of brochures and maps and use them as want to do more than just take a trip on it. You want to immerse part of the page layout, I could do that without fear of damaging yourself in the history. You want to collect artifacts and information. anything since the page protectors would keep the non-archival You want to preserve what you've seen and experienced, not only for paper from touching the photos on the opposite pages. The 8.5 x 11 yourself but for future generations.You want to take multiple trips in format would be compatible with much of the paper ephemera year after year to observe and document the ever-changing road. I wanted to collect, and 8.5 x 11 in archival cardstock is easy to After my first Route 66 trip it was clear that a Route 66 al- find and inexpensive. My chosen format, although very unortho- bum was the perfect opportunity to combine collecting of paper dox compared to what most others in the scrapbooking hobby use, ephemera with photos. For example, when my brother and I were has worked well for me over the years. If you would like to create exploring road ruins in the Mohave Desert, he saw a piece of paper an album like mine, I'll explain what you'll need, describe how to blowing around the ruins of the Roadrunner Cafe. When he picked create page layouts and provide sample page layout ideas and shape it up, he was delighted to discover that it was a letter from Ronald templates you can try. Reagan to a constituent when he was still Governor of California! Definitely a keeper and it tells a better story if displayed alongside To read the rest of this article, go to carolynsstampstore.coml the photos of the vicinity where he found it. Paper ephemera is not cataloglscrapbooking.php.

4 Show Me Route 66 news from the road l1nt

MISSOURI us 66

NEON HERITAGE PRESERVATION proudly hangs in front of the Mule Trading Post near Rolla has just COMMITTEE - SPRING UPDATE been restored, and is again shining brightly, inviting travelers to stop BY JIM THOLE and take a look - at both the sign and the merchandise inside as well. The Mule has gone through numerous ownership changes over Just a few days before this issue the years since it located here in the 1950s, but has been nicely cared went to press, we learned that the for by Carl & Zelma Smith since 2004. It is conveniently located for neon Entrance & Exit signs at the both Route 66 and interstate travelers, at 1-44 exit 189. Sunset Motel were installed and re-lit, pursuant to a 2011 cost- PHILLIPS 66 HELPS ROADIE GET HIS KICKS share grant that was approved by the National Park Service for this As gas prices soar to record • purpose. heights, one Route 66 fan has It was just three years ago that found a way to fuel his passion. the primary neon sign and the Route 66 Association of Missouri front gable outlining at the Sunset member Rich Dinkela II won free Motel were restored, along with gas for a year from Phillips 66 in additional refurbishment to the the firm's "Local Legends" on-line building - but that project in video promotion. 2009 did not include the neon Phillips 66 encouraged patrons signs marking the entrance and in five states - Illinois, Kansas, exit.The original intention was Missouri, New Mexico and Texas simply to remove the tattered - to submit a personal video of Entrance sign, since its companion their special talent for a chance to Exit sign had been stolen years win weekly, monthly, sweepstakes ago. However the National Park and grand prizes. The successful Service encouraged the owners to seven-month campaign motivated restore these two neon markers more than 200 consumers to as well at a later date, rather than submit videos of their exceptional remove the one remaining ... and skills, with the top three grand prize winners receiving Phillips 66 now "a later date" has arrived. gas for a year These two marker signs have now Rich's video featured him driving down Route 66 in his truck been restored in 2012. with a 66 shield on the hood, discussing his passion for the Mother This completes the total neon Road. Dinkela says he has been exhaustively researching Route 66 scene at the Sunset Motel, and what a stunning neon scene it is ... for ten years, traveling the entire route six times and mapping nearly with the primary sign, the Entrance & Exit markers, and the gable every mile on a GPS system. "I eat, sleep and breathe Route 66," he outlining all creating a neon display reminiscent of the hey-day of says. Rich is well known for painting artistic Route 66 shields on the Route 66. This is truly one of the most dazzling, comprehensive pavement and at roadside landmarks and ruins. neon displays on all of the Mother Road today. So make arrange- In February, Dinkela learned that his video, "Route 66 Rich" ments on your next trip down Missouri 66 to pass by here at night had finished third and cashed in to the tune of $2,600 worth of gas - it's worth stopping for. cards. He used them on his last journey, videotaping sections such as And there's more - the "mule" is back! The neon mule sign that the "Sidewalk Highway" near Afton, Oklahoma and the bumpy old

missouri66.org 5 Jlti news from the road

road to the ruins of the Painted Desert Trading Post near Navajo, Arizona. His videos are posted on Facebook and at www.Hooke- dOnRoute66.com so everyone can ride along. We are very thankful Rich is a regular contributor to Show Me Route 66. [;.l

FIRE CLAIMS ROUTE 66 MOTEL ~

It was an intriguing ruin, accessible only by foot and filled with relics of yesteryear. But the Beacon Hill Motel is no more. A brush fire in March that hampered visibility on 1-44 and threatened some homes Debye Harvey and her sister, Priscilla Bledsaw, have found enough also destroyed the unwelcome surprises that they have changed some of their plans in remains of the old preparation for the first guests. Debra and Priscilla are planning a motel that once "soft opening" for May 8, when the Carthage Convention and Visi- served travelers on tors Bureau is taking part in the National Travel Rally. Route 66. Just five rooms in the 1946 addition to the motel will be ready in Highway re- the spring. The sisters found that the eight rooms in the 1939 main alignment over building will need much more work. The original plan called for the years had left the rooms in the 1946 addition to become office space. Now those the Beacon Hill rooms will welcome guests and hopefully provide funds for further stranded atop a steep hill on the north side ofI-44 west of the Sugar restoration. Removing the pitched roofs added on during the 1970s • Tree Road Exit. The motel took its name from an airline beacon is a critical part of the future plans. The flat roofs must be restored that was erected on the roof It originally had nine cabins with no to qualify for restoration grants and for the National Register of heat and was served by a community toilet. The original station was Historic Places. The Boots will be unique, because the new owners torn down in 1953 when 4-lane Route 66 was constructed. The are taking great pains to restore the rooms as close to original condi- nine cabins were connected and a restaurant was added as shown in tion as possible. the postcard view. The eight original 1939 units had dozens of holes in the walls The Beacon Hill closed in 1968, shortly after Interstate 44 was and other damage after years of weekly rentals. The sisters say it is completed and left it marooned with no access on the service road. astounding that the motel is even standing. But Debye promises The last re-alignment ofI-44 in 2005 even wiped out the service "In a just a few more months, these rooms will be as fresh and new road and the only access to the abandoned structures was up a steep as they were 66 years ago ... and a rare example of the transition of hill on the westbound side of the Interstate. (Show Me Route 66 the older cabins and motor courts to the beginnings of the modern Volume 21 Number 4 Fall 2011) A big sign painted on the shingles motel era that visitors will experience when they walk in the door." on south side of the structure once touted Chenille bed spreads. In The front office has already been restored and features a 30s era 2003, the group Friends of the Mother Road spent a day salvaging radio and a '49 era Tv. The sisters hope to have the eight additional those shingles and numbering them in hopes that the sign could be units ready sometime this year. re-assembled at a new location some day. Route 66 enthusiasts Rich Dinkela II, Dean Kennedy, Arizona For reservation information, contact Priscilla at bootsmotel@ author Jim Hinckley and Joe Sonderman toured the ruins last sum- botmail.com. Additional information will also be posted at mer. They found the interior of one unit still filled with old books www.bootsmotel.com. All the available rooms for the soft and paper. In another unit, a motor for running a Magic Fingers vi- opening date have been reserved. brating unit was still attached to one of the beds. Hinckley says the Beacon Hill was one of the highlights of his visit and he was looking DETOUR ON ROUTE 661N CARTHAGE forward to exploring it more on a return trip. Route 66 travelers will face a detour this summer at Carthage. BOOTS REBORN MoDOT is rebuilding the MO 96 bridge over the Spring River at the northeast entrance to Carthage. This non-descript 480 foot long Anyone who has attempted to restore a historic structure knows span is not to be confused with the nearby historic balustrade bridge there plenty of surprises lurking behind the old walls. As restora- over the railroad tracks northeast of Carthage, constructed in 1934. tion progresses on the Boots Motel in Carthage, Missouri owners The span being removed was constructed in 1953 for a new align-

6 Show Me Route 66 news from the road ~

ment of Route 66. When plans were unveiled for the present day MO 96, E.M. "Uke" Haughawout saw an opportuniry. A member of the Carthage Sportsmen's Protective League, he envisioned a recreational lake between Old Route 66 and the new road. Mr. and Mrs. c.A. Kellogg donated 28 acres for the lake and park. The lake opened to fisher- men on July 1, 1954 and a roadside park opened in 1956. The official westbound detour routes travelers off MO 96 at MO 37 (Avilla) south to Jasper Counry Rte E, west to MO 571 and into Carthage. However Old Route 66 travelers in passenger cars and light trucks can simply continue straight ahead past the Kel-Lake Motel on the old alignment. (East Java Street) Continue west to MO 571 (North Garrison Avenue) and then turn south into Car- thage. Truck traffic cannot use this route, due to weight limits on the bridges. MoDOT hopes have the project completed by the fall.

IL MOTOR TOUR SET event at this year's Fest. The Route 66 Arizona Route 66 author Jim Hinckley will debut his long- Association of awaited Route 66 Encyclopedia 6-Atlas at Cuba Fest. Of the eight Illinois 2012 Route 66 states and the numerous larger, more well-known com- Motor Tour is set munities that have the distinction of being Route 66 towns, you for June 8, 9, and might wonder why Mr. Hinckley has chosen small Cuba to debut 10th this year. his book. The tour actually Hinckley stated, "On our trip in October of 20 11, we became starts South in enamored with the tangible passion for the highway manifesting Edwardsville, Illi- itself in Cuba, the people like Connie and Riva Echols that exem- nois, crossing the plify the spirit of the road, and the friendliness of the people in the historic Chain of communiry, and for that reason, I selected Cuba and Cuba Fest as Rocks Bridge at the venue for the book's introduction." Hinckley also sees his book 8:15 am Saturday tour as a way to promote the small towns and "mom and pop" morning, June 9. Route 66 businesses. Dorothy McMullen, of the Route 66 Association of Illinois, In October of 20 11, Hinckley stayed at Connie Echols' Wagon writes that the tour is "guaranteed to end with a bang" this year. The Wheel Motel and, along with Missouri's Route 66 writer Joe Son- association web site promises a "BIG SECRET" will be revealed on derman and the author of the Wagon Wheel Motel's history Riva Sunday, June l Oth. The final Passport stop, Elwood, Illinois, is plan- Echols, he held a book signing of his book Ghost Town's of Route ning an exciting "End of Tour" gala on Sunday, June 10th. 66. The hospitaliry that he encountered and the spirit of Cuba There will be live entertainment featuring Jim Hannah and impressed him enough to want to return for Cuba Fest with his new the Country Boys, food, drinks, raffies, 50-50 drawing, and much book. more. It all takes place in beautiful Lloyd Erickson Park, adjacent to The new atlas will create a time capsule of the 85-year history of the famous Children's Garden. It will be a grand ending to a great Route 66. The book will have a concise history of every communiry motor tour. along the Route 66 alignments and provide biographical sketches of the individuals who were and are instrumental in its development, For more information on the motor tours, and anything else transition, and current interest. Hinckley enlisted the assistance of related to Route 66 in Illinois, contact: Marty Blitstein, blitz66@ Route 66 historians for research and vintage images. Hinckley and earthlink.net, 708-444-1312 orJerry Law, thelaw [email protected]. his wife have provided more current images in the book. The book will also deal with sites and locations crucial to the BOOK UNVEILING HIGHLIGHTS Route 66 story and its history, including the "World's Larg- CUBA FEST est Negro Dude Ranch" and a profile of Victor Green, the creator of the Negro Motorist Green Book. The atlas Cuba Fest 2012 on October 20-21 in the also includes a lively section on the crimes associated Recklein Commons area on N. Smith Street in with Route 66. Cuba, Missouri will feature crafts, music, trolley Although Hinckley realizes that the ever-evolving tours, apple butter making, food, a 5K race, and road prevents a totally up-to-date volume, he stated, family fun as it always does. This year the Tri-C "It is the most comprehensive work yet published organization that organizes the event has chosen about Route 66." a Route 66 theme in keeping with a special Route 661he Mother Road on-line magazine is part-

missouri66.org 7 JmJ news from the road

nering with Hinckley and Cuba Fest to provide ongoing advertising ily bought a casket at the store and laid the deceased out at home for the event between now and Cuba Fest in October. before burial. The Jacksons also provided a horse-drawn hearse. This year's Cuba Fest should, in additional to the usual annual According to the survey, Alfred ''Alf'' Jackson also learned to events, offer even more excitement with the debut of this significant "tat," so he could show his customers how it was done. In the early book. Mark your calendars for October 20-21 in Cuba as we pre- 20th Century, handcrafting tatted lace, a durable lace made from a pare to rock the road with this event and perhaps a few surprises. series of knots creating rings and chains, was a very popular method of making decorations. For event updates go to Route 66 Cuba Fest 2012 on Facebook Alf eventually bought the business from his sisters and ran it or visit the website page at cubamomurals.comlcubafest.html. with his family. In 1917, he sold to Claude and Quintella Jackson Taylor, who operated the store until 1922. The properry was then PLANO MYSTERY SOLVED owned by Nancy Jane "Mam" Jackson until she died in 1943 and it was inherited by her son. When he died in 1950, the properry was The stone building sits on the corner of Old Route 66 (MO 266) sold off, and it's probable that the building has been abandoned ever and Farm Road 45 in the ghost town of Plano, abour four miles SInce. east of Halltown. The roof is gone, but the sturdy native limestone walls still stand, covered with vegetation. The building is a magnet '57 CHEVY HITS MILESTONE ON ROUTE 66 for photographers, and countless Route 66 travelers have wondered IN MISSOURI about its history. Plano was recently placed on the Greene Counry Marry and Geri Bilecki of Morris, Illinois are members of both the Route 66 Association of Missouri and of Illinois. Their Canyon Coral and Indian Ivory 1957 Chevrolet 210 four-door sedan is a familiar sight at Route 66 events. This Chevy stands out with its unusual color and license plate that reads "CORAL-57." It's not ap- parent from the outside, but this '57 Chevy has over 300,000 miles on it! In 1995, Marty and Geri purchased the car they have named "Geraldine."They were the fifth owners and the odometer had 210,000 miles on it at the time. The car has been repainted and • most of the glass replaced and was re-chrorned, but Geraldine still her original six-cylinder 235ci engine with an oil-bath air filter. The tires and battery are the only non-original items on the car. The Chevy's odometer turned over to 300,000 miles last summer while the Bilecki's were returning from the Route 66 Festival in Amarillo, Texas. It happened at mile marker 224 on Interstate 44 in Sullivan. Marry says they love traveling Route 66 and support the mom Historic Sites Register and a survey done as part of the nomina- and pop businesses when they can. The car has been to events all tion process and posted by River Pilot sheds some new light on the over the country, including several trips along the entire route! building. Geri says the odometer now reads 302,622.1 Watch for Marry and Various sources have said the spooky looking ruin had served as Geri on the road this summer and make sure to check Geraldine's everything from a casket factory to a general store and movie the- odometer. ater. The new research tells us John Jackson began work on the 50 ft. by 60 ft. structure in May, 1902 on the northwest corner of the Springfield-Carthage Road and the Bois d'Arc to Billings Road in the area known at that time as Leeper Prairie. The stone was hauled from the nearby O'Banion's Quarry. According to the survey, the Jackson family built the structure with help from the neighbors. The lower level had two rooms, and was used as a general store. The neighbors could bring in their pro- duce, eggs and baked items for sale. The upper level was a residence and included a hall that was used as a church on Sunday.It was also reportedly used for court proceedings, dances and a meeting hall for organizations such as the Modern Woodmen and Royal Neighbors. The business was originally managed by John Jackson's son,Alfred, and his daughter, Mollie and Quintilla. Caskets were available at the store, and the Jacksons also ran a mortuary and "undertakers parlor" in a large wooden building across the road. At the time, bodies were not embalmed. The fam-

8 Show Me Route 66 PICTURE YOURSELF I~CUBA~ mo. .•.u/keAe .ar.~ ~

America's Maple leaf City

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missouri66.org 9 out 66 in st. louis

SaRTI NG OUT 66 IN ST. LOUIS

BY JIM POWELL - FOUNDER, ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI

EDITOR'S NOTE: The tangled web of Route 66 alignments through St. Louis is diffrcult to sort out, even for the experts. The defrnitive work on the subject was done by James R. Powell in 1992, the 75th anniversary of Route 66. In the years since, many more people have become interested in our "Mother Road" and mystifred by the sight of 66 signs on Manchester, Lindbergh and dozens of other locations. We are revisiting much of Jim's original research to answer those questions. Portions of his original work have been edited for space and updated to refiect changes along the route since 1992, particularly due to the new Interstate 64.

