Tag Archives: Joplin News Past

Beefmasters and Hallmark Inn Motel in Joplin is coming down

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JOPLIN, Mo. — After many years in disrepair the former Best Western Hallmark Inn Motel and Beefmasters is coming down at 3600 S Rangeline.

It’s had many names over the years, most recently known as the Sunrise Inn.

It’s unknown when the motel closed. It seems over the past two years it quietly was taken over by vandalism.

Reviews online extend to 2020. Most of the reviews the last 10 years give it the lowest rating possible and warn future guests of staying there according to TRIP ADVISOR.

The property is listed for sale by a Springfield Broker company. The asking price for 3 acres is $1.96 million.

Sale-Brochure

The attached restaurant, Beefmasters, was most popular through the 1970’s-80’s. There is a local Beefmasters Facebook page where former employees have shared stories and photos from the 30+ years ago.

“Dedicated to the memories of those that worked at the one and only Beefmasters restaurant in Joplin, Mo.! If you never had the prime rib or spent an evening next door in the bar you missed out on one of Joplin’s finest destinations!”

— BEEFMASTERS  FB GROUP

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37 years ago US-Route 66 came to an end in Joplin

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JOPLIN, Mo. — US-66 also known as US-Route 66 is nearing the 100th anniversary. US-66 was first signed into law in 1927 as one of the original U.S. Highways, it took 11 years to pave , finishing in 1938.

The Joplin area was the final portion of the highway in Missouri to remove the US-66 signs on this date 37 years ago.

“July 24, 1985 The last Route 66 signs came down in Missouri. Without ceremony, Missouri Highway workers removed the shields from the I-44 turn-off at Scotland, near Joplin, to the Kansas line and on the I-44 business Loop through Joplin. The shields between St. Louis and Joplin had come down in 1977.” — MISSOURI’S HISTORIC HIGHWAYS

The death of US Route 66? It began in the 1950’s as the road did not become a part of the Federal Interstate system birthed by President Eisenhower.

With the decommissioning of US 66, no single interstate route was designated to replace it, with the route being covered by Interstate 55 from Chicago to St. Louis, Interstate 44 from St. Louis to Oklahoma City, Interstate 40 from Oklahoma City to California.

Some states have kept the 66 designation for parts of the highway, albeit as state roads. In Missouri, Routes 366, 266, and 66 are all original sections of the highway. State Highway 66 (SH-66) in Oklahoma remains as the alternate “free” route near its turnpikes [wiki source].

This final section of road in SWMO is still called MO-66/7th Street through Joplin, Mo. and into Galena, Kan. Currently more than $25-Million is being spent in Joplin by MoDOT to upgrade sidewalks, curbing, safety etc over the next few years.

BIRTHPLACE OF ROUTE 66 FESTIVAL AT SPRINGFIELD, MO.

After having to cancel the 2020 and 2021 Birthplace of Route 66 Festivals due to the pandemic, festival organizers the City of Springfield, Aaron Sachs & Associates, KY3/KSPR/CW, Downtown Springfield Association and West Central Neighborhood Alliance are thrilled to announce that the festival is on in 2022.

The festival will take place Aug. 11-13 and will kick off at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 at the Aaron Sachs Stage in Motorcycle Village (Jefferson Avenue and McDaniel Street) with the free Rockin’ the Route 66 Kickoff Concert by the No. 1 cover band in America – the Emerald City Band. The Thursday night concert will provide a chance for community members and visitors alike to celebrate coming out of the pandemic and set the stage for future economic vitality and recovery efforts to be promoted during and following the festival.

Registration links for Friday and Saturday’s car show, the Charity Bike Show and the Gypsy Tour Poker Run to benefit the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association are live at route66festivalsgf.com  (read more in release of information).

Many people from all over the world vacation to travel the original path. Here are a few stops Joplin News First has visited over time that are a quick drive to experience “The Mother Road.”

COMMERCE, OKLA.

SPENCER, MO.

Watch for more Route 66 stories as the 100th commemoration approaches. The city of Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau is developing plans for the year-long celebration that has already been noted by the US Congress in a special designation and allotment of funds.

Stay with Joplin News First on KOAM News Now as we continue to cover Route 66 stories. Scroll below to sign up for our JLNews1st email list so you don’t miss an article.

The Riverton Dam one of two that form 800 acre lake

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CHEROKEE COUNTY, Kan. — The Riverton Dam used to provide electricity for the area as it was deemed the ‘Empire District Electric Company Power Dam Falls’.

Now it’s only function is being one of two dams that hold back water to form a lake with inflowing waters of Spring River and Shoal Creek. The second is Lowell Dam just 1/2 mile SE which also used to provide electricity.

It’s the end of Shoal Creek, a few miles into Kansas, which forms in McDonald County, Missouri, near Exeter.

“The overflow (or over fall) dam is one of two dams which form the 400 acre Lake Lowell. The no longer operating Lowell Hydroelectric Plant is located on the other dam.” — Kansas Travel

Kansas Travel calls it Lake Lowell, Kansas Outdoors calls it Empire Lake. What we do know? It was about 1905 when the two dams were built to form the hydroelectric plant producing much-needed electricity to the booming area.

The Riverton Dam had a bridge above it that was replaced over time to the west. A new bridge was built there on the west side in 1986.

Follow our social media page that shares stories of local history, Joplin News Past.

The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster 36 years ago

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JOPLIN, Mo. — January 28, 1986, 36 years ago today, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred killing all seven crew members. 

Most of America was watching that day, including children, who witnessed the disaster. After an extensive national search the first civilian teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe, was on board. Thus a generation, waiting to be inspired, was watching from their classrooms.

The rest of America watched on television live as the space shuttle disintegrated 73 seconds into flight.

McAuliffe was chosen as the first educator for the Teacher in Space Project (TISP).  The  NASA program was announced by Ronald Reagan in 1984 designed to inspire students, honor teachers, and spur interest in mathematics, science, and space exploration.

The project would carry teachers into space as non-astronaut civilians who would return to their classrooms to share the experience with their students.

The disaster was caused by the failure of O-ring seals in a joint in the Space Shuttle’s right solid rocket booster.

Family members of the crew witnessed the disaster following the takeoff which was visible from the ground. The audience gathered was horrified and confused at what they had just witnessed. Command stated over the public address system saying, “We are looking at the situation, obviously a major malfunction.”

Commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialists Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnik and Ronald E. McNair, and Payload Specialists Gregory B. Jarvis and S. Christa McAuliffe died.

President Ronald Reagan spoke at the Challenger Memorial Service at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, January 31, 1986.

“We remember Christa McAuliffe, who captured the imagination of the entire Nation; inspiring us with her pluck, her restless spirit of discovery; a teacher, not just to her students but to an entire people, instilling us all with the excitement of this journey we ride into the future.” — President Ronald Reagan