Signs. Service.Satisfaction.Custom designLogo creation • Crane rentalExcavation • Sign lightingRestorationNew sign construction and installationComplete sign service and maintenanceServing Dent andSurrounding Counties!11573-729-2040 • agraphics.biz500 N. Washington, Salem
The Union fort’s mission was to protect theOld Wire Road. A historical marker on FortStreet is all that remains.As the Civil War escalated in Missouri,many Waynesville residents left.Men joined either the Union Army orConfederate militiasor guerilla groups;women and childrenmoved to saferterritory in Illinois.Farms, homes, andbusinesses werelooted and destroyedor burned. Manyresidents neverreturned; those thatdid, found their homesdestroyed, overgrown,and livestock lost.The Old Stagecoach Stop was turned intoa hospital to treat wounded soldiers. Sinceits construction, the structure has stood as asilent witness of the eras of Pulaski Countyhistory.It survived through the settlement. CivilWar, reconstruction, the traffic on Route66 and World War II. Always evolving withthe times, the Stagecoach Stop was also usedat varying points in history as a hospital,dentist’s office, and now contains a roomwith excavation artifacts, a display of WWIImemorabilia and the Museum Shop.Stagecoaches soon made way for railroads,and by 1926, automobiles became a popularmethod of travel. The U.S. governmentcommissioned a 2,400 mile road thatwould travel from Chicago, Illinois, toSanta Monica, California, the road wouldspan 10 counties and 300 miles in Missouriand would travel through the heart ofWaynesville. The construction of the U.S.Route 66 through Waynesville opened up aneconomy outside of agriculture for the area.Old Stagecoach Stop Foundatlon restored andmaintains what is probably the most prominenthistoric location In Pulaski County.Originally a gravel state road, Route 66follows an ancient ridge that was trod bymigrating game and traveled by Indians insearch of food. Before the Civil War, whitesettlers knew the route as the St. Louis toSpringfield Road.It became a communication corridorduring the Civil War.Eventually businessenterprises, such asmotels, restaurants,a hillbilly store, andOzark basket sellerssettled along the road.They served as catalystsfor the area’s growth.Modern day travelers ofthe route are offered aglimpse into Americanand Pulaski County history. A drive alongthe scenic road is dotted with remnants ofold businesses, renovated shops, panoramicviews and dramatic rock formations.The construction of Fort Leonard Woodduring World War II launched the county’slast 50 years of growth and development andspurred the rise of St. Robert. Established in1940, the post served as an infantry divisiontraining area for World War II soldiers.Fort Leonard Wood quickly took on anengineer training mission until the end ofWorld War II in 1945. Duringthe Korean War Fort Leonard Wood servedas a training facility again. The post wasbriefly deactivated, but the military demandsof the Cold War and aggressive efforts bylocal community leaders led to the decisionto make Fort Leonard Wood a permanentinstallation, resulting in a significant increasein training load, troop numbers, and buildingconstruction.Continued on page 1412
Change language