U.S. 66 BACKGROUND $75,000,000, which was approved by the voters as Proposition 3 on When the U.S. umbered Highway System was formally approved ovember 6, 1928. The amendment added 300 miles of roads to on November 11, 1926, much of the intended path of U.S. 66 had the primary system, and separately provided $11,500,000 for previ- not been constructed and/or paved. This was particularly true in ously designated "traffic relief" roads in Kansas Ciry and St. Louis, the St. Louis area, where the approved route would not be complete including "A road leaving U.S. 50 and U.S. 66 at or near Grays until August 1933. Summit, thence into St. Louis over the Antire and Watson Roads." As a result, Manchester Road, which was designated to carry All of this evidence makes it clear that highway officials intended U.S. 50, was also used as the original path of U.S. 66 out of St. Route 66 to go through Pacific all along and Manchester was a tem- Louis because at the time it was the only improved road heading porary route until the designated corridor was complete. west with no river crossings. Manchester may be "Original 66," but that designation was never intended to be permanent. U.S. 66 ROUTINGS The original map of the "United Srares System of Highways" ap- With that background, let's delve into the many paths of U.S. 66 proved by rhe U.S. Department of Agriculture as of November 11, in the St. Louis area. In rhe following sections, U.S. 66 refers to the 1926, shows rhe approved roures of U.S. 50 (Manchester Road) and "regular, main or primary" routing, while other routes are preceded U.S. 66 out of St. Louis. On this map,U.S. 66 follows its intended by a descriptive prefix. Also, all routings are "westbound" except parh rhrough Pacific. where noted. [Updated or clarifying information in brackets is At least as early as 1927, the road through Pacific was included added by the author.]

in the state highway plan. By 1929, work was srarred in St. Louis ToSf cnertes for Counry on "new" Warson Road as the rouring of U.S. 66 in St. H8nnilxJlorK8nsasCity Louis. Construction was completed in mid-1933, and U.S. 66 was relocated to "new" Watson as of August 5-6, 1933. U.S. 50 remained on Manchester until 1955; at this time, U.S. 50 was also relocated to Watson. Politics, of course, entered into the decision to build "new" Watson Road. But the issue was not where the highway would go. Instead, it was how the road would be funded and when it would be built. In 1927-1928, there were basically three separate camps with regard to how to fund the state road building. One faction wanted a pay-as-you-go program, a second wanted a $60,000,000 state road bond amendment, and a third -led by the Automobile Club of Mis- souri - wanted a $120,000,000 bond amendment. Finally, a compromise was reached for a bond amendment of

10 Show Me Route 66 sorting out 66 in st. louis ~

ORIGINAL ROUTE- U.S. 66 .3; L on Grand Blvd. 1.4; R on Delmar Blvd.. 6; L on Sarah St. To 1926. The highway that was then marked as u.s. 60, was routed Joplin: From Sarah St. go west on Lindell Blvd.. 3; L on Boyle Ave. by the AM (1926 North Central Tour Book) across the McKinley .6; R on Clayton Ave. thru Forest Park 2.7; L on McCausland Ave. Bridge over the Mississippi River as follows: 1.1; R on Manchester Rd." "ENTERING ST. LOUIS: At end of st. [Broadway] L on Main St.. 2; 1928. The AM (1928 South Central Tour Book) listed the routing R across McKinley Bridge 1.2; L on 9th St. 2.4; R on Washington as: The same as 1927 from Edwardsville to the McKinley Bridge, Ave.. 2; L on 12th St. then "at end of [McKinley] bridge L on 9th St.; next R on Salisbury "TO JOPLIN: From 12th St. go west on Locust Blvd. and Lindell St. .6; R on Natural Bridge Ave. .3; L on Grand Blvd. 1.4; Ron Blvd. to end; L on Skinker Rd. 1 mi.; R on Clayton Rd. 4.6; L on Delmar Blvd.. 6; L on Sarah St.. 1; R on Washington St. .1; L on Denny Rd. [Lindbergh Blvd.] 2 mi.; R on Manchester Rd." Whittier St. To Joplin: From Sarah (sic) St. go west on Lindell Blvd. 1927. According to the AM (1927 North Central and South Cen- 3.0; Lon Skinker Rd. 1.0; ahead on McCausland Ave. 1.1; Ron tral Tour Books), U.S. 66 approached and went through St. Louis, Manchester Rd." as follows: There has long been a debate about whether U.S. 66 first crossed EDWARDSVILLE - "To St. Louis: R on Hillsboro St., L on Main the McKinley Bridge, and then switched to the Municipal "Free" St., R around Court House 0.2, R on St. Louis St. 0.3, L" [on West Bridge. Well, let's look at the record. St. under the railroad tracks into St. Louis Road, R on Chain of Rocks Road to Mitchell. From Mitchell take Nameoki Road (now SR 203) to Granite Ciry.] GRANITE CITY - "To St. Louis: R on Madison Ave., R on 30th St., next L on G St. (now Grand Ave. which is one-way northbound at 27th; go west one block to State.), R on l Sth Sr., next L on State St." [curve L and then R onto Broadway through Madison to Venice.] (15) VENICE - "To St. Louis: at end of [Broadway] street L on Main St. 0.2, R across McKinley Bridge. (A small section of old Broadway is now blocked in both directions - follow the signs to the bridge.) (16) ST. LOUIS - "Entering St. Louis: At end of [McKinley] bridge L on 9th St.; next R on Salisbury St. .6; R on Natural Bridge Ave.

missouri66.org 11 out 66 in st. louis

In 1926-1928, a 1.67 mile section of Illinois Routes 3 and 4 OPTIONAL 66 [U.S. 66] did not exist between the City of Madison, IL (McKin- A McKinley Bridge Auto Trails Map from the late 1920s describes ley Bridge) and the Madison County Line toward East St. Louis an eastbound routing through Sr. Louis as follows (emphasis (Municipal Bridge), because Madison County had not obtained the added): right-of-way. Most likely, this road to the Municipal Bridge was the ''Approaching St. Louis from the Southwest on Highways No. designated path of U.S. 66; however, it was impossible to use due to 50-66 known as the Jefferson City and Springfield-Joplin routes, go the 1.67 mile gap. The land was finally acquired in July 1928. east on Manchester Road through Maplewood to McCausland Ave., Also, keep in mind that, in the early days of the U.S. Numbered (7000 block) then straight ahead on McCausland Ave. to Clayton Highway System, the route markers in Sr. Louis were placed by the Ave. (first road to right at S-W corner of Forest Park). Automobile Club of Missouri.So all four U.S. Highways passing "Follow signs of U.S. 50-66 on Clayton Ave. to Boyle Ave. through St. Louis in the 1920s (40, 50, 61 and 66) were routed (4300 block) leave U.S. Route 50-66 here but go straight ahead on directly past the Automobile Club of Missouri Headquarters, then Boyle three blocks to Vandeventer Ave (3900 block); turn left into located at 4228 Lindell Blvd! Vandeventer Ave., go two blocks to Forest Park Ave. (200 block) 1929-1932.About January 1, 1929, U.S. 66 shifted to the Munici- then east to Grand Ave. (3600 block); then left into Grand Ave. to pal "Free" Bridge. That routing, as shown in about 1930 by the Natural Bridge Ave. (3700 block North), right on Natural Bridge Automobile Club of Southern California, was: to Salisbury street, left on Salisbury street to 9th street approach of EDWARDSVILLE - To St. Louis: R on Vandalia St. into St. Louis McKinley Bridge." Sr., L on West St. under the railroad tracks into St. Louis Road, R 1929. The McKinley Bridge routing became Optional 66 in July on Chain of Rocks Road to Mitchell. From Mitchell on Nameoki 1929. (Optional 66 is just another name for Alternate 66; this Road to Granite City. term was apparently preferred by the AAA and McKinley Bridge.) GRANITE CITY - To St. Louis:R on Madison Ave., into Broad- Optional 66 remained as the preferred route until the mid-1930s, as way, L on 4th St. in Venice (State Route 3), R on Madison St., Lon described later in this report. 2nd St. into Sr. Clair Ave., R on 9th St., L on Missouri Ave. and R Vol. I-No.1 of the Missouri Motor News, published by the on l Oth Sr. to the entrance to the bridge at Piggott Ave.. (Note: the Automobile Club of Missouri in July 1929, heralded the establish- AAA 1930 Tour Book shows: To St. Louis:R on Madison Ave., R ment of Optional 66, as follows: on 30th St., next L on Grand Ave., Ron Niedringhaus Ave., next L on State St. then curve Land R onto Broadway through Madison to NEW U.S. 66 BEST MARKED ROUTE, OPEN Venice.) AUTO CLUB ESTABLISHES OPTIONAL • ST. LOUIS - At end of bridge, L on 7th St., R on Chouteau Ave., ROUTE IN ST. LOUIS. angle L onto Manchester Rd., R on Boyle Ave., L on Clayton Ave. "Making it one of the best marked highways passing through a through Forest Park, L on McCausland Ave., R on Manchester Rd. metropolitan area, U.S. Highway 66 Optional route has been com- This routing was substantially the same until the end of 1932. pleted through St. Louis by the Sign Posting Department of The The only change was a slight rerouting in 1932 (according to the Automobile Club of Missouri. Automobile Club of Southern California, and the Hobbs Guide and "Through travel over the new optional route which is restricted Service Directory) onto Oakland Ave.(i. e.,...Clayton Ave. onto in part to keep off heavy commercial vehicles, has been saving 4 Oakland Ave., L on McCausland ...). miles distance in going through St. Louis and avoiding several railroad grade crossings in East St. Louis. ''Approximately 300 new 'Optional U.S. 66' signs were used in the marking and they are placed at least one in each block facing in each direction for the entire distance of the route. New reflecting glass signs are used at all turns that are highly visible at night. ENTERING ST. LOUIS: At end of McKinley Bridge, L on 9th St.; next R on Salisbury St., R on Natural Bridge Ave.; L on Grand Blvd. Ron Delmar Blvd.; L on Whittier St. TO JOPLIN: From Whittier Sr., go west on Lindell Blvd.; Lon Skinker Rd.; ahead on Me- Causland Ave.; R on Manchester Rd. (At the corner of McCausland, Clayton and Skinker, U.S. 66 joined Optional 66), or TO JOPLIN: From Whittier St., go west on Lindell Blvd.; L on Boyle Ave.; R on Clayton Ave. through Forest Park;L on McCausland ROUTE 66 ORIGINALLY FOLLOWED MANCHESTER ROAD,IN PART BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY IMPROVED ROUTE WEST FROM ST. LOUIS WITH NO MAJOR RIVER CROSSINGS. THIS VIEW LOOKS WEST BETWEEN MERAMEC STATION ROAD AND HENRY AVENUE Ave.; R on Manchester Rd. (At the corner ABOUT THE TIME ROUTE 66 WAS COMMISSIONED.

12 Show Me Route 66 sorting out 66 in st. louis ~

Boyle and Clayton, u.s. 66 joined Optional 66.) 1931-1932. (According to the AM PI I 1931 Transcontinental Tour Book and 1932 Hobbs Guide), Optional 66 was: At end of the McKinley Bridge, L on 9th Sr., next R on Salisbury St., R on Natural Bridge Ave.; L on Vande- venter Ave. To Joplin: From Vande- venter Ave., R on Lindell Blvd., Lon Skinker Rd., ahead on McCausland Ave., R on Manchester Rd. In 1932, the Hobbs Guide and the Automobile Club of Southern Califor- nia also show: At end of the McKinley Bridge, L on 9th Sr., next R on Salisbury St.;R on Natural Bridge Ave.; L on Vande- venter Ave. To Joplin: From Vande- venter, R on Lindell Blvd., L on Boyle "There are about $50,000,000 invested in property along the old Ave., R on Clayton Ave. into Oakland Ave. through Forest Park; L 66 route, about thirty five miles of highway." The request was not on McCausland Ave.; R on Manchester Rd. granted. The Hobbs Guide has the following description which confirms Then, in March-April 1934, the "50-North Highway 66 As- why Optional 66 was the preferred route - "[From] Venice, Ill.; sociation" petitioned the American Association of State Highway westbound keep straight ahead and follow Optional 66. Left here on and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to have Manchester Road Ill. No.4 and U.S. 66 is via free bridge, 3.6 miles longer and more designated as U.S. 66 North or Optional U.S. 66. The answer shows congested; heavy trucking ..." that the plan was for U.S. 66 to pass through Pacific all along. AASHTO said "our official designation [since November 11, 1926] HISTORIC ROUTE of U.S. 50 shows that it goes via Baldwin [Ballwinjto Gray Summit; By August 1933, construction on New Watson Road in St. Louis and U.S. 66 goes via Pacific to an intersection with U.S. 50 at Gray and Franklin Counties was complete, and U.S. 66 and Optional 66 Summit." In other words, both numbers were used on Manchester were rerouted. In September 1933, the "50-North Highway 66 As- until the other route through Pacific could be constructed" sociation", composed of merchants along Manchester Road from St. On August 31, 1932, the first paving work ever done by the ~ouis t~ Gra,(s (sic) Summit, asked the state to change the designa- State of Missouri within the City of St. Louis was started on Watson tion of new Watson Road. Road at the southwestern city limits. State funds were used to pave The Association's complaint was that the new road had been Watson Road from the city limits to Chippewa St., and for the par- officially marked as "U.S. 66", and the Association asked that the tial surfacing of Chippewa St. from Watson Road to Brannon Ave. markers be changed to "Optional 66". The letter went on to say that The paving was undertaken as a result of a Supreme Court ruling, which held that the state could devote funds to street buildings within large cities where the thoroughfare to be constructed is the continuation of a state highway, and where it is sparsely settled. Watson-Chippewa conformed to those requirements. By July 31, 1933, the paving work in the City of St. Louis, designated as U.S. 66AP (additional primary), was complete and accepted by the Highway Department.

U.S. 66 1933. Contrary to popular belief U.S. 66 did not follow its "Historic Route" because construction was not complete. Various 1933 maps

missouri66.org 13 JmJ sorting out 66 in st. louis

on 7th St., R on Chouteau Ave., Lon l Oth St., R on Hickory St., L on 12th St. (now Tucker Blvd.), angle R onto Gravois Ave., R on Chippewa St. ahead on New Watson Road. [The jog onto l Oth and Hickory (to avoid the busy intersection at 12th) is shown on numerous maps starting in 1934. The jog has been eliminated by apartment construction.]

OPTIONAL 66 1933. Optional 66 is shown on various maps as: At end of the McKinley Bridge, L on 9th Sr., next R on Salisbury Sr., Ron Natural Bridge Ave., L on Vandeventer Ave., R on Lindell Blvd., L onto Kingshighway Blvd., R on Arsenal St., L on Watson Road and then angle R onto new Watson Road.(In late 1933, the Automobile Club of Southern California shows: ...L on Vandeventer Ave., at end of street angle L onto Kingshighway Blvd., then R onto new Watson Road.) 1934-1937. According to the Missouri Highway Department 1934,1935 and 1936 maps, Optional 66/0ptional City Route 66 took the following route: At end of the McKinley Bridge, L on 9th St.; next R on Salis- bury St.; L on Blair Ave.; L on Hebert St., R on 13th St. ahead on 12th St.(now Tucker Blvd.), angle R onto Gravois Ave., R on Chip- pewa St. ahead on New Watson Road. (In 1937, according to the official Missouri map, the routing was ...L on 9th St.; R on Palm St.; L on 13th St. ...) (9th is now one-way northbound, and Palm is cutoff by 1-70.)

