On Thursday Oct. 2, a small wooden gas station that once served motorists along old Route 66 was permanently placed in its new home off the roundabout at Hubble Drive and Banning Street in Marshfield. The 100-year-old structure, believed to be an original Phillips 66 station, now stands as the centerpiece of a developing Route 66 Plaza that will greet travelers just as the nation prepares to celebrate the centennial of the Mother Road in 2026.
The plaza will feature not only the restored station but also a towering interactive Route 66 sign, one of only about ten planned for Missouri, that promises to draw tourists for photos and memories.
“That’s what people will stop for,” explained Chris Davis. “It’ll be a place for kids to climb, for families to look through, and the gas station will serve as the perfect backdrop.”
From the Early Days of the Mother Road
The station’s story begins east of the Little Niangua River Bridge. Its precise origins are unclear, but its design suggests a Phillips 66 build, dating back to the earliest years of America’s new cross-country highway.
“The best we can tell from the architectural style, it was probably a Phillips 66 station,” said Randy Clair. “Their motto back then was, ‘You can go 66 miles an hour on Route 66 with 66 octane gas.’ These stations were built every 50 miles or so, because Model T’s didn’t have large tanks. People couldn’t go much farther without fuel.”
“Think about it, cars at that time might only go 50 miles on a tank. Mr. Phillips had the foresight to realize there needed to be stations strategically placed along the highway,” Lyndall Fraker added. “And if this one is truly part of that network, then it’s remarkable it has survived.”
The building still boasts its original redwood siding, a feature few wooden stations from that era can claim.
“For 100 years old, it’s in immaculate condition,” Clair said. “The roof has been replaced, but otherwise, it’s stood the test of time.”
A Gift Nearly Lost
The station passed hands several times before becoming part of a preservation effort. Gary and Janet Dill originally gave it to the Route 66 Initiative group as part of the community’s Carnivore Festival. The plan was to relocate it near Rifle Range Road, but vandalism made that site unworkable.
“It was covered in graffiti and would have been broken into,” Clair recalled. “It became clear we had to put the move on the back burner until a better plan came along.”
That plan surfaced when Webster County formed its Route 66 Celebration Committee to prepare for the upcoming centennial.
“The committee realized this was perfect,” Davis said. “This building could be the heart of our celebration.”
Early discussions considered moving the station near the new city pool, but Marshfield City Administrator Sam Rost suggested something better: city-owned land along the original Route 66 roadbed.
“It’s land [The City of Marshfield] already had to mow and maintain,” Fraker said. “It was perfect.”
The chosen site sits near where locals once knew the “We Dug In” liquor store, a landmark that gives the new plaza historical resonance.
“It’s a beautiful spot,” Fraker said. “As you come down Hubble Drive, it slows you down and makes you notice. It’s exactly where it needs to be.”
The Move and Restoration
The building was first shifted temporarily on Dec. 27, 2024 to the roundabout at the south end of the 103 overpass, then carefully moved to its permanent site last week. The final leg of the journey down Marshall Street required removing and splicing the roof to clear utility lines.
“If we hadn’t cut the top off, it would’ve cost thousands to move lines,” Fraker explained. “This way, we’ll re-roof it, and you’ll never know it was cut. The Amish crew has already put the roof back and it’ll be finished in no time. You won’t even be able to tell it was spliced off.”
The move and restoration are funded through a $195,000 tour stop grant awarded by the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission. The commission, which Fraker helped establish while serving in the legislature, is guiding preparations across all eight states the highway touches.
“There won’t be any local taxpayer dollars involved in this either,” Fraker emphasized. “The grant covers engineering, site work, and restoration. The city contributed in-kind labor, and we’ll accept donations and sponsorships, but this is funded through the centennial initiative.”
The restoration will include a new foundation, authentic-style windows and doors, and landscaping. A chimney may also be rebuilt to match the original look. By April 2026, the site will be complete, with the plaza landscaped and ready for the centennial celebration.
Preserving the Past, Celebrating the Future
The station’s new home is designed not only as a preservation project but as an international attraction. Webster County’s tour stop will join just two others in Missouri: one in Pulaski County and another in Springfield.
“There’s international interest in this,” Davis said. “People from Europe and Asia already plan to fly into Chicago and travel Route 66. With the World Cup in Kansas City and the Great American Race passing through, millions of people will be coming our way. This will give them a reason to stop in Marshfield.”
The interactive sign will distinguish the plaza from others along the route. Unlike Springfield’s sign that reads “Birthplace of Route 66,” Marshfield’s will carry the banner “Top of the Ozarks.”
“We wanted something unique,” Davis said. “Webster County is the highest elevation on Route 66 from Chicago to the Rockies. The sign will say Marshfield, Top of the Ozarks… and that makes people want to stop here, not just anywhere.”
For the local committee, the station’s placement marks Webster County’s entry into the Route 66 heritage movement long embraced by other communities.
“Joplin, Springfield, Lebanon—they’ve all celebrated their Route 66 roots for years,” Davis noted. “Webster County is late to the party, but this project puts us on the map.”
Clair sees it as part of a broader economic opportunity.
“When tourists stop here, they’ll see signs pointing them downtown, to Hidden Waters Nature Park, to historic sites and cafes,” he said. “It’s about telling them, ‘Marshfield has more to see—don’t just drive through.’”
Fraker agrees, adding that the centennial in 2026 will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“On April 30, 1926, the contract naming Route 66 was signed in Springfield. That’s why they call it the birthplace. And 100 years later, we’ll be cutting a ribbon here in Marshfield with this station as our backdrop. That’s pretty special.”
For decades, the little station by the Niangua River was just another fading relic of the Mother Road.
Now, thanks to vision, persistence, and community effort, it will stand proudly once more; telling the story of America’s highway, its travelers, and the small towns that gave it life.
As Davis summed it up: “We may be one of the smallest counties on Route 66, but we’re going to make a big impact. This station is just the beginning.”
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