Two roads in Jefferson City — North Ten Mile Drive and South Ten Mile Drive — are curiosities.
They are nowhere near each other, nor do they intersect. North Ten Mile Drive is north of Truman Boulevard and is about a mile long. South Ten Mile Drive is about a mile long, divided by Highways 50 and 179 into three segments that do not connect.
Why?
A story in the Daily State Journal in June 1881 describes a carriage drive taken by Major Joseph Clark and his “estimable lady” Lavenia to see the construction of Missouri Pacific’s new Bagnell Branch. The Clarks took the California Road, which the railroad was following, because it had few changes in grade. In 1873, the State Journal reported, “From east to west, the old Boonville Road in the north and the California road in the south are the principle thoroughfares for wagoning to and from Jefferson.”
Clark reported, “Some as beautiful scenery as there is in the world. Through the deep vales we could catch glimpses of the silvery sheen of the Missouri River.” They said it was a delightful ride but that “the country roads are in a most abominable condition, full of ruts, rough and ugly, greatly hindering travel.” They took the Dulle road home.
At the time of the carriage ride, the railroad had been built as far as the Wyatt farm. The Wyatt family owned the property where the Capital Mall, Truman Boulevard, Highway 50 and the Jefferson City Country Club come together. The California Road, which included parts of West Main, would become the north part of Ten Mile Drive.
A 1935 article in the Sunday News and Tribune describes the Wyatt place as follows: “It sits in the top of a knoll in ‘the loop’ of the Ten Mile drive.” At this time, the county road came from California into Jefferson City over what is now the north branch of the Ten Mile drive. In later years, travelers struck a tangent to Jefferson City off of this county road at Wyatt Corners south of the Wyatt house, placing the house in “the Loop.”
Strangers enquiring: “Which way to Jefferson City”? were much puzzled when told: “Take either road,” as the roads went in different directions at the Wyatt farm.
The southern route went through the Wyatt property to what currently is Country Club Drive then to the existing South Ten Mile Drive segments, then to St. Mary’s Boulevard (Dulle Road) and on into town. In picturing this, remember, there were no Highways 50 or 179.
A Sunday News and Tribune on Dec. 8, 1974, article quoted then Cole County Recorder Henry LePage, “Jefferson Citians on a Sunday afternoon would take their cars for a drive from the Cole County Courthouse out West Main Street, along the road known as Ten Mile Drive, then back into town on St. Mary’s Boulevard.” According to LePage, the total distance of the circular route was 10 miles, thus the name. Lepage said he took his first ride in an automobile on it, and it was a dirt road.
In the late 1920s, the newly designated U.S. 50 came from the west, using the existing California Road on the north side of the Country Club, but did not use the North Ten Mile Drive along the railroad. It used South Ten Mile Drive along what is now Country Club Drive. Highway 50 also had a new straightened course known as West Dunklin (Missouri Boulevard) that was a two-lane concrete strip. Eventually Highway 50 was moved to the four-lane highway we have today. Pieces of South Ten Mile Drive were lost throughout this process. Extending Highway 179 was a final blow, leaving the fragments of road that now exist.
The north route had the same fate with the building of Industrial Drive and Truman Boulevard, which follows the old Bagnell Branch railroad bed, leaving only the small stretch of road off Truman Boulevard.
The old, leisurely 10-mile drive from the courthouse and back was lost. It is still possible to navigate most of the route, but it would take some detours and a lot more time than using the replacement straight wide roads.
Deborah Goldammer is retired from state government and now pursues her interest in Cole County history research. Special thanks to Walter Schroeder and Wayne Johnson for their contributions to this article.