Three Notch Road ||| Oldest Road in Missouri (1717)

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I had no idea what I was going to find when I decided to explore the oldest road in Missouri - but it turned out to be very interesting! Three Notch Road is a combination of several different current roads that go from Mine La Motte to Saint Genevieve. There are several ghost towns, churches, cemeteries, along with a very scenic drive. Both the beginning and ending communities are some of the oldest in the state of Missouri!
T-shirt: Wichita State Shockers
Part 107 certified drone operator
Music
Swamp Stomp - Silent Partner
Twilight Train - Dan Lebowitz
Castleshire - Chris Haugen

[@francisbarlow9904]

Lovely, when I was younger I used to love to follow old roads for miles (Roman), usually on foot, It is surprising the things that you see, not normally available to be seen on well trodden roads. Like you, we had many old mills, mostly cotton in the NW of England and Wool mills here in the NE. Some surviving flour mills in the UK are wind mills and most villages had one, few left are in working order and many have been converted into homes, but I love to see them working with their sails to the wind. A very interesting video, many thanks John!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh wow such an interesting comment! Thank you! And your mills are probably so much older. Would love to go and see some of those someday 😊

[@chilipeppersalsa7596]

I used to think Missouri was just unending woods...thank you for the awesome tour. I love when towns keep the vibe going

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I’ll definitely go back to Saint Genevieve someday. Seemed like a fun town to explore!

[@georgeparsons7338]

MO is where north meets south and east meets west. We have Ozark hills, granite mountains, glacial till, loess hills, deserts and western prairies

[@chilipeppersalsa7596]

@@georgeparsons7338 Very cool.

[@Nickifoster-hl3ux]

Love cruising back roads live that. Thanks for the trip😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

So much fun to find things you didn’t know you were looking for 😊

[@bertholini2810]

Extremely pretty area there. Thank you for posting, be good, be safe !!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks, you too!

[@bertholini2810]

Our water was froze up (when it was -11, wind chill -30). First time for us in 40 years, argh.@@TravelwithaWiseguy

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😯

[@pamelacrowe4971]

@@bertholini2810 mine too froze up. First time ever.

[@bertholini2810]

Well, we have lived here for 40 years and didn't expect anything like that. But, we have never been that cold here before.@@pamelacrowe4971

[@billiegutierrez2506]

Oh yay another awesome road trip my great grandparents were from Missouri I see places with you I’d probably never get to see thank you for all your time and videos it’s such a journey. Be safe

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice! It was a fun one!

[@georgeparsons7338]

Love it! Another suggestion is to follow the old wier (pronounced wire) road from Booneville to Fayetteville AR. Or at least from Springfield MO. You'll pass several historical sites. Wilson creek battlefield, Dugger springs, Crane,cassville and pea ridge battlefield

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Great suggestion! Would love to someday!

[@georgeparsons7338]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy the weir road is also the old Butterfield overland stage route.

[@user-mv4be1tc2u]

There is a road by that name in Rolla MO. Wondering if there is a connection.

[@stevehilliard1495]

Thanks for sharing, hello fellow Wise Guy travelers, may God bless you and yours 😎

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

❤️

[@roberteshaw9520]

Hey Coach.Nice drive. That mill does look spooky,at least they were quiet on this day. Stay safe.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Yeah it felt a little spooky down there 😂

[@sueelliott3206]

Sure was an awesome journey! I thought the mill was really interesting and the old cemeteries. I love walking through old cemeteries and trying to read old headstones. Sometimes the rock that was used basically just washed away so reading them can be a major challenge. Thanks for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! Yeah one of the reasons it got dark on me was dealing with the weather. But the other was spending too much time at the cemeteries 😂

[@juliogonzales5441]

On the road again....thanks wise guy 👦 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

You bet!!

[@brindahoward4527]

My dad was from Potosi but moved to Indiana when he was 12. His father was a miner but left during the depression. I loved going to Missouri and seeing the scenery there. Thanks for sharing

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you!

[@Randy7th]

Since you seem to like looking at the old cemeteries, make it a point to find the oldest. That tells you close to it's age. My Grandparents lived in a small almost nothing town but had two large cemeteries and numerous smaller ones. I commented to my Uncle about that and he just said "You see who is here now but cemeteries tell you who used to live there. That town was bigger than any other town for many, many miles around in the late 1800s but today is lucky to count 20...

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Sounds fun although many of the larger cemeteries would take me all day! 😊 thanks for the comment!

[@aliceevans3357]

Im so glad you stopped to check out the mill, I would have as well. The craftsmanship of that building and so much still solidly standing is testament to the folks back then. Even some of the bridges, while I think they probably do maintenance on them they still look more solidly built that far newer bridges. Such a great drive, great drone shots as well, gave perspective on how far that road goes. I appreciate you doing so much research to bring us such amazing places. Safe travels dear, GOD bless

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

The mill was definitely the highlight for me! Thank you!!