SIGNIFICANT REROUTINGS • 1936. On June 17, 1935, MSHTO approved a major rerouting of U.S. 66, with an effective date ofJanuary 1, 1936. U.S. 66 in Illinois west of Edwardsville is described as follows "Edwardsville,

is changed to read: Beginning at the Mississippi River west of Mitchell, via State Route 77, to Pattonville (now part of Bridgeton), then coin- cide with U.S. 61 to a point south of Kirkwood." As a result of this change, U.S. 66 (it was not marked a bypass at this time) now crossed the Chain of Rocks Bridge and followed State Route 77 (Dunn Rd. west and then south on Lindbergh Blvd.) to the first cloverleaf interchange (cost $37,000) west of the Mississippi River at Watson Road.Optional 66 remained as described above for 1934-1937. The U.S. 66 Munici- pal Bridge or "Historic Route" as described previously for 1934-1935 became City 66 in Illinois and Mis- souri. Also, at this time, another City 66 routing was established, as follows:

14 Show Me Route 66 sartin out 66 in st. louis trB

Road in the City of St. Louis west from its junction with Chippewa St. to the city limits was changed to Chippewa St. On July 19, 1955, AASHTO changed the routing "through East St. Louis and St. Louis to take advantage of new expressway construction", as follows: "Relocation of U.S. 66 into and thru St. Louis and present route via Chain of Rocks Bridge to be designated By-Pass U.S. 66, and old city route U.S. 66 to be abandoned in Illinois. "U.S. 66: Beginning at a junction with present U.S. 66 at the Worden Junction of U.S. 66 and Illinois State Routes 4 and 43; thence south-westerly over new divided lane, access controlled highway to a junction with U.S. 40 west of Troy; thence into and through East St. Louis and over Veterans [now Dr. Martin Luther King] Memorial Bridge via U.S. 40; thence via 3rd Street Express- way (to junction with present Missouri U.S. 66 City Route), Gra- vois Avenue, Chippewa Street and New Watson Road to a junction At end of Chain of Rocks Bridge, L on Riverview Dr., L on with present U.S. 66 south of Kirkwood; and Broadway, R on Calvary Ave., L on Florissant Ave., L on Hebert St. "Old location of U.S. 66 via Edwardsville, Illinois; Chain of R on 13th St. ahead on 12th St. (now Tucker Blvd.), angle R onto Rocks Bridge into Missouri and via present U.S. 66 through Hazel- Gravois Ave., R on Chippewa St. ahead on New Watson Road. wood and Kirkwood to above described junction to be designated (Optional 66 and the above City 66 routing joined at the corner of U.S. 66 By-Pass Route; and present City Route from west end of Blair Ave. and Hebert St., while the two City 66 routes joined at Chain of Rocks Bridge southerly over presently marked city route the corner of Hickory St. and 12th St.) to an intersection with relocated U.S. 66 on 3rd Street Expressway In 1937, this additional City 66 routing, as shown on a Cities be retained, but Ill. city route be abandoned." Service map became: The pre-I-55/70 routing was: At end of Chain of Rocks Bridge, L on Riverview Dr., L on Via Collinsville Road (old U.S. 40) which becomes 9th St. in Broadway, R on Calvary Ave., L on Florissant Ave., R on Warne East St. Louis, R on State St. (now M L King Drive) to the under- Ave., L on Carter Ave., angle R onto Florissant Ave., around the pass at the end of the street, then go L onto the bridge ramp, cross curve at Mullanphy onto 13th St., then, at O'Fallon Sr., ahead the bridge, then L on the "3rd Street Expressway".(It is interesting on Tucker Blvd., angle R onto Gravois Ave., R on Chippewa St., to note that the "3rd Street Expressway", which followed the path and then ahead on Watson Road. (Note: current street names are that is today beneath 1-70 into 1-44 next to the Gateway Arch in shown.) (Optional 66 and the new City 66 joined at 13th St.) downtown St. Louis, was constructed as a "U.S. 66" projecr.) So, in 1936-1937, U.S. Highway 66 crossed the Mississippi 1963. The next change took place on June 19, 1963, when River on three toll bridges - U.S. 66 on Chain of Rocks, Optional 66 on McKinley and City 66 on the Municipal. Optional 66 was .'fI' @ discontinued after 1937. About the time Optional 66 was discontinued, City 66 on the east side of the Mississippi River was rerouted: On what is today Illinois State Route 203 from near Mitchell to East St. Louis (Nameoki Road then R on Edwardsville Road and L around the curve into McCambridge Ave. to the end of State Route 203 at Collinsville Road/9th St.) then R on 9th St., L on Missouri Ave. (later the L was on Broadway) and R on l Oth St. to the entrance of the Municipal Bridge at Piggott Ave. 1955. From 1938 to mid-1955, the routings through St. Louis remained the same; however, on July 3, 1950, the name of Watson

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AASHTO eliminated the remaining city (by this time "Business Road (SR 157), R on Chain of Rocks Road to Mitchell. From 66") route in St. Louis. Mitchell, go south on State Route 203 ( ameoki Road), then R 1965. On Ocrober 2, 1965,AASHTO eliminated By-Pass 66 in Il- on Madison Ave. into Broadway; at end of Broadway, L and follow linois and Missouri. (Illinois had removed the By-Pass U.S. 66 signs signs across McKinley Bridge. in April 1965, and MoDOT authorized removal of the signs on ST. LOUIS: At the end of the McKinley Bridge, cross 1-70 and angle August 19,1965.) R into Salisbury Sr., R on Natural Bridge Ave., L on Grand Blvd., R 1967. On November 9, 1967, U.S. 66 was relocated to the newly on Delmar Blvd., L on Sarah St., R on Lindell Blvd., Lon Skinker completed Poplar St. Bridge, and followed I-55 a short way to the Blvd., ahead on McCausland Ave., and R on Manchester Road. Tucker/Gravois exit [now exit 290C on 1-44], and then Gravois- or, ... R on Lindell Blvd., left on Boyle Ave., R on Clayton Ave. Chippewa-Watson as before through Forest Park. Follow Clayton to the traffic circle, go 3/4 of DECERTIFICATION. Finally, on June 25, 1974, AASHTO voted the way around onto Wells Drive. (Original 66 can be seen continu- to: "Eliminate as a U.S.Route currently designated U.S. 66 from ing southwest into the maintenance yard, where it is cut off by 1-64) The Loop in Chicago, Illinois, to the intersection of U.S. 71 in JoP- At the second traffic circle (Zoo entrance-Concourse Dr.) continue lin, Missouri, beginning at the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 66 at 3/4 of the way around past Wells and OntOHampton Ave. south- the 1-44 interchange east of Joplin, Missouri."(26) bound. Cross 1-64 and take the second R onto Clayton Ave., Lon This action was deferred because portions of the divided highway McCausland Ave., and R onto Manchester Rd. (I-55) in Illinois were not scheduled to meet federal interstate HISTORIC ROUTE (U.S. 66 AND CITY66-1933-1975) highway specifications until 1975 and 1976. Illinois was advised by At end of the now-closed MacArthur Bridge, L at the end of the AASHTO to maintain the U.S. 66 signs until I-55 was complete. bridge, R on Chouteau Ave., L on Tucker Blvd., angle R onto Gra- In February 1975, MoDOT removed the U.S. 66 signs on vois Ave., R on Chippewa St. ahead on Watson Road. (The l Oth St. Gravois-Chippewa-Watson, and marked the portion constructed by - Hickory St. jog was eliminated by apartment construction.) the state - from Brannon Ave. to 1-270 - as State Route 366. 1-44 REROUTING (U.S. 66 AND BY-PASS66 - 1936-1965) was dual-marked with U.S. 66 shields. At end of now-closed old Chain of Rocks Bridge R onto Riverview By January 1977, Illinois had completed its portion ofI-55, and Dr, then left onto westbound 1-270, follow 1-270 9.5m to Hazel- the familiar "66" shields were removed in Illinois (01117/77) and wood (The old alignment follows Dunn Rd. which is the service Missouri (01/24/77). road on the north side ofI-270). Leave 1-270 at exit 25A (Lind- bergh Blvd.-U.S. 67); take Lindbergh Blvd. 16.5m southbound to SUMMARY a point south of Kirkwood at the junction of Lindbergh Blvd. (U.S. Significant U.S. 66 routings in the St. Louis area (along with their 50,61 and 67) with Watson Road (SR 366); R on Watson Road. present-day descriptions) are summarized below. When more than REROUTING (CITY 66 - 1936-1963) one routing exists during a period, the most representative is shown. At end of now-closed old Chain of Rocks Bridge, L on Riverview ORIGINAL ROUTES (U.S. 66 AND OPTIONAL 66 - 1926-1932) Dr., L on Broadway, R on Calvary Ave., L on Florissant Ave., Ron TO ST.LOUISFROMEDWARDSVILLE: R on Vandalia St. into Warne Ave., L on Carter Ave., angle R onto Florissant Ave., around St. Louis Sr., L on West St. under the railroad tracks into St. Louis the curve at Mullanphy onto 13th Sr., then, at O'Fallon Sr., ahead on Tucker Blvd., angle R onto Gravois Ave., R on Chippewa Sr., and then ahead on Wat- son Road. DRIVING OPTION (ILLINOIS 1930S) A suggestion for driving the early 1930s route in Illinois and then rejoining the "Historic Route" in St. Louis is: From Mitchell go south on State Route 203 (Nameoki Road), then R on Madison Ave. into Broadway, L on 4th St. which is State Route 3, follow State Route 3 (which becomes St. Clair Ave.) to just past the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad Underpasses/ Bridges and the 1-55/70 junction to 9th St., R on 9th Sr., Ron M L King Drive (formerly State Sr.) to the underpass at the end of the street. Go beneath the underpass and L onto the bridge ramp, cross the Dr. Martin Luther King Bridge into Missouri; at end of bridge follow Cole St. (State Route D) past the Edward Jones Dome to Tucker Blvd., Lon Tucker Blvd. (All but Cole St. was part of U.S. 66 or City 66.)

miuouri66.org 17 JmJ old man river ROUTE 66 ACROSS

BYJOE SONDERMAN

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MCKINLEY ELECTRIC BRIDGE. THE STRONGESTBRIDGEACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI AND THE CREATEST ELECTRIC BRIDGE IN THE WORLD.

MCKINLEY BRIDGE (FIRST RIVER CROSSING) McKinley. It was named for Congressman William B. McKinley, A bridge is not only a mass of utilitarian material. It is a monument who was President of the Illinois Traction System and designed with a message. It seems to gather soul with its substance and to be by Ralph Modjeski, who would go on to design the Oakland Bay clothed with significance. In its every strand and stone it speaks to us. Bridge. His creative plan included two outer roadways, one on -Rabbi Leon Harrison dedicating the McKinley Bridge, November each side of the superstructure, held up by braces or cantilevers and 10, 1910. extending out over the river like a shelf. The bridge could handle The McKinley Bridge was constructed by the Illinois Traction railroad traffic in the center, with toll paying wagons, pedestrians System, which later became part of the Terminal Railroad Associa- and early automobiles on the outside. tion.The bridge was designed to carry freight trains and electric Construction began on November 15, 1907.Before the bridge passenger cars from the extensive ITS interurban system connect- opened, it witnessed a daring stunt.On September 10, 1910, ing cities in central Illinois with Sr. Louis. The bridge is 5,798 feet Thomas Baldwin became the first pilot to fly an airplane over the long, with three main river spans supported by two 520 feet long Mississippi River. Aboard a Curtiss bi-plane he dubbed the Red camelback trusses. The trusses are about 80 feet high. At the time, it Devil, Baldwin flew UNDER the Eads Bridge and then passed was declared the longest "Electric Bridge" in the world. under the east span of the McKinley. The span is 500 feet wide with The $4.5 million span is not named for President William a 65 foot clearance above the water. The city was thrilled with the exhibition.

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It was a breezy and cold afternoon on November 10, 1910 as Drivers began avoiding the McKinley Bridge in droves when the governors of rwo states and the mayors of six cities gathered the toll free Interstate Poplar Street Bridge opened in 1967. Venice to dedicate the bridge.Two railroad flatcars, one carrying Mis- couldn't make enough in tolls to cover maintenance costs. After souri Governor Herbert S. Hadley and the other carrying Illinois the last train rolled across in 1977, the remaining track and bumpy Governor Charles S. Denneen, (TRRA) met in the middle of the wooden deck were covered with asphalt. There was tremendous bridge, where Congressman McKinley was waiting. When St. Louis truck traffic on the McKinley, because it linked the heavy industry Archbishop John Glennon blessed the bridge, it was said to have in Granite City and Venice with industrial North St. Louis. The been the first time a religious ceremony was part of a major bridge trucks caused tremendous wear. Trucks and huge amounts of scrap dedication. A crowd of 50,000 cheered and boat whistles sounded as metal from the yards beneath the bridge constantly hit the columns. Congressman McKinley declared the bridge open at 3:15 p.m. That I-DOT ordered the unsafe bridge closed in 2001, and it would night, there was a big banquet for the dignitaries at the Planter's be a long road back. The City of Venice still owed millions to the Hotel in St. Louis. The public was treated to a big fireworks display, bondholders and $588,779 in back taxes to the City of St. Louis. including "Niagara Falls" in fireworks from the center span of the There was also the matter of uranium contaminated soil at the new bridge. Missouri end. The nearby structures belonging to Mallinckrodt The bridge carried U.S. 66 from 1926-1928, and Optional 66 Chemical had been used during the Manhattan Project that built from 1929-1937.By the 1930s, the center portion of the super- the A-Bomb.It all had to be worked out for I-DOT to take over structure had been converted to carry both passenger cars and the bridge. The $52 million renovation began on April 4, 2004 and trains. Trucks were relegated to one of the separate outer roadways. traffic began moving again in December 2007. The electric passenger trains continued to use the bridge until 1959, Only the three spans in the center remain from the original accessing downtown St. Louis via a tunnel that ran beneath City 66. bridge. The approaches have been rebuilt and relocated. A paved 12- (12th St. now Tucker Blvd)The bridge was then sold to the City of foot wide cantilever roadway on the south side of the bridge carries Venice, Bonds were sold to raise the $23 million and the city was pedestrian and bicycle traffic, making the bridge a link in the Con- confident toll revenue would repay the bondholders. fluence and Riverfront bike trails. A park now occupies the Illinois Driving across the McKinley was quite an adventure. There were side where the tollbooths were once located. It includes a 5 Yz story several instances where drivers were not prepared for a sharp jog at monument called "A Salute to Steel." John Celuch of Edwardsville the eastern end of the bridge and plunged off. The western side was designed the $325,000 sculpture. There are three rings interlocking very narrow. Drivers who used the center after one set of tracks were at the top, symbolizing Venice, Granite City and Madison. Bright removed often faced a train coming the other way. There were sto- red rings and yellow rods inside are designed to resemble molten ries about "The Little Green Man," said to be a ghostly figure that steel pouring. The old bridge and the new sculpture stand as a sym- would disappear when people approached. bol of the area's past and the hope for its future.

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MUNICIPAL "FREE" BRIDGE a huge padlock to open the bridge deck to traffic. As a huge crowd (SECOND RIVER CROSSING) cheered and surged onto the bridge as a truck drove across, carrying The Municipal Bridge was constructed to break a monopoly threat- the first ton of coal to enter St. Louis toll free in 25 years. The major ening the economic growth ofSt. Louis.By 1905, a consortium of railroads, members of the TRRA, refused to use the bridge until 14 railroads known as the Terminal Railroad Association controlled 1940. both of the bridges entering St. Louis, the Eads and the Merchants. The length of the Municipal Bridge is 2,022 ft.; the east high- The TRRA levied stiff tolls on shipments across the river, includ- way approach was 5,308 ft. and the west 2,468 ft.At one time, it ing 20 cents per ton for coal. To avoid the toll or "arbitrary," heavy was the largest double-span bridge in the world. A ten cent toll for industry was locating in East St. Louis, Granite City and Madison, cars and 15 cent toll for trucks was instituted on the "Free Bridge" Illinois. Several major industrial plants in St. Louis went to great in July 1932 to raise money for relief The toll was supposed to last expense to move to the East Side. Tolls also resulted in St. Louis just one year, but was charged until May 1, 1973. On May 6, 1942, residents paying higher prices for food and other goods. It was clear St. Louis Mayor William Becker signed an ordinance changing the a municipally owned bridge funded by city bond issues was needed name to the Douglas MacArthur Bridge. to break the grip of the TRRA and construction of such a bridge As traffic speeds increased, the MacArthur Bridge became became the top issue in St. Louis politics. known as "Death's Diving Board." On the St. Louis side, the road The political battle was marked by scandal and charges of deck had to turn in order to line up with the bridge trusses, and ve- bribery. Mayor Rolla Wells was a railroad stockholder and vetoed hicles that didn't make the turn plunged over 100 feet to the ground a measure authorizing construction. But the Municipal Assembly below.The approach from the east side was over a narrow and curv- overrode the veto "over the little rat's head" as one lawmaker put it. ing 125 feet tall trestle, which also was the scene of many accidents. Voters approved a $3.5 million bond issue in 1906 and construction The bridge connected 7th Street and Chouteau Avenue in St. Louis of the western end of the bridge was begun on July 15, 1907. with South l Oth Street and Piggott Avenue in East St. Louis and The three main spans were ready in 1912, but the city ran out of carried U.S. 66 from 1929 to 1935,City 66 from 1936 to 1955 and money before the approaches could be completed. The bridge was the "Historic Route" from 1934-1955. accessible only to pedestrians using a six foot walkway hung out on Traffic dropped drastically after the Poplar Street Bridge opened the downstream side of the bridge. Additional money was finally se- in 1967 and the tolls were insufficient to even cover the toll taker's cured, and on June 20, 1917, Mayor Henry Kiel turned the key on salary. The road deck needed millions of dollars in repair work by

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IN 1955, A FAMILY ENJOYED A PICNIC LUNCH ATTHE CHAIN OF ROCKS AMUSEMENT PARK, ON THE BLUFF OVERLOOKING THE BRIDGE. PHOTO MISSOURI STATEARCHIVES

