The underpass was intended to give Cuba students a safe way across Route 66. Notice the cars from the 40s and 50s. Photo provided by Crawford County Historical Society.
Vera Cantley’s column “Recalling the Past,” a compilation of historic newspaper stories has once more prompted a topic for this blog. This week her column from forty-five years ago on July 7, 1966 reported the end of a local landmark.
In the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) erected an underpass beneath the busy national highway Route 66 (now called W. Washington St.) that intersected the town. It was to provide safe passage for Cuba school children as they went to and from school. In conversations that I have had with some of those school children, since grown to adulthood, the underpass was not a pleasant area, frequented by drunks during the evening hours, and smelly by day. Students would often take their chances running across what was then called “America’s Main Street.”
In the photo above, see the corner of an underpass enclosure in the lower right, and on the opposite side of the street, notice, the full enclosure that led to the lower level. Smith Street was one-way, and Route 66 was one-way going east at this time.
The article from 1966 stated that after consolidation of the rural schools and with the school in a new location (where it is presently) that there was a decreased need for the underpass, and trash in the underpass was a problem. Many children were riding the bus to the new school and didn’t need to cross the street.
Therefore, in 1966, the underpass was leveled and disappeared from the face of Cuba although it would remain in the memories of many. If anyone else has a photo of the underpass, the History Museum on Smith Street would love to have a copy for their Route 66 room.
Perhaps some of the school children from the years of the underpass will comment and tell us about using it as they were going to or coming from school or tell us about some of their after-school hangouts.
Here’s an earlier view of Route 66 from the Joe Sonderman Collection.
I graduated in 1955, but during mu High School Years we used the underpass on a regular basis because we were anxious to go the drug store (Meramec Drug) on Main Street to have a “coke” and listen to the juke box with all of our friends. The underpass was not as clean as we might have wanted, however it was a fast way to get to our destination and if you walked through with your boyfriend it was an opportunity for a “quick kiss.”
Now, there’s some history that you just can’t find in the books. Keep those stories coming.
We “country” kids rode the first load to school so we got to town earlier than most kids. Then we rode second load home so that gave us plenty of time to “go to town” using the underpass to go to the “dime” store and drug store and still catch the bus home. We also had plenty of time to watch basket ball practice after school.
Our Mothers would sometimes give us a list of things to buy for them with the admonition to be sure and use the underpass and we did for fear of our mothers wrath.
We became experts at holding our breath. The stench was unbearable. The slop on the floor along with broken beer and whiskey bottles prohibited a speedy passage. You bet! Crossing Rte. 66 was the safer alternative.
Betty
It was the path way to chocolate shakes and peanut cheese crackers at Meramec Drug. It was a wonderful time in life.
Great “word picture” of the past.
I graduated in 1963, but from the 7th grade through my freshman year I was at the old school. I detested using the underpass and would take my chances crossing Rt. 66 to get to the dime store or the Meramec Drug store.
Jim, from what I have heard, it wasn’t a very pleasant crossing in the tunnel. I don’t think that you were the only one who preferred fresh air. And some of the little kids were probably scared to death of the tunnel.
[…] Local Joyce Dorf Stewarts’s grandfather ran Dorf Hardware in the Complex, and later her father Walter Dorf had a store there called Waldorf Paint & Paper. Stewart remembers that the students gathered at the drug store after school. Some of them may used the the Route 66 underpass that was mentioned and pictured in a recent blog. […]