Missouri Route 66 starts just outside of St. Louis, where Watson Road crosses Lindberg, the highway that links Illinois 66 to Missouri 66.
At Villa Ridge the Tri-County Truck Stop started life as the Diamonds, a fine Streamline Moderne restaurant and truck stop with sleeping rooms for drivers.
From Villa Ridge, Missouri 66 dove into the Ozarks, a source of material for motels, garages, and restaurants.
Grandpa Berti built the Shamrock Motel and Cafe from Roubidoux sandstone, dug from the Sulky Quarry near Sullivan. Between each arched window he set his signature, a sunburst.
C.T. Lierman and William Jacques ordered Vernon Prewitt to "rock" them a garage and cafe in Rolla. He did, from Roubidoux sandstone, mined from a nearby quarry.
Mac MacCandless had "rock man" Ed Waddell build the Trail's End Motel in 1938, in the distinct style of motel architecture that showed up in Springfield. Waddell faced each cabin in Roubidoux sandstone and outlined the windows and doors with red and yellow brick. |