1981.The MacArthur Bridge closed to vehicle traffic that August. face the Row of the main channel (located on the Illinois side) at an The railroad removed the approaches, ensuring that it would never angle. The Corps of Engineers deemed it a hazard to navigation and re-open. ordered the bend in the middle so the bridge would face the Row The Terminal Railroad Association took over the MacArthur of the channel head on. In 1927, a major bridge with a 24-degree Bridge in 1989, trading it to the city for the Eads Bridge, which angle would not have been considered unusual based on the speeds could not handle much of the modern-day rail traffic due ro height and size of vehicles. restrictions. The lower deck of the MacArthur Bridge is still heavily Construction began in October 1927 and completion was used by trains. scheduled for October, 1928. But high water caused major delays. On January 30, 1929, an iron worker drowned when he fell from a CHAIN OF ROCKS BRIDGE bridge pier. For the next 30 years, Rowers were anonymously placed (THIRD RIVER CROSSING) on the bridge each Memorial Day. Finally, on May 30, 1959, the The Chain of Rocks Bridge, with its 24 degree bend in the middle, mystery was solved when bridge workers found a note attached to a is one of the most unique spans in the world. The story begins small bouquet. during the Ice Age. The Mississippi River once Rowed through soft On May 31, 1959, the Post-Dispatch reported the note read sediment east of its current path. The river changed course as the "These Rowers placed here today in memory of Walter Lewis McKee glaciers receded, running over more resistant limestone bedrock that of Victoria, Mo., our son and brother, who lost his life in January formed a natural chain across the river. It provided a crossing for 1929 while employed in building this bridge. Remembered by his Native Americans but presented a hazard to river navigation, since mother, sister and brothers." Two more workers lost their lives on the current here is the swiftest on the Mississippi between Iowa and June 29,1929. Raymond Copelin and John Kelly plunged to their New Orleans. deaths when a cable snapped as they were removing a "false tower" On February 7, 1927, an application was submitted to Congress under the middle of the bridge. for erection of a toll bridge, at the time referred to as the Chain of On July 20,1929, John L. Scott jr, ordered the barricades Rocks - Kingshighway Bridge. Brothers John L. Scott Jr. and John J. removed without ceremony at 1:45 p.m. A total of 99 cars paid Scott promoted the bridge. The brothers and their investors planned the 35 cent toll and crossed the bridge in the first two hours. The for the span to go straight across from a four-mile approach in Illi- promoters were confident of making a profit. But a lack of traffic nois to ten acres of land on the Missouri side. But the bridge would and the Great Depression forced the bridge into receivership in June

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1931. It was purchased for $600,000 by the bondholders, the only At 2 p.m. on September 2, 1966, traffic began using the new bidders, on March 19, 1932. 1-270 bridge just to the north. Before long, just 100 vehicles per There were two basic reasons for the lack of traffic. Prior to day were using the old bridge: mostly refuse trucks headed for 1933, it was difficult to get to downtown St. Louis from the Mis- the dump. Madison continued to charge tolls until the Missouri souri end of the bridge. There was no easy way to go around St. Highway Department filed suit in 1966, complaining the village Louis since State Route 77 (Dunn-Lindbergh) was not complete. had made millions in profits and was reaping in interest on the There was no decent road across North St. Louis County. Also, at surplus. Federal law stated that only tolls needed for operation of this time, private toll bridges could not carry U.S. numbered routes. the bridge could be charged. On February 26, 1970, the bridge was Traffic increased greatly closed, supposedly so a once U.S. 66 was routed hole could be repaired. over the bridge on June It never re-opened to 17,1935. vehicles. On June 13,1939, Only a drop in the the City of Madison, price of scrap metal Illinois paid $2,271,000 saved the bridge from for the bridge, which demolition. It wasn't quickly became known worth the effort. In as "The Golden Goose 1975, plans were an- of Madison" and was nounced to turn the soon providing 113 of the old bridge into an city revenue. The Mayor entertainment complex, was paid $550 a month including a hotel, a to be the bridge "care- marina and shops all taker," and the span also covered with glow in the provided "jobs" for other dark paint! Irwin Allen, city officials, relatives and the producer of such their cronies. disaster flicks as "The On June 2, 1942, the Poseidon Adventure" • War Department notified and "Towering Inferno," the City of Madison that considered filming his the silvery bridge was latest epic, "The Night too visible from the air, the Bridge Fell Down," and ordered it painted on the old span. That green. The green paint is plan fell through, but still there. On Decem- the bridge would soon ber 2, 1949, a new 1.6 have a starring role in mile section of Route 66 another movie. opened on the Illinois In the summer of side, including a new 1980, director John bridge over the Corps Carpenter and his crews of Engineers Chain of came to the Chain of Rocks Canal Project. The Rocks to film "Escape canal opened in 1953, From New York". The allowing river traffic to movie would be set in bypass the treacherous 1997, a time when the Chain of Rocks. U.S. Government has The Corps of Engi- walled off Manhattan neers created a low water to create a maximum dam below the bridge to ensure the water level would remain high security prison. When Air Force One crashes on the island, the feds enough in the canal and locks. Because the water level is much turns to a one-eyed World War III hero convicted of trying to rob higher today, the old rocks that once caused so much trouble are a federal reserve bank. "Snake Pliskin," played by Kurt Russell, is only visible on the Missouri side. The dikes that ran out to the water offered a pardon if he can rescue the president (Donald Pleasance) intake towers in the river are also no longer visible. from "The Duke of New York," played by Isaac Hayes. In 1955, the mainline of Route 66 was moved to take advantage The Chain of Rocks Bridge portrayed the "69th Street Bridge," of new Interstate construction on the East Side, crossing the Vet- over which Pliskin and the president must outrun the bad guys to eran's (now Martin Luther King) Bridge. The Chain of Rocks Bridge get to rescuers waiting at the wall. A wall was constructed at the section became "By-pass 66," a designation it carried until 1965. west end. Old cars and debris were scattered on the bridge, which in

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ing Route 66 events and car shows. There are several bicycle rides, walks and runs. Eagle Days in January bring big crowds out, braving the cold and toting binoculars, telescopes and expensive photogra- phyequipment.

For more information, visit The Confluence website at www.confluencegreenway.org

VETERANS MEMORIAL BRIDGE (FOURTH RIVER CROSSING) On August 4, 1947, work began on a $11 million bridge linking Third and Franklin in St. Louis with Third and Missouri in East St. Louis. The City of East St. Louis owned the Veteran's Bridge, which opened as a toll bridge on January 13, 1951. At the time, it was the sixth largest cantilever type bridge in the country and was constructed to relieve traffic on the MacArthur Bridge to the south. U.S. 66 crossed the four-lane Veterans Bridge from 1955 until 1967. The bridge also carried US 40 and 50. The Veteran's Bridge fell into disrepair after the Poplar Street Bridge opened and toll revenue plunged. It was renamed in honor of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King in 1972. The toll booths came down and ownership of the bridge was transferred to the Illinois Department of Transportation in 1987. The bridge was closed for a complete renovation in 1988 and re-opened in the spring of 1989. Today it provides an important al- ternative route around the nearly constant congestion of the Poplar Street Bridge. Between 1998 and 2009, 14 people were killed in collisions on the King Bridge, many of them head on crashes. In October, 2009, the bridge was closed for nine days to install a barrier separating the eastbound and westbound lanes, reducing the bridge from four the movie was peppered with mines. The camera crews left after four lanes to three. One westbound lane was eliminated, but the remain- days, and the old bridge again stood abandoned. ing lanes are wider. The west end of the King Bridge is officially Youngsters climbing out onto the bridge to party created a designated as Missouri State Route 799, but no signs are posted. dangerous situation. Two teens fell from the bridge and drowned within a few weeks of each other in the fall of 1981. St. Louis Police POPLAR STREET BRIDGE launched a crackdown on trespassers, to almost no avail. Then an (FIFTH RIVER CROSSING) unimaginable tragedy turned the bridge into a symbol of horror. Drivers crossing the Poplar Street Bridge give little thought to once On April 4, 1991, 20-year-old Julie Kerry and her 19-year- bloody ground below the east approach. This area was once an old sister Robin came to the bridge to show their cousin a poem island. Beyond the jurisdiction of authorities in Illinois and Mis- they had spray painted on the deck. Four thugs raped the girls and souri, "Bloody Island" was the scene of several duels in the 1800s. pushed them off the bridge to their deaths. Their cousin survived, Its growth threatened to block the St. Louis harbor until Corps of but at first was treated as a suspect. Engineers Captain Robert E. Lee devised a system of dikes that The murder of the Kerry Sisters was the low point in the his- joined Bloody Island to the East St. Louis riverfront. tory of the old bridge, but it was about to get a new lease on life. The State Highway Commission unveiled the design for the Trailnet, an organization dedicated to constructing bike trails and proposed free bridge at Poplar Street on August 21, 1961 and con- conserving greenways in the St. Louis area, leased the bridge from struction began in 1962. The federal government paid 90% of the the City of Madison. The bridge re-opened to pedestrians and bicy- $30 million cost, with Missouri constructing the substructure and clists in June 1999. Illinois building the superstructure. Designers Sverdrup and Parcel At 5,353 feet long, the Old Chain of Rocks is one of the world's believed a standard truss bridge would "clutter up the riverfront." longest bicycle and pedestrian bridges. It is an important link in a They chose a clean cut girder span, with eight 12-foot wide lanes. bi-state trail system, connecting to the St. Louis Riverfront Trail in Over 570 buildings in East St. Louis were demolished for the Missouri and the MCT Confluence Trail in Illinois. It's a growing maze of approach ramps to the Poplar Street Bridge. Construc- network, between the Gateway Arch, Pere Marquette State Park tion was delayed by a violent labor struggle, and the bridge opened near Grafton, Illinois and the Missouri River at St. Charles. Many with little fanfare on November 9, 1967. Traffic was very light on special events take place on the bridge during the summer, includ- the first day, but officials said that would change once motorists

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became accustomed to the maze of on and off ramps. From the beginning, the media referred to the project as the Poplar Street Bridge, and that unofficial name stuck. In 1966, the St. Louis Board of Alderman named the bridge in honor of Bernard Dickmann. As Mayor of St. Louis from 1933 until 1941, Dickmann fought to secure funds for the Jefferson Ex- pansion Memorial. But the public never embraced the name. When it first opened, the Poplar Street Bridge had no connection with U.S. 40, now Interstate 64. Eastbound 40 ended at Market Street. The 15,700 foot long double-decked section opened in August, 1971. For more than a decade, work has been underway to strengthen this section to better withstand an earthquake. The Poplar Street Bridge carried U.S. 66 from 1967 to 1977. Today it carries Interstates 55, 70, 64 and US 40, making it one of just two bridges in the US to carry three Interstates. The approaches to the 2,164 foot long bridge are hopelessly clogged with traffic, and the exits on the Missouri side to 1-70 and I-55 have treacherous sharp turns. Work began in 2010 on a 1,500 foot cable-stayed bridge north of downtown. The third longest cable stayed bridge in the nation will carry Interstate 70, hopefully easing traffic on the Poplar Street Bridge.The project is a cooperative effort between the states of Illinois and Missouri, with the esti- mated cost of the bridge at $668 million.

Here's YOUR opportunity to OWN a HISTORIC piece of the "Mother Road" HISTORY. The Route 66 Association of Missouri is offering one of the actual "Historic Route" brown signs - recently removed to MISSOURI allow for the placement of the Historic Byway blue signs. Since all signs have been on the road, they will show some "road wear" (some more than others) - all come with a u s certificate indicating their origin.This is a piece of history that will gain in value over the years - and will look great on a wall 66 in your home or garage. For a donation of$ 350.00, one of the few remaining signs can be yours - and BYWAY most of the $ 350.00 is tax deductable. When they are gone - they are gone, so get yours TODAY. Contact Tommy Pike to purchase your piece of Mother Road history! e-mail: [email protected] phone: (417) 865-1318

missouri66.org 2S 00 rememberin the midwa

BYJANE REED

BY THETIME THIS ISSUE IS IN YOUR MAILBOX, A LANDMARK IN CUBA, MISSOURI WILL BE GONE. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, IT STOOD AS A RATHER SHABBY REMINDER OF ITS FORMER IMPORTANCE TO THE HEARTS AND MEMORIES OF CUBA CITIZENS. MUCH OF IT WAS GUTTED, AND WINDOW OPENINGS STARED BLANKLY OUT AT THE BUSY MO 19AND ROUTE 66 INTERSECTION. A GENERATION OF CUBANS HAS GROWN UP WITH NO MEMORY OF WHAT THE RUNDOWN BUILDING ONCE WAS. BUT SOME STILL REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN THE MIDWAY WAS FILLED WITH BUSTLE, HOPE, AND FUN.

nthe early 1930s, the building was an automobile showroom Gertie Forbes and Bea Foster, who worked the night shift, and small cafe owned by Mr. Mullen and leased by Mrs. Allyne helped Mrs. Earls in building the business. Both of them started as IEarls. According to a 1992 interview by Bob Fleming of the waitresses and later became cooks. Generations of Cubans worked Cuba Free Press, Mrs. Earls stated, "When I first started in 1934, I at the Midway in one capacity or another. had 4 tables, 8 stools, and 4 booths." After the Earls bought the building in 1944, she added a second Mr. Mullen let her have more room when she needed to expand floor and sleeping rooms and an apartment for herself Helen Dick- and she knocked out the wall between the showroom and the cafe. ens Brown, who worked in the restaurant for four years after the Mrs. Earls and her husband Roy decided to buy the Midway in Earls bought Midway, remembers when they were building above 1944 and for 38 years, Mrs. Earls' personality and hard work made the dining room."We would scrape plaster off the table, wash the their mark on the Midway. table, and just keep serving the customers anyway," she said. Hank At first, closing was at 11 p.m. Roy, Mrs. Earls' husband, ran Mullen, George Reeves, and Garrett Dickens were carpenters who the Chevrolet dealership in Steelville, and he would come to pick worked on the construction. her up. But she hated to turn a customer away, and they would To square off the building, Earls also added on in all directions often stay much later than 11. After a few times of this, Mrs. Earls while there were customers in the restaurant. Earls told Flem- decided to stay open 24 hours. ing,"The building had these big windows. So, in order to have an

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the war years. The sleeping rooms were converted into hotel rooms with 24 rooms and four bathrooms. Because soldiers from allover the country came ro Missouri to train, Midway became known from coast-to-coast. The soldiers would sometime partake of the 3.2 beer that the Midway served. During the war years, some of the soldiers had fallen asleep at the tables. When the liquor inspector came in, he said the soldiers couldn't sleep there. They moved the soldiers to the lawn of the Mullen family next door. Mrs. Mullen came out and gave them pil- lows and blankets because her sons were off fighting, and she hoped someone would treat them as well if they needed it. Mrs. Brown recalled that the Midway had good hamburgers, fried chicken, and coconut cream pie. "On Sundays, the help could eat anything we wanted," she said. Although Earls was strict, Brown called her a friend and a fair boss. Mrs. Brown worked nine-hour shifts, seven days a week there for four years, with no holidays off. "I was never the cook, but I learned some of what I know of cooking from the cooks there," she said. When bad weather would come with big snows, the Midway would often be the hub for highway patrol, travelers, and road workers. They knew rooms and hot food would be available, day or night. According to Bob Fleming's 1992 article, during one 22-inch snow, the Midway ran out of eggs.With her usual can-do attitude, Mrs.Earls gOt in her car and drove in the snow to get eggs. She reported that they were about ready to mount a search party for her when she returned. Mrs. Earls sold the restaurant to Dan Harris in 1974, so that she could travel with her husband.When the new owner asked for the keys, she said, "What keys?" The doors had never closed for 38 years, and there were no keys. Later, Harris sold the business to Junior Beers, who took over for a short time until St. Louis Blues hockey star Noel Picard and his family bought the business in 1976. While Noel Picard and his wife Viviane owned the business it was visited by Blues players, as well as St. Louis football and baseball entrance during construction, we used the window instead of the players. There was a cafeteria, dining room, cocktail lounge, and a door. Some travelers from Arizona said they had never gone into a meeting room. The Picard kids, Danny and Annie, often worked restaurant through the window." after school at the restaurant.The Picards hosted special events for The Earls provided Earls' Bus and Cab that would carry passen- the community and threw a New Year'sEve party for 150 people. gers to their homes or to the small surrounding towns. Sometimes For a time, the Midway seemed to have a new lease on life Mrs. Earls would drive or one of their other workers would. Parents until the Picard family decided to sell the business. Generations of would pay 10 cents for the cab to bring their child home after ball Cubans had worked at the Midway or socialized there, and the com- games, rather than get out after 10 o'clock. It was 25 cents for out- munity was saddened to have those days end. of-town trips. The Midway was a stop for kids after ball games and Bessie and Henry Copling and Seta and Lea Easton bought the club meetings, and many Cuba citizens remember going there for Midway in 1984, and it was converted into a business mall, and good times. later the Eastons sold their share to the Coplings. The building has Mrs. Brown also remembers that they kept the floor shiny and been empty for a few years, and problems with mold and asbestos slick with the buffer, so that all the kids that hung out there could have led to its demise. Walter Korte purchased the building, and do the jitterbug."The dance floor and jukebox were in front on the had it demolished. But he hopes to construct something that will be Hwy. 19 side," she remembered. "There were 44 tables, and we had a credit to the community. to keep the whole table clean from top to bottom. The waitresses Many are sad to see the old building demolished, but many more wore pink, yellow, and blue uniforms, and Mrs. Earls wore one, too. were lucky enough to hear the music, drink the inexpensive cokes, She was always well dressed and wore jewelry when she worked." and forge friendships and loves there that lasted a lifetime. The Mid- Brown said that Mrs. Earls ran a tight ship, and the kids behaved way will live on as long as there are people left to reminisce about when they were in Midway. what the old building meant to them. Midway also served as a bus srop, with passengers coming in for a meal or snack. A cafeteria line was instituted to serve them This article originally appeared in the Cuba Free Press and quickly. Many soldiers and their wives also came to Midway during appears here with permission. www.thl.eeriverspublishing.com.

