The Joplin Globe reported today about the near-certain destruction of the Lewis Motel in Vinita, Okla., to make way for an O’Reilly Auto Parts store, and an auction of the motel’s neon sign on eBay.
O’Reilly Auto Parts, which is ironically based in the Route 66 town of Springfield, Mo., has not so far responded to the e-mails I have sent to its chairman, CEO and COO.
However, Chairman David O’Reilly did respond to Rod Harsh, proprietor of the Route66TVonline.com, who urged the chain to reconsider the deal.
I appreciate your email, however the timing makes any possible change in our plans impossible. We had no way of knowing the old closed down motel had any significance to anyone, other than the excitement of everyone we came in contact with to get the location cleaned up and brought to a condition that would add to the community of Vinita. I certainly share your nostalgia and appreciation for the old Route 66 history and meaning. Where opportunities and happenstance allow for preservation of meaningful landmarks I am in agreement it should be done. Thanks again for your concerns and I’m sorry we can’t accomodate your wishes.
Charlie Downs, vice president of real estate and store expansion for O’Reilly, also wrote to Harsh:
What we saw when we reviewed it [the motel], which we have seen many times before, was basically an old facility that was struggling to get by and it wasn’t economically feasible to rehabilitate. Also, when we performed our environmental evaluation, there was evidence a meth lab had operated in it, a pretty clear sign that this site was becoming more of a problem than a benefit to the community. […]
… We want to work with the Route 66 groups and are more than happy to donate to you any items you wish to obtain for your museum(s).
I would hope that Downs’ linking an old motel to crime is dubious. It is a management problem and not with the structure itself. But I digress.
It appears the die has been cast. I already suspected it would be too late to effect any change this late in this process, especially since the property is under contract. But I couldn’t, in good conscience, let it go without a fight.
However, the larger purpose of this protest is to 1) to make O’Reilly Auto Parts think twice before considering a future location along Route 66; 2) raise the awareness of Route 66 and thus lessen the chances of something like this happening again.
As I told a discouraged acquaintance a few days ago, such properties would have been razed without a whimper just 10 to 15 years ago. Now that Route 66 groups are better organized and there’s more overall awareness of the Mother Road, that’s less likely to occur.
There’s still a long, long way to go with the Route 66 preservation movement. But compared to where it was even a decade ago, progress on this front has been huge.
And bidding on the Lewis Motel neon sign on eBay ends Monday. This sign will be very likely be prettied-up and treasured, which is preservation in its own way. At least it’s certain to meet a more dignified fate than the Western Capri Motel sign did.
What would be great, and probably much more feasible, is to convince O’Reilly’s to include some type of Route 66 tribute either inside our outside their impending store. That way at least the location can be recognized for what it was/is in terms of Route 66 history. Maybe a historical marker outside, or a small permanent display inside the store reflecting on the signifigance of the Mother Road to the city of Vinita.
Too bad this fight is probbaly lost, but maybe something could be salvaged in a way that what is gone is not forgotten.