Phillipsburg Township in Laclede County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Carter & Lawson's - Underpass Cafe and Service Station

U.S. Hwy. 66, Phillipsburg, MO.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 7, 2025

1. Carter & Lawson's Underpass Cafe and Service Station Marker

Inscription. In 1941, O.E. Carter and Ed Lawson erected a prefabricated gas station on Route 66 west of the Frisco Railroad overpass know as “the Subway.” Many truckers had to let the air out of their tires or detour around the 13-foot-5-inch bridge. Westbound truckers then stopped at the station to refill their tires. In 1950, Carter and Lawson added a café building and moved their operations here from Lebanon. The café, which included a small gift shop, and station closed sometime after four-lane New Route 66 – now Interstate 44 – opened in 1957. The Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society restored the cafe's exterior in 2018-19 with the financial assistance of property owner Gary McMillan. The building's letters were hand-painted by Young Signs of Lebanon. The café site is private property: Please do not trespass beyond the fence.

Caption: Carter & Lawson's Underpass Cafe and Service Station, U.S. Hwy. 66, Phillipsburg, Mo.

Erected by Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Industry & Commerce •

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Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the U.S. Route 66 series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1941.

Location. 37° 33.832′ N, 92° 47.132′ W. Marker is near Phillipsburg, Missouri, in Laclede County. It is in Phillipsburg Township. It is on U.S. Route 66 (State Highway W) 0.1 miles west of Monroe Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Phillipsburg MO 65722, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Missouri. It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Wardens Station (approx. 7.8 miles away); Camp Joy (approx. 9.8 miles away); Laclede County (approx. 9.8 miles away); Nelson Family Legacy (approx. 9.8 miles away);

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 7, 2025

2. Carter & Lawson's Underpass Cafe and Service Station Marker

Lebanon (approx. 9.8 miles away); Ralph E. Burley House (approx. 10½ miles away); Richard Parks Bland (approx. 10.6 miles away); a different marker also named Lebanon (approx. 10.6 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 234 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.