[@TheAsif5182]

nice to see calm and clean roads along with cemetry that shows folks were there one upon a time . btw i love the weather ,and ruins where nature captured the place .❤

[@seathrunmagaoinghous4119]

nice seeing some family graves. Many of those families are still in the area

[@melindareynolds7867]

Missouri is a beautiful State-beautiful trees in the Spring, Summer and Fall. St Genevieve is a Art community that is worth visiting.Wonderful video.Thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I totally agree!

[@melissah4515]

Aw, this was a nice treat. I grew up in this area, isn't it beautiful? Not only in the Fall but in the Spring that area is glorious. The redbud trees and early wildflowers bloom. And there's so much history! You might enjoy doing a segment on old river roads in that area. Thank you for this upload!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very beautiful!! Thank you 😊

[@user-mv4be1tc2u]

And the dogwoods and azaleas.

[@Homer2q]

I didn’t see any of this when I was in Ste Genevieve last Fall! Really enjoyed those ruins of the mill

[@onrycodger]

Absolutely was a Cool ride! The old remnants of burn't Mill was icing on the cake.👍

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I agree! That was the highlight for me!

[@Howelton2020]

300 years ago, there probably were a lot more trees along the paths; maybe even making a natural canopy over some of the paths.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I would assume so too! Although that National Forest was very tree heavy even today.

[@williammatzek4660]

Their is a Scared Heart Catholic church in Colwich , Kansas. In the cemetery is grand parents , aunts , and uncles. The catholic church in Halstead , Kansas is named Scared Heart also.

[@jamesbednar8625]

Great video!! Looked like a fun and relaxing trip. I had a supervisor that was from Saint Genevieve, MO. He is now retired in the Abilene, KS, area. Whenever we go fishing together, he always tells stories about that area of Missouri.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Besides the rain it was a great little trip!

[@ronfullerton3162]

Such a beautiful area! That is the type of riding I like yo do on my motorcycle. Some many things to see, so much nature to enjoy, and so many places begging you to stop and take a break from the saddle. A very inviting route! That footpath made me think of the road I grew up along in Iowa. The road, when I was young, was still known as the "Old White Way", and was the first automobile across Iowa road. Poles were painted white and placed along the route to show the way. Residents got into it some and painted fence posts and buildings white. In the very early years, it was just a dirt road. And if you have been in Iowa for the spring thaw, you know what the old timers meant when they said "The bottom had gone out". Anything just goes straight down into the mud. A picture from a newspaper person showing his car down to the axles on the Old White Way was just only about a half mile from where I grew up. The picture was of the car buried in the mud and several farmers with several teams of horses preparing to pull the car out. But other roads that were surfaced came along, and the White Way just became an old country farm to market road. I do not know if there are even any markings relating to the history of the road these days. As always, I will be waiting at the end of my driveway foe the next trip!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I love the story of the Old White Way! Thanks for sharing! Next time we’ll be headed a little south and west of Missouri 😊

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy The state doesn't matter much. All the roads and towns you bring us to are great. Let's ride!

[@19AKS58]

You are really good at these travelogs. You have heart.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks so much!! 😊

[@lindastepp9842]

Enjoyed the adventure with you..... tag along 71☺️

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice! It was a fun trip!!

[@user-nx2dp4pt6s]

Thank you for getting and posting this one! Good history of Missouri and I loved the old mill.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad you enjoyed it - thanks!

[@LM79453]

The best way to start the day is your video and a cup of coffee. Missouri is a beautiful p!ace and I bet summer and autumn are gorgeous too. Burnt Mill was interesting and te churches too. Thank you

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Aww so nice of you to say!! Thanks!

[@user-mv4be1tc2u]

There are several drives in the fall to see the foliage, a short one on hwy 63 from Jefferson city toward Columbia, it parallels the Missouri River for while with Rocky bluffs to the north my job takes me through there I always look forward to it in the fall.

[@33Donner77]

Thanks. The next time I'm in St. Genevieve I'll check out Three Notch Road.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Seems like a great town!

[@larryclark4791]

Very interesting, didn't know Missouri had towns that old.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

The Mississippi River was so very important back then!

[@DavidsExecutiveTouch17]

G'morning Brother, glad you've made it back into Missouri, the Show Me State. Let me know when you get around Joplin, we'll get a coffee & visit about history.🇺🇸

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I’ll be in Fayetteville, Ark for a track meet on Feb 15-16. That’s as close as I’ll be to Joplin for a while.

