Route 66 - Day 13 - Republic, MO to Carthage, MO

Route 66 - Part 1
Day 13 Republic to Carthage

10/5/2012

56 Actual Miles / 1679 Actual Elevation
 

Today saw the weather turn nasty, wet and cold. We have several riders who have managed to catch a cold and one who is suffering from a very sore hip, so there are several riders in the support vehicle today. It seemed to get colder as the day went on. A good day to be in the vehicle as far as I am concerned.The
 

 

Billings

 

Halltown

 Whitehall Mercantile

Marionville

 

            Albino Squirrels - The town is known for its wild albino squirrels. Far from being a myth, they are highly publicized and touted by area boosters. Marionville, while not actually on US 66, is just a few miles southwest of Springfield, MO on US 60.

Paris Springs Junction

  

            Gay Parita - A gasoline station that opened circa 1930 at what is now Paris Springs, MO. The station was established by Fred Mason and named in part for his wife, Gay Mason. The origin of the "Parita" portion of the name is obscure, but it is interesting to note that there once was a dance hall named Gay Parita in the town of Corona, in southeastern Kansas.  A reproduction gasoline station built on the same site and hosted by Gary Turner as a tribute to Route 66's past. The property includes the original garage constructed of native stone.

Heatonville
 

D.L Morris Garage &Station

 

Albatross

Phelps

 

    

Rescue

 

Plew

 

 

Avilla

 

 

           

             Route 66 Bar

Maxville

Carthage

 

            FOLK ART at Hwy V and Hwy 96, the Flying W Store has a “Flying Manure Spreader” sculpture by Lowell Davis named the “Crap Duster.” Mr. Davis created Red Oak II, a site full of relocated and restored old buildings (including a cottage gas station from ’66) Davis grew up in the original town of Red Oak.

 

 

66 Drive-In Theater - 17231 Old 66 Boulevard [417-359-5959] Originally opened for business in1949, this drive-in theater on the west side of town has been nicely restored, and grand reopening ceremonies were held in 1998.

            Boots Motel - 107 S. Garrison Street. A vintage motel exhibiting characteristics of Streamline Moderne styling and named for its founder, Arthur Boots. Clark Gable stayed here. Has been closed since the late 1990s.

            Pancake Hut has a mechanical “Chicago Band Box” that they will play for you. Good food too.
 

    

Marlin Perkins [1905-1986] - A native of Carthage, MO, Richard Marlin Perkins worked at both the St. Louis Zoo and the Lincoln Park (Chicago) Zoo before gaining fame as the host of the Wild Kingdom TV series beginning in the early 1960s. A life-sized statue of him stands in Carthage's Central Park

 

   

Belle Starr Carthage was the girlhood home of Wild West outlaw Belle Starr.

 

Powers Museum - A museum specializing in local history, the Powers is located on what was formerly the site of Taylor Tourist Park, and later, the Park Motor Court & Cafe. In keeping with the heritage, in 2005 the museum initiated its "Traveling Classroom Trunks" program for teachers, including one "trunk" with a Highways/Route 66 theme.
 

    

Precious Moments Park & Chapel [417-358-7599]

 

  Iggy's Diner - 2400 Grand Avenue  [417-237-0212] 1940s stainless steel landmark
 

  

Carthage Deli - 301 S. Main Street [417-358-8820] Serves sandwiches and milk shakes in a 1950s-style soda fountain.
 

 

Jasper County Courthouse was constructed in 1894. There is a mural inside depicting the history of the area painted by a local artist and a still-operating wrought iron cage-style elevator.

       

Civil War Museum - 205 Grant St has dramatic murals of “The Battle of Carthage” fought in 1861 and was a victory for the Confederate.

We are in Carthage, MO today and we are heading for Afton, OK via Kansa in the morning.