The president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri recently announced a volunteer work session that will begin Sept. 9 at the Shamrock Court property he owns in Sullivan, Missouri.
Rich Dinkela stated the rehabilitation of the roof of the Route 66 motel will begin on that day and probably last for two days. He wrote:
If you have any desire to volunteer, please show up on the 9th anytime. We will begin around 8am. It may take us 2 days to get the work done.
There is a need for anyone with carpentry skills, basic woodwork skills, or anyone that just has the desire to clean up.
There’s going to be a ton of action happening so be sure to bring your cameras and your friends!!!
Dinkela also set up a PayPal donation site for those who are unable to attend and one on his website.
He’s sinking a lot of money into this latest effort, though it helps he recently received a $30,000 cost-share grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to stabilize the building through the restoration of the subfloors, dormers, roof, gutters, HVAC system, electrical system and plumbing system.
Dinkela earlier this year bought the long-closed motel with the goal to preserve it long-term, then sell it to somebody else.
The distinctive, giraffe-stone motel dates to the late 1940s and previously was owned by the Weiland family for nearly 70 years.
In the late 1970s, the motel was converted into efficiency apartments with living quarters for the longtime owners, John and Rose Weiland, until they died.
UPDATE 9/8/2021: The roof-raising event has been postponed.
(Postcard images of the Shamrock Court in Sullivan, Missouri, courtesy of 66Postcards.com)