miuouri66.org 27 ~[16 seats in heaven

16 SEATS IN HEAVEN BY RICH DINKELA II

ROADIES WHO SKIP THE ORIGINAL ALIGNMENT OF ROUTE 66 CUTTING THROUGH ST LOUIS VIA MANCHESTER ROAD ARE MISSING OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITYTO WARP BACK TO A TIME WHEN LITTLE DINERS SERVED UP UNIQUE MEALS. LOCATED IN SUBURBAN BRENTWOOD IS A VERY SMALL RESTAURANT THAT IS BIG ON ORIGINALITY. I MEAN BIG IN A SMALL WAY. UNLESS ONE KEEPS A SHARP EYE OUT FOR IT, CARL'S DRIVE-IN IS EASY TO MISS. IT IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MANCHESTER ROAD AT HIGH SCHOOL DRIVE, A PLACE SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS "16 SEATS IN HEAVEN." IN 2011, MSN NAMED CARL'S ONE OF THE TOP TEN BURGER JOINTS IN THE NATION. FROM CHICAGO TO LOS ANGELES, IT'S HARD TO FIND MANY ORIGI NAL SMALL BUSI N ESSES ON TH E 1926 ALIGNMENT OF ROUTE 66 ANYWH ERE, LET ALON E IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA.

atll began with construction of the Cunningham's Lubright As the 1950s dawned, Walter Breeden took over and the little Service Station in 1918. In 1932, it became Walter Schuerman's eatery became Breeden's Long Dog, eventually also known as the IStation and it was operated by the Nezol Gas Company begin- Good Food Drive-In.The February 9, 1959 twister that killed 21 ning in 1938. According to current owner Frank Cunetto, in the people in St. Louis and ripped part of the roof off the Arena also early 1940s the business was converted into a hot dog stand called damaged the Good Food Drive-In. But before long, it was repaired the Foot Long Hot Dog Company, operated by Charles Hooten and and right back to serving IBC Root Beer for 5 cents per mug. Thomas Kohn. The little hut operated during the summer and of- Carl Myer's family had delivered meat to the Good Food Drive- fered outdoor seating only. Hot dogs were the only food item on the In. Later in 1959, the 25-year-old Myer and his wife Patricia bought menu. Frank recalls that he once met a man who spent his youth the place. The marquee was changed to reflect the new owner's working at the stand. The lad faced the task of cutting over 1,200 name and a landmark was born. At that time, the place was still an hot dog buns to prepare for the busy weekends. open-air diner and offered curb service. Carl enclosed the restaurant

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in 1962 so customers could eat in air conditioned comfort dur- built were cooled with ice instead of refrigeration.The keg is truly ing the muggy St. Louis summers, giving the restaurant its current an amazing sight to anyone that enters the little restaurant for the appearance and creating seating for all of 16 people! Curb service first time. It sits like royalty high atop a counter right in the middle continued until 1969. of the restaurant. You can't help but to gaze in amazement how a During this era, Carl's became a popular hangout for local teen- frosty cold mug filled with fresh root beer actually forms ice on its agers, particularly students from arch rival Kirkwood and Webster exterior as it is subjected to counter top temperatures. You can't get Groves high Schools. Carl's is located about mid way between the a fresher, tastier, ice cold root beer. two schools that clash in the annual Turkey Day football game. That smooth and creamy root beer has an interesting history During the 1970s, Kirkwood stu- of its own.In 1919, the Griesedieck dents claimed one half of the restau- Brewery of St. Louis faced Prohibi- rant and Webster students claimed tion by establishing the Independent the other half. No self respecting teen Brewing Company, or IBe, to create would sit on the enemy side, even if alternatives to beer. The root beer's there were no other seats available. popularity fell after World War II, and Food, and sometimes fists, often the trademark was sold to Taylor Bev- flew. Frank Cunetto was one of the erages in 1976 and to 7-UP in 1980. neighborhood teens and recalls that IBC is now available nationwide. Lo- it often appeared as if 100 youths cals say the current formula was based were hanging around the place. He on a sample obtained from Carl's. says the door would never close, The best burgers on all of Route 66 swinging constantly because so many are cooking up at Carl's! Now, this is kids were coming and going from the a personal opinion. But Frank's crispy, eatery. But things have calmed down juicy delights have made national best considerably and Carl's is now a fam- of lisrs and won plenty of awards and ily destination. fanfare on the local scene. The burgers Cunetto continued to hang are choice cuts ground up and seared around Carl's as he grew into an on a steam grill. The end product is a adult. In 1986, when Frank's attempt juicy burger with crispy edges, featur- to buy another restaurant failed, ing tons of awesome taste. There are he mentioned it to Carl Meyer. other items on the menu, even though Frank was soon partners with Carl, burgers are the overwhelming favorite. and Carl retired about a year later. Try their exclusive curly Q hotdog; Frank now runs the place with his a unique creation twisting around loyal employees. During peak hours, between hamburger buns. Foot longs, there are about five people operating chili dogs, ice-cream floats, onion behind the counter. The movements rings, fries and tamales are all some of seem to be perfectly choreographed. the favorites to savor at Carl's. As soon as a diner finishes, they get Visitors should bring an appetite, up, because someone else is ready to and plenty of patience. Its tiny size take the seat. It's part of the tradition. makes Carl's unique. Carl's has eight During the lunch hour, as many as seats per side. So it is a toss of the coin 40 people at a time are waiting for a seat. to pick the right side to be waited on quickly. Even though there are Besides Frank Cunetto, the other iconic fixture of Carl's is the 16 seats, it's not uncommon to see up to 40 people piled up into the IBC Root Beer keg dating back to 1951 and still in use today. Frank small confines of the restaurant. There may not be another experi- puts so much passion into his restaurant that he has managed to ence like this on all of Route 66. Granted, I'm describing a typical maintain the original functionality of the keg. He even handcrafts lunch time rush.But for those who might be uncomfortable packed the root beer himself, based off the original formula that IBC hand- in like sardines, Carl's is open till 8 p.m. everyday excluding Sunday ed down to Frank before they were bought out. Frank explained to and Monday. But bring cash. Carl's doesn't accept credit cards. me how the keg works. At first glance, one would assume it's just Route 66 travelers looking for a truly nostalgic atmosphere a mere tap plumbed into an old oak keg. This is not the case at all. combined with great service and taste need to make sure to stop The keg has refrigerated coils inside of it. "Carl's" syrup formula is at Carl's. If Frank is manning the grill and it's not the height of dispensed into the keg where it is kept cool. The magic culminates the rush, ask him a little bit about the local history. He has tons of at the tip of rhe keg's nozzle. As the syrup enters the nozzle, carbon- intriguing stories of natural disasters, old railways, celebrity ap- ared warer is injected, mixing the combination into grear tasring pearances and tales of how the town has changed over the years. roor beer soda. Brentwood and Manchester Road may have changed, but there are Frank informed me that any types of rhese soda dispensing kegs still only 16 seats at Carl's and rhe roor beer is as cold as ir was dur- were all manufactured in the St. Louis area until 1971. The first kegs ing the heyday of Roure 66.

missouri66.org 29 00 ouths celebrate 66

BY NORMA MARET BOLIN

Birthday to Route 66. A great time was had by all. Bolin said,"It was a lot of work but, hopefully, I planted a Route 66 seed in the hearts and minds of this younger generation. The fate of Route 66 will be in their hands in the not too distant future and maybe they will remember what they learned from this project."

WINNERS OFTHE HIGH SCHOOLART CONTEST First Place: Heather Rowland, Second Place:Brianna Jenkins, Third Place: Shannon Colmo. Honorable Mention: Dzevac Tasic, Kyle Biskup, Ignacio Del Rio, and Nikki Malin.

WINNERS OFTHE MIDDLE SCHOOL ART CONTEST First Place:Caleb Bolin, Second Place: Vivian Whaley, Third Place: Morgan Dunnegan.

WINNERS OFTHE MIDDLE SCHOOL ESSAYCONTEST t. Louis author Norma Maret Bolin, who wrote Route 66 St. First Place: Josie King, Second Place: Anne O'Brien, Third Place: Louis: From the Bridges to the Diamonds and The Route 66 St. Kyle Kayser SLouis Cookbook: The Mother Lode of Recipes from the Mother Sadly, no one entered the high school writing contest. The in- Road, was looking for an opportunity to educate St. Louis teens kind donations went into a drawing open to all contestants. Tanner- about Route 66. When she realized that Route 66 was turning 85 Zemel won the paint set donated by Artmart and Anela Mujdzic on a very special date, 11-11-11, she decided an art and essay con- won the week at Camp Lakewood, donated by the YMCA of test with prize money might entice the kids away from their busy Greater St. Louis. lives that are already jam packed with school schedules and sports THE WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE ON DISPLAY ATTHE and highlighted with texting, Xbox games and Facebook. She en- ROUTE 66 STATE PARK'S MUSEUM IN EUREKA FROM listed Metro South Arts Council to partner with her and they agreed MARCH THROUGH NOVEMBER 2012. HERE ARE THE to donate their space at Crestwood Court for the contest. FIRST AND SECOND PLACE ESSAYSFOR YOU TO READ. Bolin created the contest with two components, art and writing, and two divisions, Middle School and High School, and she raised I remember my parents and grandparents trying to tell me stories about the prize money herself. Most of the donations came from small Route 66. Most of it would just go in one ear and out the other. They business owners she had personal relationships with who liked the would tell me that Ted Drewes was famous all over the country and that I idea of teaching kids about Route 66 and the role the mom and pop should be glad to live in St. Louis because it was along the Mother Road. businesses played in building America. Prize sponsors were Kelly- I didn't pay much attention because I had more important things on my Mitchell, Lou Fusz Automotive Group, Antique Warehouse,Auto mind, like what I was going to do Friday night or when my favorite band's Plaza, Hodak's, Shapiro Bros., Holiday Inn Viking, Sappington next concert would be. But now, after learning even more about the highway and the unique attractions of my city, I realize that maybe my world Farmers Market, H & S Accounting, and Mortgage Solutions. has room for this magical road. People really do care about Route 66, and Connie Copley, Judy Moticka Larsen and John Oldani served St. Louis is more popular than I thought. I also realize that some of those as the writing judges and Luanne Rimel. Linda Green Metzler and stories I took for granted mean a lot to my family. Here are a few of them: Molly Zorn judged the art. My grandparents on my dad's side of the family, who have since passed The winners were announced at a birthday party for Route 66 away, used to take motorcycle trips down Route 66 with other couples and on Friday, November 11tho The room was decorated in a retro style stop to camp and sightsee along the way. Seeing pictures of their trips with plenty of Route 66 balloons but the main attraction was the is fascinating because it represents a time that seems lost to kids of my Route 66 art and essays the kids contributed, all of which were on day. My grandma on my mom's side told me that when she was sixteen, display that evening. Several guests in the audience once owned her parents let her take the car for the weekend, just as long as she took businesses on Route 66 in the St. Louis area and they came to show her younger brother. She would take her brother, his friend, and a friend their support for the students' efforts. Everyone enjoyed the Route of hers and drive down Route 66. They would stop for a meal at a cafe or 66 cake and other refreshments along with the Route 66 door diner and chat with vacationers on their way to Texas or California. She prizes. A special treat was hearing the essay winners read their essays said that back then it was a really big deal. to the audience. There was even an impromptu singing of Happy My grandma also told me about how my mom and aunt would have

30 Show Me Route 66 youths celebrate 66l!nl

dance recitals when they were little girls on the SS Admiral, which was in 1937. I ran from Chicago, Illinois, to the land of milk and honey, Los a steamboat on the Mississippi River and a major attraction to people Angeles, California. Hundreds of mom and pop restaurants, motels, and traveling Route 66. My orthodontist's office is next door to a donut shop gimmicky museums profrted off my paved shoulders. Can you guess who I called Donut Drive-In on Chippewa, which I also had no idea was on Route am? That's right, Route 66 -The Mother Road. 66 and used to be popular. My grandpa's frrstjob as a teenager was at Back in my day I was the "cool kid" of all the highways. I was the most Steak 'N Shake, which became famous because of the road. The frrst time popular, most loved, and most driven on by people from all over the coun- I went to a drive in a few years ago, I didn't know that the original drive try searching for a good time on a long enjoyable road trip. I remember in was on Route 66 called the 66 Park-In Theatre. It could not survive feeling those old cheap Ford car's dinky and thin tires as they clunkered because of the skyrocketing price of land. I've been to Meramec Caverns down my lanes. I remember the laughter and cheers of vacationers as they a few times, again not knowing it had anything to do with Route 66. I partied till the sun went down. With the music cranked up and the wind remember passing this place called Garavelli's. I used to think it wasjust blowing through folks' hair, those were the good old times. some cafeteria that old people went to, but then I read in an article that Over my 2,448 miles, three time zones, and eight states, I experienced it too was on Route 66 and it used to be a the life of many buildings and attractions as popular place called Mittino's Shangri La. I well as millions of people. My two-lane road remember passing the Jesse James Wax Mu- took many on exciting journeys and gave them seum once, thinking it was unimportant and memories they've never forgotten. I may be old stupid and Ijust let it slip my mind. That's and abandoned in many places now, but I was the impression I got from a lot of places in once the "Yellow Brick Road" of my day. I was St. Louis along that highway. These places the start of the revolution of today's highways. just seemed run-down and out of date, but Now in an era of new highways and advanced I had no idea they all had stories behind technology, I've become a faint memory of the them. This realization gave Route 66 and its past, just an old road that your grandparents inhabitants a whole new meaning. It made - drove on. Hopefully, with a little luck, I can me want to experience the Mother Road in regain some of that glory of those magical days. its heyday- with all those quirky, fun, and I once was number one. I was Route 66. fabulous stops along the way. While I remember so many wanderful places Whenever my family and I would go on along my route, one of my most famous stops road trips together, I would usually block was a city known as St. Louis, the biggest stop them out and absorb into my headphones. I on the road. With places like Ted Drewes Frozen never paid attention to what we were pass- Custard and Meramec Caverns, who wouldn't ing, only on where we were going. It's sad want to take a little break here?! The Chain that we can miss the little things that make of Rocks Bridge was another neat place in St. life great because of technology and not Louis. It led bypassers over the Mississippi River even realize it. on a 5,353 foot connection over to the state of Another important thing about the Illinois. The bridge, unlike any other, had a 24 highway that ties into my family is a tragic degree bend in the middle. There was even an event. My mom told me that my aunt died amusement park near the bridge with a pretty in a car crash along Route 66 during Labor fancy rollercoaster. Day weekend when she was sixteen years One of my favorite motels was the Coral old and my mom was twelve. My grandma Court Motel built in 1941.Although this motel got pale when I asked her to tell me more about Route 66 for this project. is now gone, it was a fashionable but cozy place to stay for many travel- I have never met this person that they're all grieving over, yet I feel ers. Across my paved stomach was the Wayside Motel, which also provided compelled to write about her in this essay. Maybe it's because this makes a soft bed for a couple of nights in the St. Louis area. I remember many Route 66 seem even more real to me. It has good and bad memories,just scrumptious places for grub too like the Diamonds Restaurant and the like real life. The road we travel throughout our lives has many clear, bright Donut Drive-In. straightaways and many bumps and sharp turns. Route 66 symbolized So many families traveled on my back to reach their destinations, but I this for many people. It led to the world of opportunity and hope for some was more than just pavement, side rails, and paint. I was the road that got people but also led to disappointment when it closed. It truly is a shame them there. I supported their journey that created all those happy memo- that kids in my age don't understand its importance. I'm glad that I ries. Without me, there would be no reminiscing of the good old days. I learned what I did. I hope that one day my children will understand and be gave people a good time and a little freedom from their ordinary everyday interested in Route 66. lives of work and stress. I know for a fact that absolutely no other highway of today could say that with the confrdence I do. Travelers didn't need -JOSIE KING fancy computers, loud music from their iPod, or buzzing game systems to have a good time when they were on Route 66. I offered an open road with Vroom, vroom! Rumble! Clunk! Honk, honk! Hey Y'all! nothing but time and fun, and interesting stops along the way. While my These are the sounds of my past, the sounds of cars zooming westward pavement is crumbling and almost nonexistent in some places, my impor- and eastward over my weary body, the sounds of vacationers greeting one tance lies in something not so concrete-memories. Memories of ajourney, another bouncing across my pavement. I miss these sounds now as my memories of family, memories of fun, and memories of getting there. heyday has passed, and I wonder if others feel as nostalgic as I do about my glorious days of yesteryear. I was born in the 20s and reached maturity - ANNE O'BRIEN

missouri66.org 31 JmJ ozark airlines

MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T ASSOCIATE ROUTE 66 WITH FLYING. BUTTHERE WAS AN AIRLINE WITH SEVERAL CONNECTIONS TO ROUTE 66. OZARK AIRLINES WAS BORN IN A ROUTE 66 TOWN AND ITS HUB WAS LOCATED IN A ROUTE 66 CITY AND IT SERVED MANY COMMUNITIES ALONG THE HIGHWAY. OZARK WAS ALSO "DECERTIFIED," VIA A MERGER WITH ANOTHER AIRLINE.

