Author seeks to bring attention to historic roadsides across Missouri

This story has been modified from the original version to place The Pie Safe in Cape Girardeau County.

Readers of "Historic Missouri Roadsides" by Southeast Missouri native Bill Hart can take a trip across the Show Me State without leaving home.

Though the glossy-paged book easily could be used to adorn a coffee table, the author said he considers it a combination of a travelogue and photography book and more.

Hart has traveled to all 114 counties in Missouri researching the book, which contains about 150 photographs of places he visited.

"Almost every page has at least one photo," Hart said. "I took every picture in the book, except for two -- one of a building I couldn't get close enough to, and the other of my aunt and uncle in front of a building that was taken in 1940."

Hart's Missouri roots run deep. Seven or eight generations of his family have lived in the state, he said.

Hart called the book a hybrid and said it contains precise directions to every location he visited.

"Like a travel guide, it lists places to stay, eat and drink," he said.

The thing that distinguishes Hart's book from other travel guides is every place featured in it is owned by a Missourian.

He believes deeply in eating, drinking and staying in locally owned places and supporting the local economy, he said.

The Oliver House in Jackson is one of the area attractions covered in Bill Hart's book. (Southeast Missourian file photo)

"I believe we've gotten away from something that's very important to our country, and that's doing business with each other," Hart said.

His travels as a field agent for the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation, a not-for-profit organization, which he refers to as simply "Missouri Preservation," prompted him to write the book.

"It was my job to go out into the field and help people save historic places," he said. "I wanted to draw attention to the rich history of Missouri."

In addition to serving as a travel guide, the book also contains photographs of some decaying buildings, which Hart, now executive director of Missouri Preservation, said he hopes will inspire people to try to save.

Naturally, a number of historic facts are included, and though the book contains information on privately owned motels throughout the state, Hart said there aren't many listed in Southeast Missouri, because he has relatives in the area and usually stays with them when in this part of the state.

An exception to that is the Town House Motel in Cape Girardeau.

"I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent, clean room in an old motel," he said. "There are a lot of viable mom-and-pop motels. They may not be shiny and new, but they are still viable."

Another Cape Girardeau locale included in the travelogue is the Flag House, the former home of Marie Oliver, who is credited with creating the first state flag. River Ridge Winery in Commerce, Missouri, also has a spot in the book.

Fort D on North Street also is pictured in the book.

A tiny bakery and cafe in northern Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, The Pie Safe, owned by Sharon Penrod, is one of the nearby eateries Hart visited. The restaurant, which also sells candy, is situated inside an old bank building.

"It was interesting because the candy was in the safe," he said, pointing out bank robbers in the 1920s referred to the depositories as "candy stores."

Hart will return to Perry County on Aug. 15 for a pair of book-signings. He will be at the Perry County Museum in Perryville from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 4 p.m. at 531 Wash House in Uniontown, Missouri, a store that sells antiques and collectibles and is owned by Ruth Rellergert and Kathy Renner.

"Historic Missouri Roadsides" is available at amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Costco and other retail locations.

More information about the book is available at historicmissouriroadsides.com.

Pertinent address:

601 Freedom Park Drive, Perryville, Mo.

87 County Road 531, Uniontown, Mo.