Rod Harsh at Route66TVonline.com has been in contact with Jim Woestman, the mayor of Carthage, Mo., in discussing ways to preserve the historic Boots Motel.
Woestman is trying to persuade the City Council to take steps to keep it from eventually falling into the hands of new owners who would destroy it. E-mail Woestman at jgwoestman@yahoo.com with your suggestions and your support of the Boots.
I think some sort of protective historic designation would be the way to go; the city doesn’t have such a structure in place. Encourage the city to go that direction.
It appeared the Boots was going to get the wrecking ball a few years ago when it was purchased. It was the same sort of dumb situation as with the Lewis Motel in Vinita — he kinda-sorta had it up for sale, but he hardly publicized it (if at all) until his poor health forced him to hustle a sale through.
It was strongly rumored (from excellent sources, I might add) that the person who bought it planned to resell to a developer who would have turned it into a Walgreens. But the outcry from Route 66ers and preservationists was so strong that Walgreens reportedly backed out of the deal. So the Boots Motel now serves as apartments for long-term renters.
I would like to buy the boots. To restore to original look of the past. Bring back the Motel for travelers.