BY KIP WELBORN

No matter how devoted we are to the open road, I don't think that I fondly remember the line of the "Go Getters", Ozark Air there is a person out that still doesn't see flying as exciting. Ozark Lines. Ozark served big cities like New York and Chicago, and Airlines was born in a Route 66 town. Its hub was located in a small cities like Springfield,Missouri and Marion, Illinois. When Route 66 city and it served many communities along the highway. I was growing up in Southeast Missouri, Cape Girardeau's airport There's a window to the world below. Flight attendants (we called was more important than any other in the area because it was served them stewardesses) are ready to serve your every need with a smile. by Ozark. Looking through old articles in the Southeast Missou- There a plenty of people who fly much more frequently and may rian newspaper could easily make it seem that the airport was built become jaded by the experience. But I probably remember every just for Ozark Airlines. I remember flying from Cape Girardeau to time I've flown and every airline that got me there. Nashville Tennessee in a turboprop that struggled to get over the

32 Show Me Route 66 ozark airlines ~

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missouri66.org 33 Jlti ozark airlines

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cloud line. The flight was bumpy, and it required a stop in Marion, Ozark inherited a permit giving it access to 42 Cities in nine Illinois. But I remember the reassuring voices from the cockpit, and states, including the Route 66 of Chicago; Springfield, Illinois; the concerted effort of the stewards and stewardesses to make the Springfield, Missouri, Miami, Oklahoma and Tulsa. The airline flight more pleasant. I got a snack, a soda and lots of smiles from the established service entirely within the state of Missouri, linking crew. It was a good time. Springfield, St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia. Ozark grew Ozark started very small but grew to be one of the largest re- slowly, relying on federal contracts and mail deliveries to make gional airlines in the country. Service was paramount. The food was ends meet. But by 1954, the airline was turning a small profit. good and bags arrived at the proper destination. Ozark made flying As the 1950s came to a close, Ozark was the top regional airline a pleasure right until the final plane with the swallows on the tail in the Midwest. touched down on October 26, 1986. The new Ozark originally boasted four Douglas DC-3 aircraft. New passenger airlines faced significant restrictions at the time. According to Richard Roberts, former vice president for flight op- After World War II, the federal government created the Civil Aero- erations, three planes flew and one was used for parts. But by 1959, nautics Board to regulate the booming passenger airline business. there were 24 DC-3s and three Fokker/Fairchild F-27 turboprop Ozark was not certified for interstate travel, so passengers had to planes. Also in the late 1950s, Ozark changed its logo to the familiar carry an affidavit confirming that they were not traveling across state flying swallows. The design was inspired by the Swallows of San lines. Ozark shut down on November 3, 1945 while waiting for a Juan Capistrano Mission in California that return every year on CAB permit to operate as an interstate carrier. March 19th. After Ozark was absorbed byTWA, former employees In 1947, the CAB issued a permit to Parks Airlines to operate would form a group called the Silver Swallows. 3,000 miles of routes from St. Louis. But Parks Airlines never got Service was a priority from the beginning. Original Ozark Presi- off the ground. Ozark got the permit and was reborn on September dent Laddie Hamilton and his organization combined efficiency 26, 1950. On that day, a Douglas DC-3 took off from Chicago with the best in customer service. Silver Swallow member George headed for St. Louis with a stop in Decatur, Illinois. It was not an Cumberledge flew 31,000 hours for Ozark, bragging that he "never auspicious beginning. The flight had one passenger, a fellow named scratched a plane." He remembers "When I flew, everybody wore a William Morganthaler. coat and a tie and dressed well. Now, they show up with flip flops

34 Show Me Route 66 ozark airlines I~

and tank tops." A co-worker of mine flew Ozark from St. Louis to new methods to fill its seats. In the late 1970s, Ozark began offering Quincy, Illinois, where she attended school, for the "Student Stand- "wine cellar" flights on longer segments. One passenger recalled by" fare of $5! "You got cheese and crackers, a sandwich and a choice of three little Of course these days, airline passengers are lucky to get a bag of bottles of wine. If the flight was lightly booked, you could have two peanuts or pretzels. An article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recalled or three bottles could be coming your way." Some passengers flew to that on Ozark "there were always three meals prepared for each pas- Florida just to be part of the wine tasting flights. senger: steak, lobster and fried chicken. There were always leftovers, Ozark generated revenue in other ways. Hugh Hefner's jet was but at rhe end of each flight the fried chicken was always gone." And repaired by Ozark in St. Louis, the black plane with bunny mark- according to Silver Swallow Joan Hurst, Ozark's planes did not have ings standing out Lambert Field. Ozark became the charter airline a "first class" section. Everyone was treated like they were in first for many sports teams. In an uncomplimentary book about the class. Even on the very short St. Louis to Chicago route, snacks were pond scum 1986 Mets called "The Bad Guys Won," Jeff Pearlman provided. According to Silver Swallow Carol Arburua "When pas- wrote rhat Ozark "Handled air transportation for some fifteen to sengers got on the airplane they could smell the fresh bread cook- eighteen teams a year, and did so with the class and dignity of a ing ... we would open as many bottles as we could because we had an five-star motel. Along with safety and promptness, the good folks at hour and ten minutes to serve three types of wine, cheese, crackers, Ozark prided themselves on cleanliness. They might not have had and bread". the fleet size of Delta or American, but Ozark's planes-primarily During the 1960s, Ozark more than doubled in size. The last DC9's-were the most sparkling in the business." of the old reliable DC-3s remained in service until October 1968! The darkest day in Ozark Airlines history came on July 23, Ozark had entered 1973. A Fairchild- Hill- the jet age with the er turbo prop, number arrival of Douglas N4215, took off from DC-9s in 1966, the Nashville, Tennessee. same year rhat new Flight 809 was on its Fairchild-Hiller tur- way to St. Louis via boprops arrived. The Clarksville, Tennessee, FH-227s became a Cape Girardeau, Mis- familiar sight in rhe souri and Marion, Il- small towns and at linois. When the plane Ft. Leonard Wood. left Marion, some of The new jets were for the passengers noted rhe expanding na- that the sky "didn't tional market. In the look right." As the 1960s, routes were plane approached the extended to Denver, runway in St. Louis, New York, Washing- the pilot flew into the ton and Dallas. The heart of a violent thun- airline offered a way derstorm. Witnesses to avoid the congest- saw the plane rise and ed Chicago airports plunge sharply. It was with flights from Peoria to Washington DC via Champaign, Illinois. struck by lightning and slammed into a hill in Normandy, near the A new slogan was also adapted during the swinging 60s, "Go University of Missouri at St. Louis. The worst crash in St. Louis his- Getters Go Ozark." Comedian George Carlin was featured in tory killed 38 people. The National Transportation and Safety Board advertising. In the 1970s, Ozark adapted a new slogan, "We'll make found the crash was due in part to "a sudden downdraft created by it easy for you." Passenger traffic doubled again during the decade the thunderstorm" or what we now know as wind shear. to about five million annually and service was extended to Atlanta, In the 1980s, Ozark became a true coast-to-coast airline, but New Orleans and Florida. many local routes were cut. The airline created "Ozark Midwest" At rhe same time, the local character of the airline diminished. in an arrangement with Air Midwest to handle flights to regional Service was cut to several of the small markets and the Fairchild- destinations. Initially, deregulation spawned a host of new airlines Hiller turboprop fleet was reduced. Ozark had not completely for- with innovative ideas. But the major carriers adapted. The cost of gotten the local routes. There was an attempt at establishing service increased competition led Ozark to merge with TWA on October from Springfield, Illinois to Meigs Field in Chicago, and service was 26, 1986. According to Silver Swallow Wayne Kelley,"We were established from St. Louis to the Lake of the Ozarks. These routes one of two airlines making money ... we weren't taken over because were not very successful. we were losing money; we were taken over because of what we do." The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 removed price and route TWA later became a victim of deregulation and corporate raider restrictions but it also meant more competition as new carriers such Carl Icahn, selling out to American Airlines in April 2001. Lambert as Southwest Airlines lured passengers with lower fares. Ozark tried International Airport has not been the same since.

missouri66.org 35 JmJ ozark airlines

Ozark will not be forgotten. Certainly not by the family that documents and photos. One of the employees of the Credit Union flew their seriously injured daughter home as the crew changed seat- said she was touched by the sense of family among former Ozark ing and adjusted the angle of descent to make it easier. The airline employees and the Silver Swallows who maintain the museum. Visit will be remembered by Vietnam veterans who made it home for their website at www.silverswallows.com. Christmas because of Ozark. One of my co-workers recalled taking Wayne Kelly worked in customer relations for Ozark from a flight to Las Vegas about 1980, "It was an early morning flight. 1955 to 1986. He told the Post-Dispatch, "We took pride in our When we took off, they served us ham and eggs and toast. .. and it service and did whatever was needed to make our flights pleasant for was GOOD!" everyone." Ozark was as close as a traveler could come to cruising The memory of Ozark Airlines also lives at the Ozark Airlines Route 66 from thousands of feet in the air. Ozark evoked the spirit Museum, located at the Community America Credit Union in of Route 66 and the mom and pop businesses along the way. It may Bridgeton,Missouri. (10895 Lambert International Blvd.). In a no longer be an official airline, but those who followed the course of small section of the former Ozark Airlines Credit Union, there are the swallows are just like those who love Route 66. either one will display cases with models of planes and plenty of memorabilia, be forgotten soon.

FAIRCHILD·HILLER.

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I www.HenrysAoute66.com www.facebook.com/missouri66 I I A WARNING VisitinQ Pulaski Couniy will likely result in fun times, splashing, giggling, and memories being made. VISIT AT YOUR O.W.N.R.IS.K.Itllll!!!!IIIIII_

missouri66.org 37 JmJ monument dedicated

MONUMENT DEDICATED AT SIDEWALK HIGHWAY

SITE NEAR AFTO N 'Y GLENDA PIKE

ROUTE 66 ROADIES HAVE A NEW SPOT TO VISIT THIS SPRING. ON NOVEMBER 13,2011, A CROWD OF ABOUT70 PEOPLE BRAVED THE WIND AND THE COLD TO DEDICATE THE NEWEST WILL ROGERS HIGHWAY MONUMENT. THE NEW MONUMENT IS ONE MILE NORTH OFTHE CENTER OF AFTON, OKLAHOMA, ALONG A PORTION OF THE OLD NINE-FOOT WIDE FOOT SECTION OF ROUTE 66. PLACEMENT ON A MAP IS APPROXIMATELY U.S.60 & S 520 RD., AFTON, OKLAHOMA 74331.ATTENDEES WERE NOT ONLY FROM OKLAHOMA BUT ALSO FROM KANSAS AND MISSOURI.

• he mayor of Afton was in attendance. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association's Eastern Vice President Brad Nick- T son, gave a great speech telling a bit of the history of the "Sidewalk Highway" or "Ribbon Road", as this section is known. He discussed the monument program and thanked all the appro- priate people. The text on the marker reads: "In 1922 a new nine-foot-wide roadway was completed between Miami and Afton, OK. Because no standards existed and so few roads were paved, it's width was not unusual for the era. It con- sisted of a concrete base and edges with a surface of rock asphalt. In 1926 the "Sidewalk Highway", as it would be known, was adopted by US 66. Rt, 66 was paved piecemeal from 1926-1937. Since the Miami- to-Afton section was paved, it became the last segment upgraded to the standards established in 1930. It was also realigned and included a new bridge on the Neosho River. On Sept. 13, 1937, the opening of the bridge completed the last segment of Rt. 66 paving in Oklahoma. The "Sidewalk Highway" thus became one of the early stretches of the Mother Road paving to be bypassed and today is the only Rt, 66 roadway of its type in existence. "Columbus discovered the New World. But the old Tin Lizzy has

made us discover America. » - Will Rogers.

Erected 2010 by the Oklahoma Rt. 66Assn. » An explanation about the marker's dedication date: The monument had been finished for some time, but getting the permits to install it took longer than anticipated. Laurel Kane of Afton Station, hosted a reception after the event. Afton Station was warm! The food was wonderful and the visiting and stories told were great.

38 Show Me Route 66 monument dedicated ~

In August 1937, the Federal Highway Department proclaimed officially that Route 66 was to be known as the Will Rogers Memo- rial Highway in dedication ceremonies in Los Angeles, CA. The following year, in August 1938, a huge 3-day celebration was held in Amarillo commemorating the Main Street of America as the Will Rogers Memorial Highway Association. This name remained until World War II began and the Association voted to disband until the war was over. In March 1939, at the Association's annual meeting in Albuquer- que, NM, it was agreed to provide signage along the Route. The signs bore the logo that was designed in December 1935.This logo would be used by the Association until 1941. To the best of our knowledge, no signs were actually made however. In 1952, the National Route 66 Association rededicated Route 66 as the Will Rogers Highway with small bronze markers at state boundaries and one special one in Claremore, OK right in the middle of Route 66. This was done with a booster caravan made up of Warner Brothers officials and highway supporters in conjunction with the release of the movie, "Will Rogers Story" starring Will Rog- ers, Jr. Of the original nine markers, only two remain - one at Santa Monica and the other at the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore. These simple markers did not bear the logo developed back in 1935. In the 1990s, Carol Duncan, western Vice President of the Okla- homa Route 66 Association, began researching the whole marker issue and rediscovered the 1935 design. A trip to Willis Granite in 1998 resulted in a design for a new marker, based on the original 1935 logo, with the hope that state associations could raise enough money to place these new markers at the same state border sites where the 1952 makers once stood. The first would go at the OKJ TX border. However, funds were not readily available and there were concerns about vandalism and theft, as borders tend to be THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE GRANITE WILL away from populated areas. ROGERS HIGHWAY MARKERS Darrell Ray ofJoplin, MO, a long-time Route 66 booster all As you travel Route 66 in Oklahoma, you may spot some granite up and down the highway, loved the idea of the markers. And he Will Rogers Highway markers. The history behind them is very figured out how to raise the money. Instead of makers being on state interesting. borders, bring them into communities instead, and let local com- After Wiley Post and Will Rogers were killed in an airplane crash munity leaders raise the needed funds. Each marker would reflect in August 1935, the nation grieved for the deaths of two beloved something special about the local history and incorporate a Will Americans - one a brave explorer/aviation pioneer and the other Rogers quote. The idea worked. a philosopher/humorist who poked fun at politicians, and helped The first marker was erected on Oct. 14, 1999 in Vinita, OK at people to see the humor in everyday life while looking forward to the Grand River Dam Authority. The second one in Oklahoma was the future with hope. installed in Claremore on Feb. 1,2001 by the JM Davis Museum The National Highway 66 Association held their annual meeting across the street from the old Will Rogers Hotel. Also, in 2001, a in Amarillo, Texas on Dee. 9, 1935. At that meeting, a resolution third was unveiled in Clinton and a fourth in Tulsa. Other markers was passed to designate Route 66 as the Will Rogers Memorial were installed in neighboring states as well. Highway. This was done with the blessing of the Rogers Family. It While Darrell was getting markers installed in towns, Carol was also decided to approach the Federal Highway Department to continued to put together enough sponsors to bring the original officially name Route 66 in honor of Oklahoma's Favorite Son. OKJTX marker to life. At long last, on Oct. 5, 2002, the Oklahoma During 1936, the Highway 66 Association worked with Con- Route 66 Association held a caravan and formally dedicated the gressional delegates to get Federal designation for the Will Rogers border marker. We are very pleased the marker that launched the Highway. CM. Bardett of Miami, OK was President of the Associa- whole concept finally stands in the spot for which it was initially tion that year. There was strong support from Oklahoma to make envisioned. this happen. Let's hope more markers will continue to be erected.

missouri66.org 39 JmJ get your kick start on route 66

MISSOURI us 66 GET YOUR KICK START ON ROUTE 66 BY RICH DINKELA II

KIERNAN CYCLES AND THE KICKSTART CAFE MAY BE THE COOLEST BIKE SHOP ON ROUTE 66! MAJOR MANUFACTURERS SUCH AS TRIUMPH, HONDA, SUZUKI, HARLEY DAVIDSON, AND • KAWASAKI ARE REPRESENTED HERE. THEY ARE CORRALLED ALONGSIDE LESSER KNOWN MAKES OR BRANDS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION, SUCH AS MAICO, VINCENT, BSA, MOTO GUZZI AND MUNCH. BUT KIERNAN CYCLES IS MORE THAN JUST BIKES. IT'S GOT ATMOSPHERE!

