Historic Route 66 lost two landmarks in the past few days — the Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri, and the remaining Twin Bridge near Catoosa, Oklahoma.
Josh Thompson posted on Facebook’s Historic Route 66 group images of the Totem Pole being torn down on May 7. One of his images:
The Totem Pole closed for good in late September due to the retirement of owners Tim and Alice Jones, who ran it for almost 50 years.
At the time, it was unknown what the new owner planned to do with the property.
The Totem Pole Trading Post opened in 1933, a few miles west near Arlington, Missouri, also along Route 66.
Two days earlier, Darrell Powers posted on the Historic Route 66 group the remaining historic Route 66 bridge near Catoosa after it had been razed. One of his images:
The 1956 span, aka the Bird Creek Bridge, was replaced by a new, nondescript bridge.
This eastbound bridge was part of the so-called Route 66 Twin Bridges, which once included a westbound truss bridge built in 1936.
In December, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation awarded a $7.2 million contract to replace the 1956 bridge. It was one of only seven truss bridges left in the Sooner State.
The older bridge was torn down and replaced about 15 years ago, but a few trusses from that span were placed at a nearby park and a road to the now-defunct Molly’s Landing restaurant. A fire destroyed Molly’s Landing in 2023.
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I’m thankful I was able to drive across the remaining bridge before demolition. Removing old bridges that withstood the test of time only to put down concrete and rebar that has to be patched constantly. I guess it keeps them employed. What a shame.