Vernelle's Motel Project
On Oct. 3 and 4, 2003, Friends of the Mother Road repainted the historic sign in front of Vernelle's Motel, located on Route 66 about eight miles west of Rolla, Mo. The sign was weathered and faded, and its position -- 30 feet in the air, above uneven ground -- made it impossible to reach without the assistance of a boom lift. Thanks to a generous donation from radio personality Paul Harvey, Friends of the Mother Road was able to rent the lift and buy the necessary materials to complete the project. All that remained was for our president, Emily Priddy, to overcome her lifelong fear of heights and ride the lift into the chilly October sky....
We had our work cut out for us! The west side before we started.
The east side of the sign before we started. The west side looked even worse, thanks to prevailing winds and years of harsh weather.
Primed for painting
Crazy redheads ...
Route 66 author and Friends member Shellee Graham, left, painted the sign as Friends President Emily Priddy fussed over her habit of stretching out of the basket to reach the high parts.
A coat of primer later, the sign already looked better.
Shellee has absolutely no fear of heights.
Ron helped paint until Shellee arrived to take his place in the lift.
Shellee works on the lettering near the top of the sign.
The property owner was delighted with our handiwork.
Ron Warnick, boom lift driver extraordinaire, shows off the east side of the sign.
Shellee and Emily are all smiles after they finish the west side of the sign.