Onwards to Carthage – Heatonville to Plew – Legends of America
Embark on a captivating journey along a stretch of the iconic Route 66, where the echoes of the past resonate through forgotten towns and remnants of a bygone era. This segment of the Mother Road, west of Spencer, Missouri, unfolds a tapestry of history, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the American heartland. As Route 66 carves a straight line westward for 31 miles along Highway 96, it beckons travelers to explore the vestiges of Heatonville, Albatross, Phelps, Rescue, Plew, Avilla, Forrest Mills, and Maxville. These towns, once vibrant communities, now stand as silent witnesses to the passage of time, each with its own unique story etched into the landscape.
Heatonville: A Faded Memory
Heatonville, Missouri, a once-thriving unincorporated community nestled along Route 66 in Lawrence County, now exists as a mere whisper of its former self. Founded by Daniel Heaton in 1868, the town initially bore his name and quickly blossomed into a hub of activity, boasting ten homes, a store, and a blacksmith shop within its first year. In 1872, the establishment of a post office further solidified Heatonville’s position as a growing settlement.
By 1881, the town’s population had reached approximately 50 residents, but the discontinuation of the post office that same year due to a lack of a postmaster cast a shadow over its progress. However, the community’s spirit remained unbroken, and the post office was reopened in 1888, accompanied by a name change to Heatonville.
From the 1890s to the early 1920s, the Williamson apple orchard emerged as the area’s economic engine, its success so profound that a railroad spur was constructed to facilitate the loading and shipping of the abundant fruit harvest.
The advent of Route 66 in 1926 breathed new life into Heatonville, spurring the establishment of businesses catering to the burgeoning flow of travelers. Gas stations, tourist courts, and garages sprang up to meet the needs of motorists seeking respite and supplies along the Mother Road. Among these establishments was Jim Collins’ Garage, a sturdy structure built of slab rocks about two miles east of Heatonville, near the intersection with County Road M. Collins operated the garage for many years, later transforming it into Law’s Auto Salvage. The deteriorating garage, along with a few other buildings, stood as a familiar landmark along the north side of the highway for decades until its demolition in 2018, replaced by a modern red business building.
D.L. Morris constructed another garage in Heatonville in 1936, utilizing rubble fieldstone on the site of the former post office. This garage remained in operation until approximately 1970, subsequently housing an antique shop. Today, the vacant and deteriorating structure still stands on the south side of the road, a poignant reminder of Heatonville’s past.
Today, Heatonville’s existence is barely discernible. No signs mark its location, and the area is now dominated by fuel storage tanks, feed companies, and private residences. The only remaining clue to its former existence is the old Morris Garage, standing on the south side of the road at the intersection of MO-96 and County Road 1142. About two miles west, travelers on Route 66 will find themselves in the small community of Albatross.
Albatross: Born of the Mother Road
Unlike Heatonville, Albatross owes its existence entirely to Route 66. Before the Mother Road’s arrival, this area was devoid of any settlement. In 1926, a small crossroads community emerged, comprising three buildings: a bus depot, a filling station, and a lunchroom. The town took its name from the Albatross Bus Line company. Fueled by the traffic generated by the highway, Albatross quickly transformed into a thriving small town. Throughout the 1950s, the traffic remained robust enough to sustain six gas stations along a one-mile stretch of road.
Of the numerous businesses that once catered to Route 66 travelers, only Jim Moot’s Auto Body Shop and Inspection Station remains standing today. The east portion of the building, constructed of stone in 1930, was later expanded with concrete blocks on the west side, more than doubling the available space. The building is located on the south side of Highway 96, less than half a mile east of the intersection with Highway 39.
Albatross still boasts several homes, buildings, and businesses, and is marked as a town with road signs.
The road continues westward to the small town of Phelps, Missouri, less than four miles to the west.
Phelps: A Glimpse into the Past
Phelps, a small town with roots tracing back to the 1830s, was originally settled along the Carthage-Springfield Road. The first schoolhouse, a log cabin, was built in the early 1850s about a mile north of the community. When a post office opened in 1854, it was named Stalls Creek. In 1857, the name was changed to Phelps, in honor of William Wallace Phelps, a state legislator. By the time of the Civil War, Phelps was a flourishing community; however, a devastating fire in the 1870s razed everything on the south side of the road to the ground. The town’s recovery was slow, particularly after the St. Louis & San Francisco Railway was routed through nearby Miller, prompting some businesses and residents to relocate to the burgeoning railroad town.
