They called it the Palm to Pine Route and from 1915 to 1926 it was one of the most well traveled and scenic routes in America. It's hard to say exactly where the whole route was, but there is a move on to find it and memorialize it for history.
Jefferson Highway
Wikapedia has an informational article about the Jefferson Highway stating that is was an automobile highway stretching through the central United States from New Orleans, LA to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Portions of the route remain named Jefferson Highway.
The area that ran through Butler, MO and Rich Hill, MO is in dispute. One suggested route follows Missouri YY from Butler, MO to Rich Hill, that route is taken from old Bates County maps. The other route comes from Jefferson Highway travel brochures from the 1920's, it flows West out of Butler on 52 and turns South at Monteith Junction and running along SW 1737 Rd. to Rich Hill.
This weekend I spoke with some folks who grew up in the area and they confirmed that the location is as it is mapped below in purple. In fact I have ridden horses over some of the areas the Jefferson Highway went through. My father in-law remembers well that stretch of road and where it ran.
What is clear is that the route did come directly through Butler, MO and right down Main St. to what is now 52.
The area that ran through Butler, MO and Rich Hill, MO is in dispute. One suggested route follows Missouri YY from Butler, MO to Rich Hill, that route is taken from old Bates County maps. The other route comes from Jefferson Highway travel brochures from the 1920's, it flows West out of Butler on 52 and turns South at Monteith Junction and running along SW 1737 Rd. to Rich Hill.
This weekend I spoke with some folks who grew up in the area and they confirmed that the location is as it is mapped below in purple. In fact I have ridden horses over some of the areas the Jefferson Highway went through. My father in-law remembers well that stretch of road and where it ran.
What is clear is that the route did come directly through Butler, MO and right down Main St. to what is now 52.
Jefferson Highway Butler to Rich Hill
Recently the Joplin Independent had an article about a couple of guys who set out to travel the old route and there stop in Carthage, MO.
Mike Conlin and his friend Gary Augustine decided to validate what they could discover of the road. Beginning in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and culminating in New Orleans, LA.
They have made quite an event out of charting this course, even having a fan page on Facebook. They passed through Butler, MO and took pictures along the way. You can see them on their facebook page or you can visit their website at http://www.jeffersonhighway.com .
You can see the map they are working on here Jefferson Highway Map.
If you have any information or old Jefferson Highway signs or memorabilia, I'm sure it would be of interest to the folks working on saving this historical information.
Thanks for visiting Bates County Real Estate.
Mike Conlin and his friend Gary Augustine decided to validate what they could discover of the road. Beginning in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and culminating in New Orleans, LA.
They have made quite an event out of charting this course, even having a fan page on Facebook. They passed through Butler, MO and took pictures along the way. You can see them on their facebook page or you can visit their website at http://www.jeffersonhighway.com .
You can see the map they are working on here Jefferson Highway Map.
If you have any information or old Jefferson Highway signs or memorabilia, I'm sure it would be of interest to the folks working on saving this historical information.
Thanks for visiting Bates County Real Estate.
RSS Feed