Ghost Stretch Beyond Springfield, Missouri on Route 66

Ghost Stretch Beyond Springfield - Page 3

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The road continues from Spencer northwest about one mile before rejoining MO-96 and making its way westward another eight miles to Heatonville. Platted in 1868 by Daniel Heaton, this small town was first simply called Heaton. Later the "ville" was added to the name. A year later, the town had about ten homes, a store and a blacksmith shop. It was the post office center of the area until 1881, at which time it sported about 50 people. However, that same year, the post office was discontinued as there was no one to act as postmaster. It would be another seven years before it would reopen. When Route 66 was established several businesses were opened to accommodate the travelers. All are gone today, but for the old 1936 D.L. Morris Garage building on the south side of the road.

It's been a while since anyone got their car serviced at this old Heatonville Garage, Kathy Weiser, September, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Onwards to Carthage

The next 26 miles westward to Carthage, Missouri passes through a number of old towns including, Albatross, Phelps, Rescue, Plew, Avilla, Forrest Mills and Maxville, of which, some have very small agricultural populations, others sporting little more than crumbling buildings, and a few with no more than a foundation to suggest that anyone ever lived there.

Breezing through Albatross, seeing nothing more than a sign to indicate it was a town, the road continues to Phelps, a small town that dates back to the 1830's. The town grew to a relatively good size until the 1870's when everything south of Carthage Road (later Route 66) burned to the ground. Persevering, the town sported a population of about 80 people in 1882, supporting a school, several churches, a general merchandise store, a drug store, a wagon maker, blacksmith, and a doctor. The town got another boost when Route 66 barreled through, but today is just another quiet spot in the road.

This old school continues to stand in Phelps, Missouri

Kathy Weiser, September, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

In the area of the old town sites of Rescue and Plew, this was once a haven for tourist courts. Shadyside Camp, just before the intersection with Route BB, near Rescue, originally operated as a cabin court with a gas station and cafe. Currently utilized as a residence, the property includes five rock buildings in a semi-circular configuration, popular during the Route 66 era.

Between Plew and Avilla are the remains of the 1935 Log City Camp on the south side of the road. Log City also sported a Mobil Station, coffee shop and store. Right across the street was the 1928 Forest Park Camp, which included rock cabins, a cafe, a tavern and a dancehall. During Route 66' heydays, these two businesses were major rivals for decades. Today, Meister's Body Shop and Garage are housed in Log City's old station and restaurant building and a few cabins still remain. Across the road, a lone stone cabin remains at Forest Park Camp.

Though Avilla still boasts a small population, these two

old store buildings attest to better times, Kathy

Weiser, September, 2007.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Avilla, Missouri seems to be the "Capital" of this little section of the highway, still called home to about 140 souls. Situated in a rich farming district, Avilla's post office was established about 1868. The flourishing town also sported a general merchandise store and a hotel. By 1874, the Availla sported two churches, a school house and population of about 500. Like the other small towns on this now lonely stretch of road, Avilla bustled when the Mother Road came through. Afterwards, it too settled down to a quiet way of life, but continues to sport a few open businesses. Several old buildings can still be seen in the town including its 1915 post office, which remains open, a very large store building that looks like it might have been a lumber yard or hardware store, the falling walls of an old motor court, and a Route 66 era garage.

After another 12 miles, the pathway comes to Carthage, allegedly passing through two old townsites - Forrest Mills and Maxville, but of these places, we could find no remains.

However, during this trip, look to the north side of the road for what is probably the oldest gas station on Route 66. This prefabricated 1915 Standard Oil Station is made of steel panels that look like wood siding and vintage metal tiles. Currently, there is talk of moving this old station to the new site of Red Oak II, a recreated "old town" just northeast of Carthage.

And, speaking of Red Oak II, this "ghost town" was built from the remains of numerous area buildings. The site is just east and north of Carthage and is well worth the side trip.