Despite these setbacks, Phelps still boasted a population of about 80 people in 1882, along with a school, several churches, a general merchandise store, a drug store, a wagon maker, a blacksmith, and a doctor. A new one-room school was built along the main road through town in 1889.
However, the town’s growth stagnated, and its post office closed in 1922.
In anticipation of the increased traffic along the new Route 66, John and Belva Henson built a large stone structure in 1925. Called the Henson Hotel, the two-story building offered 14 rooms for lodging, along with a store, restaurant, and barbershop on the ground floor. The Hensons operated the business for over 20 years, after which it became a private residence. The building still stands today at the northwest corner of Highway 96 and County Road UU, set back from the road at the edge of the old 66 roadbed.
Bill’s Station, originally a one-room filling station, was built by Bill Tiller in 1926. Later, a small addition was added to the back. A two-pump concrete island stood directly in front of the station, and its awning was adorned with a metal sign reading "Bill’s Station" and "Double Cola." After the station closed, it sat vacant and deteriorated for years until it finally fell into ruins. It was a rare, unaltered example of early roadside construction when a filling station was designed strictly for pumping gas. It stood at the northeast corner of Highway 96 and County Road UU.
In 1952, the Phelps School District was consolidated into the nearby Miller School District, and the old 1889 one-room school was closed. The building was subsequently used as a polling place, a meeting room for the local 4-H Club, and a community center where the public held potluck suppers. However, the building fell into disuse sometime during the 1980s and was left to deteriorate. Recently, the old school has been fully restored and sits on the north side of Highway 96.
In 1955, Route 66 was widened through Phelps, resulting in the demolition of all businesses and homes on the south side of the road, including a Texaco Service station and cafe.
Today, Phelps is still home to several people, and the town is dotted with homes and a few businesses.
Route 66 continues on a straight-line path westward for about four miles to Rescue, Missouri.
Rescue: A Haven for Travelers
The small community of Rescue emerged in the late 1890s, and a post office was established in 1897. However, the town’s growth remained limited, and the post office closed in 1904.
The arrival of Route 66 in 1926, following the path of the old Ozark Trail, brought renewed activity to Rescue. A gas station and two motor courts soon appeared, catering to the needs of passing motorists.
The area quickly became a haven for lodging facilities, including Reed’s Cabins, which featured three freestanding cabins and a restaurant built of rubble stone in 1926. Constructed by the Rogers family, the site on the north side of the highway overlooked the road from a deep, sloped lot. Today, the site is privately owned, and the former restaurant has been significantly altered to serve as a residence. Two of the original cabins remain standing. The site is on the North Side of 96 Highway, just east of County Road 1040.
In 1927, L.F. Arthur built Shadyside Camp on Route 66 on the west side of town. The site originally comprised four cabins constructed of local rubble stone, nestled in the cooling shade of a thick grove of oak trees. Arthur initially charged $1.00 to $1.50 per night, and guests had access to private cooking facilities and community toilets and showers. Electrified trailer space was also available for 50¢. A few years later, a gas station with a cafe and a store was built in front of the cabins along the highway. In about 1930, a row of three large cottages were added to the complex to accommodate more people. Over the years, the tourist court served passing motorists and became a popular local gathering place. Until the late 1980s, the store was still in operation. It has since been converted into a private residence. The privately owned site still stands today, and the cabins can still be spied in the background. It is located just west of County Highway 1032/Lawrence Street on the north side of the highway.
The town of Rescue continued to have a school until 2003, when the Miller R-II School District decided to close what was by then named "Miller West Elementary" due to declining enrollment.
Route 66 continues westward for just 3.5 miles before reaching the old Plew community. However, there is little here for travelers to know that it was ever a town, but several homes still populate it.
Avilla, which seems to be the "Capital" of this little section of the highway, is just about 4.5 miles to the west. Between Plew and Avilla once stood the 1935 Log City Camp on the south side of the highway. The complex also featured a Mobil Station, a coffee shop, and a store. Right across the street was the 1928 Forest Park Camp, which included rock cabins, a cafe, a tavern, and a dance hall. During Route 66’s heyday, these two businesses were major rivals for decades.
As you traverse this stretch of Route 66, take a moment to appreciate the resilience of these small towns and the stories they hold within their weathered walls. These remnants of the past serve as a reminder of the enduring spirit of the American people and the transformative power of the Mother Road.