40 Show Me Route 66 get your kick start on route 661J1t

Kiernan Cycles is a new business on Original Route 66, Chouteau mobiles. Mr. Kiernan and his crew also offer a full service shop for Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.It is located just blocks west of the repairs, restoration, or custornization.Bike shows, movie nights, and famed Eat-Rite Diner. ("Eat Rite or Don't Eat at AI!!") Everything even weddings are held at his facility. inside is unique or vintage, and it is all available for purchase. Any- It's not necessary to be a motorcycle enthusiast to appreciate one touring Route 66 can find something that captures the heart at the world of Kiernan Cycles. Anyone who loves unique or vintage Michael Kiernan's shop. First time visitors are astounded. items ranging from transportation to old advertising will find it The spotless interior is filled with an amazing variety of cycles, is worth a stop. Make sure to grab a great cup of Mississippi Mud classic cars, automobilia and vintage advertising. Some of the classic coffee, created in St. Louis. I can't stress enough that this is not your and rare bikes are displayed on shelves, stacked all the way to the stereotypical "Biker hangout" full of gruff characters and outlaws. In ceiling!A retro diner inside the main showroom serves fresh, hand fact Michael has created sort of a motorcycle boutique dedicated to crafted gourmet coffee. As if that wasn't enough, there's a bi-plane people all over the world that have a fascination for transportation suspended as if in flight from the ceiling. There is always something in general. new or appealing because items are sold from a revolving inventory For those searching for souvenirs or merchandise, they offer of consignments. A recent visit found rare a 1947 HRD Vincent shirts, hats, postcards, and photos in the Kickstart Cafe. Should one for sale at $58,900. Vincent was a British firm, manufacturer of decide to buy one of these bikes or other items, Kiernan's will ship the "world's fastest motorcycles" and only about 500 were made anywhere in the world. Michael is also hosting a Motorcycle Show per year. on April 14th, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and invites everyone Owner Michael Kiernan originally hails from Sydney, Australia, to come out. Kiernan's Cycles and the Kickstart Cafe are located but has called America home for the last 20 years. Michael's passion at 3537 Chouteau Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103. (314) 772-5758. for his products and patrons is demonstrated in nearly anything in www.MichaelsMotorcycies.com the place. He holds an especial zeal for European bikes and auto-

missouri66.org 41 JmJ new members FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/missouri66

TOOUR NEW ASSOCIATION MEMBERS!

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING THE FOLLOWING 8 NEW MEMBERS TO THE ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI. THESE NEW MEMBERSHIPS WERE RECEIVED DURING TH E PERIOD OF NOVEMBER 20, 2011 TH ROUGH FEBRUARY 19,2012.

Your support of the Association is highly valued and we look forward to your involvement in Association committees and projects as well as the enjoyment of Association activities. Our membership base continues to grow with over 750 proud members, and we thank each and everyone of you for your partnership with us.

Welcome aboard and we hope to seeyou along Route 66 in Missouri during 2012! •

• Blueberry Hill- St. Louis, MO MISSOURI • Crestwood Bowl- Crestwood, MO • Cruzin Rt66 Auto Sales - Sullivan, MO Us • Missouri Ozarks 66 Society - Strafford, MO • Brett Siplinger - Rogersville, MO • Spirals Art Gallery & Studio - Cuba, MO • Robert Stephenson - Brookline Station, MO ss • Jerry & Regina Wood - Springfield,MO

This New Members Report wasprepared by Robert Gebl, Director of Membership Services. If you were a new member during this time period and your name does not appear here,please contact me at (636) 458-4585 or [email protected] and you will be included in the next edition of this report.

MAIL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION TO: ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI, P.O. BOX 8117,ST. LOUIS, MO 63156 Membership in the non-profit Route 66 Association of Missouri entitles you to quarterly issues of Show Me Route 66 magazine, a map of Historic Route 66 in Missouri, a membership certificate and card, and a 66 window decal. Dues are tax-deductible. NAME _ MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION ADDRESS . CATEGORY AND DUES

CITY _ STATE _____ ZIP _ o Individual $25 Annually

Joint/Family $30 Annually BUSINESS NAME (ifopplicoble1 _ o

ADDRESS _ o Business/Organization/Municipality $50 Annually (Permits use of our Association name and '090) CITY_ __ STATE ZIP o International $75 Annually HOME PHONE BUSINESS PHONE _ MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: ROUTE 66 ASSOCIATION OF MISSOURI EMAIL _

42 Show Me Route 66 PLEASE VISIT AND SUPPORT OUR VALUED BUSINESS MEMBERS business members directory 1J;t List maintained by Robert Gehl; Director: Membership Services. Updated at 0/ February 19. 2012.

COLUMBIA, MO ROCK FAIR RESTAURANT & LOUNGE MISSOURI 3 Blocks South of Route 66 on Highway 19 BOIS D'ARC, MO STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MISSOURI www.system.missouri.edulshs ROUTE66FUDGESHOP HOOD'S PROPANE CO., INC. & SPECIALIZED CHOCOLATES Serving Southwest Missouri - (417) 732-6632 Where The Sweets Hit The Streets on Route 66 CRESTWOOD, MO HOOD'S SERVICE CENTER, INC. ROUTE 66 RESTORATIONS 24 Hour Service Since 1963 - Truck Stop CRESTWOOD BOWL Classic Car Restoration - (573) 885-0032 "Still Rollin' After 50 Years on Route 66!" (314) 966-4377 SPIRALS ART GALLERY & STUDIO BOURBON,MO Local Artwork, Crafts and Gifts - (573) 205-6777 SANT AUTOMOTIVE, LLC BREMER HARDWARE & LUMBER Check Out Our Racks on Route 66! THE JESUS CHRIST FOUNDATION Helping Build Bourbon - On Main Street Since 1915! Promoting Jesus - King of the Road WALNUT PARK AUTO BODY CIRCLE INN MALT SHOP & RESTORATION THE ROSE Family Owned - On Route 66 since '56 "Family Owned & Operated Since 1943" Karaoke - 2 Pool Tables - Darts (314) 965-2953 CITY OF BOURBON THREE MILE CREEK See Our Historic "BOURBON" Water Tower Rustic Decor and Log Furniture (573) 885-9663 from Route 66! CUBA,MO VIVA CUBA MURAL PROJECT BOB'S GASOLINE ALLEY cubamomurals.com 1 Murals Beautifying Cuba BRENTWOOD, MO Gasoline & Route 66 Memorabilia Since 1984

CARL'S DRIVE IN CITYOFCUBA WAGON WHEELMOTELICONNIE'S "16 Seats in Heaven" Route 66 Mural City SHOPPE AT WAGON WHEEL www.wagonwheeI66cuba.com - (573) 885-3411 CITY OF BRENTWOOD CRAWFORD COUNTY FAIR INC. City of Warmth - www.brentwoodmo.org ...a family tradition. - www.crawfordcountyfair.info WALLACE HOUSE Catering & Banquet Facilities Available CRAWFORD COUNTY CARTERVILLE, MO HISTORICAL SOCIETY WOODWARD LAW FIRM, L.L.C. 3 Stories of History - Wed & Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Personal Attention to Your Needs - (573) 885-6474 BULGER MOTOR CO. Sun Noon-4 P.M. "On Route 66 Since 1946" - (417) 673-1398 CUBA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DEVILS ELBOW, MO CITY OF CARTERVILLE VISITOR CENTER --~--~-' BECHT PROPERTIES, INC. Since 1876 - www.cartervillemo.com www.cubamochamber.com ELBOW INN BAR & BBQ SUPERTAM ON 66 CUBA FREE PRESS An Ice Cream Parlor with the Greatest "Defending Your Liberties Since 1960" PINEY BEACH CABINS Double-Dipper: Superman on 66! Rt. 66 Cottage Court - www.pineybeachcabins.com HAYES SHOE STORE Old Fashioned Service - Today's Styles CARTHAGE, MO SHELDEN'S MARKET (573) 885-7312 StorelPost Offrce on Big Piney River 66 DRIVE-IN THEATRE HUDDLE HOUSE #541 US MISSOURI ROUTE 66 CANOE RENTAL Open FrilSatlSun April thru Sept 417-359-5959 Any Meal, Anytime! Open 2417 "Keep Cool with Route 66 Canoe Rental" BEST BUDGET INN (573) 885-0043 Open All Year - (573) 336-2730 On the lake...at Hwy 96 & Old Route 66 JIM MONTGOMERY'S BODY & PAINT (417) 358-6911 Full Service Body Shop & Painting - Flatbed Wrecker DOOLITTLE, MO BIG RED BARN RV PARK Service - (573) 885-4204 COOKIN' FROM SCRATCH / PHILLIPS 66 No Planes, Trains, or Freeway Noise Allowed! MACE SUPERMARKET Award Winning "Pan Fried Chicken" (573) 762-3111 1(888) 244-2276 "Come Shop With Us" BOOTS COURT MOTEL MCGINNIS WOOD PRODUCTS, INC. ELLISVILLE,MO Back on the Road Again - Drop By and See Us! Specializing in Wine Barrels GENGHIS GRILL CARTHAGE CONVENTION MIDWEST PETROLEUM TRAVEL PLAZA The Mongolian Stir Fry - Feast Like a Beast! & VISITORS BUREAU Stop & See Our Route 66 "Classic Road Show" www.visit-carthage.com - 1 (866) 357-8687 50' Long Mural Inside! SCHAEFER AUTO BODY CENTERS Auto Collision Repair, Repnishing, and Detailing HISTORIC PHELPS HOUSE - CARTHAGE MISSOURI HICK BAR B Q HISTORIC PRESERVATION, INC. Enjoy Rustic Dining and Great Food! Open for Tours Wednesdays April thru EUREKA,MO November & Event Rentals MIZELL FUNERAL HOME "Honored To Serve Since 1905" CHEROKEE CHIEF TRADING POST POWERS MUSEUM Antiques, Collectibles, & Mannequins www.powersmuseum.com - 10% off in Shop MULLALLY DISTRIBUTING CO., INC. "Budweiser - King of Beers" DOUBLE 4 TRAILER SALES STONE'S THROW DINNER THEATRE Across from Six Flags - Sales, Parts & Service Best Dinner Theatre on Route 66 PEOPLE'S BANK www.double4trailersales.com (417) 358-9665 Your One-Stop Financial Center KOA ST. LOUIS WEST / HISTORIC ROUTE 66 WHITE ROSE WINERY, RESTAURANT, RAY HARVEY ART On Rt 66 - President's Award Winner 200812009 BED & BREAKFAST Muralist for Cuba Route 66 - rayharveyart.com "Fine Wine, Elegant Dining, Unforgettable LONG'S AUTO CENTER Bed & Breakfast" - www.whiterosebed-breakfast.com ROBERTS-JUDSON LUMBER Across from Six Flags - Preowned Sales & Service Established in 1914 www.longsautocenter.com

miUDuri66.0fD 4::t JmJ business members directory

PHIL'S BARB.Q. JOPLlN,MO SKIPPY'S ROUTE 661NN Ribs Are Phil's Specialty For Over 50 Years "Good Food for Good People" CANDY HOUSE CHOCOLATE FACTORY ROUTE 66 STATEPARK & VISITOR CENTER Watch our Candy Makers - Dwtn at 510 S. Kentucky On Historic Highway - Route 66 Museum I Gift Shop LEBANON,MO COUNTRY CABOOSE SUPER SMOKERS BBQ Railroad Museum - www.countrycaboose.com CHARLIE'S FARMS & GARDENS Zagat Rated "BBQ Best Bet" - World Champions ...where goodness grows for taste. May thru October. CYCLE CONNECTION HARLEY-DAVIDSON / BUELL CITY OF LEBANON FANNING,MO www.cycleconnectionh-d.com - (417) 623-1054 Friendly People. Friendly Place. www.lebanonmo.org

FANNING 66 OUTPOST GENERAL STORE GRANNY SHAFFER'S FAMILY RESTAURANT CUSTOM LAWN CARE Home of the Route 66 Rocker - World's Largest "Tastes Homemade Cause It Is!" 2728 N. Rangeline Lawn Care - Pruning - Trimming - (417) 588-3448

GRANNYSHAFFER'S ON THE PLAZA DECKER'S COWBOY EMPORIUM FLORISSANT, MO "Tastes Homemade Cause It Is!" 7th & Illinois &ARBUCKLE COFFEE CAFE AT WRINK'S MARKET CITYOFFLORISSANT HOLIDAY INN JOPLIN HOTEL Get YourArbuckle Coffee & Fried Pies - www.fiorissantmo.com - (314) 921-5700 & CONVENTION CENTER Western Art Gallery Joplin's only Full-Service Hotel (417) 782-1000 FLORISSANT OLD TOWN PARTNERS, INC DOWD'S CATFISH & BARBEQUE www.fiorissantoldtown.com - (314) 837-0033 JOPLIN CONVENTION Serving "Award Winning Catfish and BBQ" AND VISITORS BUREAU on Route 66 FLORISSANT VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY visitjoplinmo.com www.porissantoldtown.comltailledenoyer.shtm/ FAYE'S DINER (314) 524-1100 JOPLIN MUSEUM COMPLEX "Really Homemade Food & Desserts" A Missouri Ultimate 100 Destination HISTORIC FLORISSANT, INC. M-F 6 a.m. - 2 p.m., (Sat Noon) www.historicporissant.com - (314) 921-7055 JOPLIN PETRO TRUCK STOP FOREST MANORMOTEL The Perfect Spot to Refuel, Refresh and Relax HUTCHENS MORTUARY Historic Roadside Motel & RV Park - (417) 532-6114 & CREMATIONCENTER JOPLINSPECIAL ROAD DISTRICT FRANKIED'S DINER jsrd(cikableone.net WHITE AUTO BODY, INC. Homemade Cookin'just like Grandma used to make on Route 66!- (417) 991-3838 Serving Our Customers Since 1986 - (314) 839-1114 JOPLIN TRANSMISSION &AUTO CENTER "Get YourAuto Fixed on Route 66" (417) 626-7300 HEARTLAND ANTIQUE MALL GAY PARITA, MO KITCHEN PASS RESTAURANT AND BAR "Something for Everyone!" 1-44 Celebrating 25 Years! Food-Spirits- at Exit 127 - 8 a.m.-8 p.m. GAY PARITA SINCLAIR Live Entertainment - (417) 624-9095 • Travelin' Main Street USA - The Dream of My Life - HISTORIC ROUTE 66 MOTEL American Owned - Next to Dowd's An Adventure Through Time & History MURPHYSBURG RESIDENTIAL Catfish & Barbeque - (417) 532-3128 HISTORIC DISTRICT A Place of Prestigious & Elegant Addresses GRAVOIS MILLS, MO LINDSAY CHEVROLET / LINDSAY FORD "Where The Trucks Are" on Route 66! (417) 532-3114 NEWSITALK FM 102.9 / AM 1310 KZRG WATER'S EDGE MOTEL & BOAT RENTAL Listen to Route 66 Radio Show - MUNGER MOSS MOTEL AShort Side Trip - Road Warriors Discounts Saturdays 8 P.M.-Midnight (573) 372-2201 Your Home Away From Home RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT JOPLIN www.mungermoss.com All Suites with all the Comforts HALLTOWN, MO NANCY BALLHAGEN'S PUZZLES www.marriott.comljlnri www.missouripuzzle.com LAURA JEAN DERRICK - ARCHITECT PC ROUTE 66 CAROUSEL PARK ROUTE 66 MUSEUM & RESEARCH CENTER WHITEHALL MERCANTILE More Than You Can Imagine! Let Us Display Your Route 66 Collection! Collectibles, Antiques, Primitives, Usables Go Karts, Mini-Golf, Rides ROUTE 66 SODAS, LLC - TRANSPORT DISTRIBUTION CO. CTDC) ROUTE 66 ROOT BEER HAZELGREEN, MO Truckin' on 66 - www.gotdc.com The Ones For The Road - www.route66sodas.com

GASCOZARK TRADINGPOST WILDER'SSTEAKHOUSE SAND SPRING RESORT & RESTAURANT & FLEA MARKET "Famous for Good Things to Eat & Drink Since 1928" Visit Us At www.gascozarkpeamarket.com (417) 623-7320 SHEPHERD HILLS FACTORY OUTLETS On Rt. 66 Since 1960 - www.shephills.com GRUMPY'SOUTBACK Grocery - Deli - General Store. KINGDOM CITY, MO STAR LITE LANES See Grumpy in our Outhouse! Where The Fun Begins! Bowl on Historic Route 66! NOSTALGIAVILLE, USA "Your 50's & 60's Nostalgia Superstore" VALUE TIRE CENTER HAZELWOOD, MO "Better Deals on Tires & Wheels" www.creepinonchrome.com CITY OF HAZELWOOD, MO KIRKWOOD, MO "Much More Than You Imagine" WILLARD QUARRIES, INc. BEST WESTERN KIRKWOOD INN "You Call We Haul" (417) 532-2728 www.Hazelwoodmo.org Best Rest West of the Arch - 2 Blocks from Doc's GATEWAY UNIFORM &APPAREL DOC'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON MAPLEWOOD, MO "Your image is our business" (314) 607-9082 Since 1955 - www.docsharleydavidson.com PARAMOUNT JEWELERS "On the Mother Road Since 1946" LEASBURG,MO www.paramountjewelers.com BELMONT VINEYARDS Great Wines for Fun Times! - (573) 885-7156

44 Show Me Route 66 business members directory ~

MARSHFIELD, MO RICHLAND, MO JOHNNIES BAR Coldest Beer on Route 66 BLACKBERRY CREEK RETREAT I THE CAVE RESTAURANT AND RESORT BED & BREAKFAST "Its Really In A Cave!" - (573) 765-4554 MURDON CONCRETE PRODUCTS "Nature's Beauty with Country Charm" Look for our Dripping Faucet Neon Sign!

