Highway 40, the forerunner of today’s Business Loop, will be recognized as one of Columbia’s Most Notable Properties by the City of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission at a ceremony this Wednesday evening.
Although this designation is usually bestowed on historic buildings, the commission is now recognizing that farmland, native grounds, and even roads all contribute to our city’s rich history. Highway 40—and The Loop—is certainly one of those roads.
Established on November 11, 1926, the United States Numbered Highway System created an integrated network of roads that could be used to transport goods, livestock, travelers, and more. Columbia’s More’s Boulevard, which ran adjacent to what is now the Municipal Power Plant, was combined with several auto trails (the Old Trails Road, the National Road and the Victory Road) to create one of America’s first cross-country highways. Highway 40 originally ran from Atlantic City, New Jersey to San Francisco, California—right through Columbia, Missouri—and became known as the Main Street of America.
Columbians took pride in their new highway and watched with keen interest as sections of road were paved and bridges were constructed—and with alarm as sections flooded during the rainy season.
Columbians quickly recognized the value of Highway 40 and began investing in this area of town. Hickman High School was built on 40 acres of property that had once been home to the David H. Hickman family and later the Boone County Fair. A decade later, the first cancer hospital west of the Mississippi, Ellis Fischel, was built just down the road.
Highway 40 was home to motor courts, automobile dealerships, and service stations to cater to the new car culture. Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company—the longest continuously operating business on the street—located here for the distribution advantages gained from a central location and a highway that crossed the state.
We’ve spent the past few months sharing history of Highway 40 with you—and you’ve shared right back! We’ve loved your stories about cruising The Loop, and working summer jobs at Zesto’s, and how good the fried clams were at the Howard Johnson’s.
So thank you all for helping preserve the history of this street, and please join us Wednesday night at 5:30 pm at the Riechmann Pavilion at Stephens Lake Park. The event is free but please RSVP with [email protected].
