Route 66 postcard collector and author Joe Sonderman recently helped unearth a long-forgotten photograph of John’s Modern Cabins near Newburg, Missouri, taken in August 1966.
Sonderman posted the image — along with another rare photograph of nearby Vernelle’s Motel during the same period — on Saturday on Facebook.
To date, the 1966 photo of John’s Modern Cabins is the only known image from when it was an operating business. Previously known as Bill and Bess’ Place, it dated to 1931. The previously oldest known image of John’s Modern Cabins was taken by Quinta Scott in 1979, years after the business had closed and the death of its owner. The photograph eventually was published in Scott’s 2000 book, “Along Route 66.”
The incongruity of primitive log cabins amid a still-standing “John’s Modern Cabins” neon sign has fascinated Route 66 explorers for decades. News of a murder committed at the site during the 1930s added to the intrigue.
Sonderman explained in an email why he thought the old photo of John’s might have existed:
When I worked as a contractor for MoDOT, I went to the right of way department and they pointed me to some condemnation files for a few projects that had been tucked away. These files are used to document property settlements, in this case related to I-44 widening. Most of the files in the St. Louis District prior to the move to Chesterfield appear to have been destroyed, but I did find some from about 1965-68, mainly arterial projects.
Knowing that I-44 was constructed in Phelps County at that time, I enlisted the help of Renee McHenry, Transportation Librarian. She tracked them down to the office in Willow Springs, which covered Pulaski County at the time and they sent these two photos over.
Renee is currently checking with them to see if there are any more. There should be files for every property affected. ROW in St. Louis says they sent their files to Jefferson City for scanning, and then the originals were to be sent back. Renee is trying to find out just where they went. They are not at the State Archives as far as I can tell.
Sonderman said he’s hopeful more 1960s images of Route 66 exist in MoDOT’s archives, waiting to be discovered.
On a related note, the current issue of Show Me Route 66, published by the Route 66 Association of Missouri, contains an article by Sonderman with more facts he uncovered about John’s Modern Cabins.
I and Emily Priddy researched the John’s Modern Cabins site extensively, resulting in a summer 2001 feature in Route 66 Magazine, including details about the Halloween night killing of a woman by her estranged husband in 1935.
Using newspaper archives now available online, Sonderman uncovered more facts:
— In 1938, Pulaski County sheriff’s deputy Walter Tyler accidentally killed himself during a freak accident outside Bill and Bess’ Place. After getting a soda there, Tyler found the starter in his vehicle had stuck. While trying to rock the car to disengage the starter, his gun fell out of its holster, hit the car’s fender and went off. The bullet hit Tyler in the stomach, and he died almost instantly.
— A hitchhiker robbed Bill and Bess’ Place in 1932 and apparently never was caught.
— John Dausch, owner of John’s Modern Cabins during the 1950s and ’60s, was cited at least once for serving alcohol to underage customers. Dausch was known in the region as “Sunday John” because of his illicit practice of selling booze on Sundays, flouting local law.
A preservation group led by Rich Dinkela is trying to preserve the lone surviving log cabin and neon sign at John’s Modern Cabins. More about the group may be found on Facebook here.
Vernelle’s Motel, decimated by a series of Interstate 44 realignments, finally closed in 2016.
(August 1966 images of John’s Modern Cabins and Vernelle’s Motel near Newburg, Missouri, courtesy of Joe Sonderman)
What a great find! Thanks, Joe, for all the time and effort spent in your research. So many share this fascination with John’s Modern Cabins there should be many “thank yous” aimed in your direction. And thanks to Rich and all the others for the care and labor spent on the cabins recently. It looks as though that single remaining cabin will last for a while yet. Makes that proud sign look a little lonely, though.