Volunteers over the Mother’s Day weekend cleared a lot of brush from around the endangered and long-closed Lurvey Court motel in Springfield, Missouri, thus improving its chances the city won’t tear it down for being a nuisance.
Route 66 advocate Judy Walker posted before-and-after photos on Facebook of the Route 66 property off Kearney Street.
Before:
After:
Clearing away the vegetation makes the stonework on the cabins really pop in appearance.
One of the local television stations went there and later put a brief segment on the evening news:
The city’s Landmarks Board is considering adding the Lurvey Court to its list of protected properties.
Richard Walker, who organized the work day last week, will have another work day for volunteers Saturday. He posted on Facebook:
We can start at 0900. We have brush and vines to cut. We also have lots of downed trees to cut up and haul off. We are just hauling a few hundred feet to a brush pile. Come on out and enjoy a free fitness workout!
More information may be found at the Lurvey Court – Let’s Save It! page on Facebook.
Route 66 enthusiast Blue Miller last month saw a notice on the property posted March 28 declaring the Lurvey Courts dangerous and a nuisance. The city stated the old motel would be demolished if the owner didn’t take action to fix up the property.
According to the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival’s points of interest page, the cabins were built in 1928 by Burt and Irene Lurvey when they moved the cabins from nearby Strafford, Missouri. The cabins became rentals during the 1970s.
(Image of the cleaned-up Lurvey Court cabins by Dave Walden via Facebook)
Cleans up real nice. Cute cottages. Holes in the rooves are a little disappointing to see. I hope the place finds a new owner. I’d much rather stay in my own little cottage then in a room with adjoining walls to noisy guests next door, above and below.