MARSHFIELD AREA CHAMBER OF ROCK HILL, MO SPURGEON'S "66" SERVICE COMMERCE & TOURIST INFO CTR "66" Station on Route 66 Since 1961 130th 4th of July Parade & 19th Annual Rodeo CITYOF ROCK HILL www.rockhillmo.com ST. JAMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & TOURIST CENTER MILLER,MO LEACH BP SERVICE Discover the Ozarks' Best! Serving The Motoring Public Since 1949 KC OBSOLETE PARTS LLC VACUUM CLEANER MUSEUM AND FACTORY OUTLET ROLLA,MO www.vacuummuseum.com - 1 (866) 444-9004 MOUNT VERNON, MO A MINER INDULGENCE BED & BREAKFAST VINTAGE CAR BROKER A Major Indulgence at a Miner Price on Route 66 ST.LOUIS, MO "I Find 'em - You Bind 'em" - Call (417) 316-1906 CITY OF ROLLA AAA AUTO CLUB OF MISSOURI We're Always With You OSAGE BEACH, MO FALL CREEK ROCK SHOP Rock Shop on Route 66 - BARNESGRIFFIN INC. JAKE CULPEEPER'S CATTLE CO. Minerals, Fossils, Jewelry, Lapidary Route 66 N.P.S. Grant Recipient - 2006 "The Steak Place at Lake of the Ozarks" MUFFLER MART BLUEBERRY HILL- RESTAURANT & MUSIC CLUB PACIFIC,MO PHELPS COUNTY BANK Employee Owned - www.phelpscountybank.com www.BlueberryHill.com BEACON CAR WASH (573) 364-5202 Open 7 Days 11a.m. - Wowee!!! New Home for Historical Neon Beacon Motel Sign CHILI MAC'S DINER ROLLA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE In the heart downtown St. Louis at 510 Pine St. CITY OF PACIFIC "Rolla: The Middle of Everywhere" of (314) 421-9040 Est. 1859 - www.pacipcmissouri.com www.rollachamber.org CHUCK-A-BURGER CREATIONS UNLIMITED ROUTE 66 MOTORS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT Custom Framing & Restoration at Pacipc Classic Cars and Used Cars - (573) 265-5200 Antique Mall - PacipcFramer.com - (314) 393-7996 Cruisin' Capitol of the Midwest since 1957 THE MULE TOBACCO BARN • CREVE COEUR PAVING DEANNA CHRISTINE'S Let the Giant Sterling Hillbilly Wave You In! On ANTIQUE & RESALE GALLERY Our Reputation Rides Our Service www.CcpStl.com 2 Blocks S. of Route 66 at 142 W. St. Louis Street THE MULE TRADING POST Route 66 Items, Antiques, Collectibles, (314) 402-8097 DENT DEVIL of St. Louis Knives & Swords, Southwest Pottery - (573) 364-4711 DON FLIER MOTORS Pointless Dent Removal www.dentdevil.com "Selling Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep Products on Route TOTEM POLE TRADING POST, INC. (636) 230-7900 Antiques, Souvenirs, C-Store "Since 1933" 66 for over 25 Years" DIRECTIONS SAINT LOUIS, LLC DOWN SOUTH CAFE St. Louis' Premier Tour Company - Serving Breakfast & Cajun Cuisine on Route 66! ROSATI,MO offering Day Trips and Tours from St. Louis! (636) 257-7866 ROSATI WINERY MUSEUM DONUT DRIVE-IN Donuts on 66! OSAGE DENTAL GROUP "Making History on Route 66 Since 1934" Best Hand-cut in St. Louis Route EAT-RITE DINER PACIFIC ANTIQUE MALL Antiques & Collectables - ST.CHARLES, MO Eat-Rite or Don't Eat At All 1Block S. of Route 66 at 125 N. First St. FAST LANE CLASSIC CARS FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE PACIFIC AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE "We Sell Investments That Accelerate" On Route 66 at 6211 Chippewa - See Our Vintage "Bow- Tie" Neon Sign! www.pacipcchamber.com NEON TIME J. BENTZINGER AND ASSOCIATES, INC. ROUTE 66 RAILFAN VISITOR CENTER- Custom Neon & Vintage Sign Restoration (636) 940-7070 MAINLINE VIEWING AREA ST. LOUIS TRANSITIONS Route 66 Model Railroad Club - (636) 742-1678 Route 66 St. Louis Books & Unique Handmade Items ROUTE 66 REALTORS ST.CLAIR, MO - route66stlouis.com www.route66realtors.com (636) 271-6660 LEWIS CAFE SOUTHWEST MARKET CUISINE THE MERAMEC VALLEY "Home Cooked Meals For Over 65 Years" "Sandwiches Our Specialty" CURRENT NEWS MAGAZINE ROUTE 66 CAR CLUB TED DREWES "Pacipc's Hometown Community News Magazine" Father's Day Car Show - Call (636) 629-5445 "It Really is Good, Guys ... and Gals!"

ROUTE 66 LUMBER CO. DBA PHELPS,MO ST. CLAIR BUILDING CENTER ST.ROBERT, MO KC OBSOLETE PARTS "Get Your Sticks At Route 66" (636) 629-2644 ALL STAR INN & STAR RESTAURANT Ford Parts & Accessories - RT66 Gift Shop "Locally Owned & Operated - (417) 452-FORD (3673) Home Cooked Food on Old Route 66" ST.JAMES, MO CITY OF ST. ROBERT PHILLIPSBURG, MO DIANA'S DINER Home Style Cooking & Daily Specials COMFORT INN HISTORIC ROUTE 66 ANTIQUE MALL Unique Rustic Lodge - (573) 336-3553 Antiques, Rt. 66 Memorabilia & More! (573) 265-3424 1-44 Exit 123 missouri66.org 45 JmJ business members directory

FAIRFIELD INN SPRINGFIELD-GREENE COUNTY HIGHWAY185 GARAGE Making Business Comfortable! - (573) 336-8600 LIBRARY CENTER Safety & Emission Testing, Chain Saws, Drive Here to Research Route 66 and More! Auto & Light Truck Repair, (573) 468-8662 FIRST STATE BANK, ST. ROBERT Together We Are Making Progress SPRINGFIELD-GREENE COUNTY SCHMIDT AUTO CENTER LIBRARY STATION "Late Model Pre-Owned Vehicles Since 1954" HAMPTON INN Cruise into the Library Station to view (573) 468-2233 Hot 'On The House' Breakfast - (573) 336-3355 Car and Train Memorabilia! SULLIVAN AREA LIBERTY LODGE SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Clean, Comfortable, Hometown Hospitality! CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU "Spend The Night or a Lifetime" (573) 336-3121 Birthplace of Route 66 - Springpeld, MO www.sullivanmochamber.com PULASKI COUNTY TOURISM BUREAU 1(800) 678-8767 Pulaski County - Missouri's Natural Beauty STEAK 'N SHAKE SUNSET HILLS, MO Famous For Steakburgers & Route 66! SWEETWATER BAR-B-QUE MILE 277 TAP & GRILL "A taste of the Ozarks" At 1-44 & Exit 163, TWIN MOTORCYCLE & TATTOO Where Route 66 and Exquisite mix! Open Daily Home of the Route 66 Tattoo UNION,MO SPENCER MO__ ~~~~----, STANTON,MO HUXEL'S AUTO REPAIR SPENCER GARAGE MERAMEC CAVERNS Used Parts for Old Cars 1940 to 1980 See Spencer Restored on Historic Route 66 Open Everyday! Oldest Stop on Route 66 INDIAN HARVESTTRADE On Route 66 - www.indianharvesttrade.com SPRINGFIELD, MO STATELINE, MO MASON DIXON FLEA MARKET BEST WESTERN ROUTE 66 RAIL HAVEN HOGS & HOT RODS SALOON Guests Get A True Rt. 66 Experience Since 1938 Hot Bikes - Cool Cars - Cold Beer (417) 206-2752 VILLA RIDGE, MO BUD'S TIRE & WHEEL CO. PADDOC LIQUORS Selling Tires & Wheels Over 50 Years on Route 66 On Old Route 66 at State Line - BOURBEUSE VALLEY HARLEY-DAVIDSON Junction of 1-44 & Hwy 50 on Route 66 COLLEGE STREET BODY SHOP, INC. Look for our Gas Pumps! (417) 862-4326 K LEIGH BUGS ANTIQUE MALL Best Body Shop in Town - Ask My Mom STRAFFORD, MO Antiques, Collectables, & Furniture (636) 451-6303

CURTIS ENTERPRISES CHESTNUT PLAZA PIN OAK CREEK RV PARK www.birthplaceofroute66.com At Corner of 1-44 and State Highway 125 "Family Fun Camping on Route 66" • 1 (888) 474-6625 DANNY'S SERVICE CENTER CITY OF STRAFFORD Look for our original Neon Sign The Best Small Town on Main Street USA - ROUTE "66" STORAGE at West Bypass & W. Division! Route 66 (636) 451-0677

DR. MICHAELJ. CLARKE EDWARD JONES INVESTMENTS SUNSET MOTEL HISTORY MUSEUM OF Retiring Soon? Let's Talk. (417) 736-9323 OZARKS SCOUTING (417) 883-1636, Archiving SW Missouri KEISER PROPERTIES LLC WAYNESVILLE, MO Boy Scouting Heritage "40 Years on Route 66" CAVE STATE CRUISERS CAR CLUB ESLICK ENTERPRISES MISSOURI OZARKS 66 SOCIETY Car Show the Weekend After Father's Day David J. Eslick, Photographer 417-889-9332 Promoting Route 66 and its History in the Ozarks (573) 435-9297

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, STRAFFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CITY OF WAYNESVILLE 525 SOUTH AVENUE 2012 "Route 66 Day" May 5th - Call (417) 894-7653 Established 1833 - www.waynesvillemo.org "Worship with us as you travel Route 66" HOPPERS PUB (417) 866-7202 STRAFFORD BRANCH LIBRARY Cruise down Route 66 to the PULASKI COUNTY HISTORICAL GREAT RIVER ENGINEERING Strafford Branch Library! MUSEUM & SOCIETY OF SPRINGFIELD, INC. Open Saturdays Only 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April thru Sept. www.greatrivereng.com TEAM LIQUORS "Small Store with a Large Selection" - SECURITY BANK OF PULASKI COUNTY INGRAM ENTERPRISES, INC. on Rt. 66 just East of Strafford THE DRYNK LURVEY PROPERTIES THE CUTTING ROOM Give your hair a "Kick" on Route 66!! THE OLD STAGECOACH STOP MEXICAN VILLA EL TACO Open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April thru Sept. On Route 66 at 316 W. Kearney - WILD ANIMAL SAFARI See our Vintage Neon Sign! T.J. CUSTOMS Specializes in Old Trucks & Off-Road Vehicles MOMMA MARY'S NAVAJO TACOS SULLIVAN, MO (573) 774-6557 "One Bite is a true Southwest delight" CRUZI N RT66 AUTO SALES WAYNESVILLE-ST. ROBERT OZARKS PUBLIC TELEVISION DU KUM INN RESTAURANT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE KOZK-Springpeld / KOZJ-Joplin www.waynesville-strobertchamber.com Visit us at www.optv.org Serving Route 66 Travelers Since 1961! (573) 468-6114 ROUTE 66 HOT DOGS HARRY'S TIRE, LLC WEBB CITY, MO SPRINGFIELD AREA New Tires, Custom Wheels, & Tire Repair BRADBURY BISHOP DELI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (573) 468-4128 Visit Our Historic Soda Fountain Built in 1931 Everywhere Should Be Like This COOPER'S GRILL Burgers-Beer-BBQ on Route 66 - (417) 673-1178 46 Show Me Route 66 business members directory ~

CULVER'S ROUTE 66 LlTCHFIELD,IL CLINTON, OK America's First Route 66 Culver's! Hwy 171& Madison on Route 66 THE ARISTON CAFE OKLAHOMA ROUTE 66 MUSEUM "Remember! Where Good Food Is Served" A tribute to "The Mother Road" www.route66.org ROUTE 66 MOVIE THEATER (580) 323-7866 "Today's Movies at Yesterday's Prices" (417) 673-1155 MITCHELL,IL WEBB CITYAREA CHAMBER ELK CITY, OK OFCOMMERCE & ROUTE 66 LUNA CAFE VISITORS CENTER "See Our Spectacular Neon Signs by Day NATIONALROUTE 66 MUSEUM COMPLEX On the Route at Broadway & Webb - and Especially by Night! www.elkcity.com - (580) 225-6266 Miami, OK Call (417) 673-1154

WEBB CITY FLORIST & GREENHOUSE MURPHYSBORO,IL MIAMI,OK See Our Historic Sign on Original Route 66 SILKWORM,INe. ALLEN SIGN STUDIO at 1001 S. Jefferson!- (417) 673-3780 (800) 826-0577 - www.silkwormink.com "A Sign of Service" www.allensignstudio.com WEBB CITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MIAMI CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU For More Information - (417) 673-5866 SPRINGFIELD,IL Home of Coleman Theatre, Ribbon Road & More

COZY DOG DRIVEIN ROUTE 66 VINTAGE IRON MOTORCYCLE WEBSTER GROVES, MO "Famous Hot Dog On a Stick" MUSEUM & GIFT SHOP ROUTE 66 TRANSMISSIONS, ETe. www.cozydogdrivein.com Home of the Evel Knievel Exhibit! Family Owned On The Mother Road - Quality #1 www.route66vintageiron.com

YORKSHIRE VILLAGE STAUNTON,IL WAYLAN'S KU-KU BURGER Don't just ask for a burger. Ask for WA YLAN'S Part of Route 66 Since 1951 DECAMP JUNCTION INe. Historic Roadhouse Serving Since 1926 WILDWOOD, MO (618) 637-2951 SAPULPA, OK

HISTORIC "BIG CHIEF" ROADHOUSE HENRY'SROUTE 66 RT 66 FRAME SHOPPE ANDGALLERY Established 1929 - www.bigchiefroadhouse.com RABBIT RANCH I EMPORIUM www.Rt66FrameShoppe.com (636) 458-3200 Rt.66 Info Center - www.HenrysRoute66.com STATE FARM INSURANCE TEXAS Mikel Garrett, Agent WHEELlNG,IL www.mikelgarrett.com - (636) 458-5055 SUPERDAWG DRIVE-IN ADRIAN, TX HIYA! THANKS FOR STOPPING. MIDPOINTCAFE & GIFT SHOP www.superdawg.com - (847) 459-1900 ILLINOIS "Home of the Ugly Crust Pie" (806) 538-6379 AUBURN,IL KANSAS ARIZONA BECKY'S BARN - OFF THE BRICKS ON ROUTE 66 BAXTER SPRINGS, KS SCOTTSDALE, AZ Antiques, Souvenirs, Amish Candy & Jams BAXTER SPRINGS KANSAS (217) 836-3043, BeckysBarn.com ROUTE 66 WORLD ROUTE 66 VISITORS CENTER www.route66world.com - Everything Route 66! ARestored 1930's Phillips Service Station CARLINVILLE,IL (620) 856-2066

MAGNUSON GRAND HOTEL CALIFORNIA GALENA, KS & CONFERENCE CENTER LAKE ARROWHEAD, CA www.magnusongrandhotel.com 4 WOMEN ON THE ROUTE Full Service - Route 66 The Home of Tow Tater - NATIONAL HISTORIC Inspiration for "Tow Mater" from "Cars" ROUTE 66 FEDERATION Preserving and Promoting The Mother Road CHICAGO,IL STEVE'S CANDY AND JERKY SUPERDAWG DRIVE-IN "Home of Mine Run Candy" HIYA! THANKS FOR STOPPING. MONTANA www.superdawg.com - (773) 763-0660 RIVERTON, KS PHILIPSBURG, MT NELSON'SOLD RIVERTON STORE GRANITE CITY, IL PACCOM FILMS Home of the "Hand Crafted Sandwich" www.paccomfilms.com HISTORIC ROUTE 66 FLEA MARKET (620) 848-3330 Award-winning Rt. 66 Documentaries since 1994. Stop & Shop - We have what you need from A to Z 1 (800) 786-6695 OKLAHOMA HAMEL,IL AFTON, OK TENNESSEE ROUTE 66 RIDEZ Repair & Restoration of Classic Cars AFTONSTATION & ROUTE 66 PACKARDS NASHVILLE, TN & Route 66 Gift Shop Route 66 & Vintage Car Museum / Visitors' Center JOE LOESCH - THE ROAD CREW Songs from the Mother Road & Route 66 LlVINGSTON,IL CLAREMORE, OK Audio History - NewWaytoRead.com

PINK ELEPHANT ANTIQUE MALL CLAREMORE CONVENTION "See Our Giant Roadside Attractions!" & VISITORS BUREAU (618) 637-2366 Claremore, OK - www.visitclaremore.org lntl then and now

THE GARBAGE CAN CAFE - THEN

In June of 1952 Kermit and Leatha Lowery opened a gas station and cafe on the new four-lane Route 66. A friend is said to have suggested that people would remember the place if it were named the Garbage Can. The Garbage Cab was known for its small individual round by pies made by Leatha.

Kermit and Leatha's children helped out. Their son, Ron, managed the station while daughter Carole ran the cafe. The Garbage Can closed in 1972, the same year the highway out front became Interstate 44. Nature is reclaiming the abandoned building along Interstate 44 at Exit 107.

48 Show Me Route 66