Five towns along the route of the old Jefferson Highway will join together in a sales promotion called “Junkin’ on Jefferson” on Saturday, June 3.
Bethany and Eagleville will join with Osceola, Lamoni and Leon, Iowa, in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the completion of the Jefferson Highway.
Peggy Hansen, owner of Etta May’s Corner in Bethany, has been meeting with local businesses in preparing for Bethany’s participation in the promotion.
The Lamoni Chamber of Commerce will be coordinating the event. Participating businesses in the communities will be invited to register their businesses for participation in the promotion.
The Bethany Lions Club also plans to be active in planning activities for the event.
The charge for registering a business for the promotion is $20. Each business will be pinpointed on a map as a stop along the Junkin’ on Jefferson route.
Businesses are invited to send their checks in care of Peggy Hansen, Etta May’s Corner, 1600 Main Street, Bethany, MO. 64424.
The Jefferson Highway was one of the first inter-continental motor routes established in the early part of the last century. The concrete highway linked New Orleans, La., with Winnipeg, Canada. Bethany and Eagleville were both active in establishing the route which primarily runs along the present corridor of U.S. 69. Some concrete remnants of the old highway are still visible on the landscape.