[@Barley150]

You must have seen hundreds of city mural-billboards, and this one, in St. Genevieve must be one of the best. I paused the video and studied every letter. I love the adventure of back roads to far towns, so please keep up the work! I still wish someone would do a video, or a series of videos, road-tripping US 20. --- charlie j, sacramento ca

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yeah that mural really stood out! I got out and took several pictures of it too! Someday US 20 😊

[@cheryla.wright5348]

WOW!! What a neat trip!! I live on the other side of MO. I enjoy history and old buildings. Thanks for the history you tell in your videos and especially finding a way down to the Brunt Mill. That is an awesome old building!! I have definitely put this trip on my bucket list. Thank you 💕

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! It was a fun day exploring the road!

[@user-mv4be1tc2u]

I live just less than an hour south of where he began, I have never traveled that particular route, indeed I think I need to get that done👍

[@charlesyell6318]

Three notch Road rang a bell with me. There is a Three Notch Road in Ringgold Georgia.

[@papabear562]

That was interesting, going on a journey when you didn't know what to expect along the way. Great video!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I had a lot of fun!

[@rossbryan6102]

NEAT!!! THIS IS A REAL GEM OF AN TRIP ! I GUESS IT COULD BE CALLED AN INDUSTRIAL HIGHWAY. THE BURNT MILLS SITE MAKES ME THINK OF ANCIENT ABANDONED EUROPEAN CASTLES. US HIGHWAY 67 FROM POPLAR BLUFF MO TO ST LOUIS IS ONE ROAD I HAVE TAKEN IN MY TRUCK DELIVERY DAYS, A NICE ALTERNATE TO I-55!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice! Yeah it turned out to be a lot of fun! I’m sure we got a lot of our designs from castles like that!

[@user-mv4be1tc2u]

You've driven right by my home in that case, I'm about 37 miles north of poplar bluff.

[@pamelacrowe4971]

Great video. Now that's near my neck of the woods, Cape Girardeau County. I love Madison County and Ste Genevieve. I used to drive through these small counties for work. Loved the scenic drive. Thanks for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Seemed like a great town! Hope to go back again someday!!

[@user-xr9kc3xw3u]

I WAS born in that neck of the woods!!!!!!!!!!! 🪵🪵🪵🪵🪵🪵🪵😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊. And grew up there😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Cool area!

[@juanitagarcia958]

Awesome video! Your drone shots are amazing as usual. 😊 Sainte Genevieve is beautiful.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Yeah I’d like to go back and explore that town more thoroughly someday!

[@kenbarkdoll7252]

Great. I really enjoyed the old mill and appreciate effort.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! 😊

[@brendacejda7069]

Your videos make me want to take road trips to wherever you are! My love for old stone buildings makes this trip especially alluring! If you were asked to pick your top 5 trips, could you narrow it down to your 5 favorites? Thank you Coach!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh my that would be tough. I always tell people my trip to Easter Island has to be near the top. But it would be hard to make a top-5. Maybe someday I’ll do it!

[@agoodlife2]

There was an American Indian trace that was used between St Genevieve to St Louis in the early days of St Louis

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice! Any documentation of that road you can share?

[@tinman7130]

Glad to see you out milling around. Enjoyed following along as you tried to follow the path. You defiantly looked for the road less traveled for this one John.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks tinman! It definitely wasn’t the yellow brick road!

[@KenBurtner]

A very good trip and thank you for going down to that old mill. I would always wonder what was there.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad I did too! I almost didn’t because it was raining. Thank you!

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

Nice trip! Interesting places, but I wouldn't want to have car trouble out there! St. Genevieve looks like a nice town. Thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It was a very nice town! I’ll need to go back someday 😊

[@Navyuncle]

Seeing the old cemeteries made me sad. Here lies someone's dad, mom, brother or sister in a weed infested parcel of ground. Probably only mowed once or twice a year. I'm glad that my family is laid to rest in a perpetual care cemetery. It cost more, but the service was worth the money.

[@geoffg659]

I really enjoyed this video, thanks for doing and sharing it!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you!!

[@ronalddailey5208]

I can't imagine wagons making this route. Not many historical buildings. See you next week

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I know right!?! Tougher people than me 😂

[@shochikubai8084]

Interesting drive video. Tks for posting.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad you enjoyed it - thanks!

[@kaymerry369]

Amazing journey down paved and country roads. So many old cemetery's and neat mill ruins. What a great experience .Thanks you John .

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I’m glad it took the road less traveled!

[@richardrichardson515]

Another awesome video, THANKS

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad you enjoyed it - thank you!!

[@dennisdemoro3519]

Wow Coach. Awesome video.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Appreciate it!

[@teriw56]

I like the music

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! They songs are listed in the description of the video if you're interested!

[@HistoricallyMarked]

Had no idea this road even existed! I always thought the oldest road in MO was the Boone's Lick, but that was interesting! Gotta check it out sometime, especially that mill. I've been to Ste. Genevieve a few times so it's not too far from me. (supposedly Ste. Genevieve has the oldest cemetery in Missouri, dating back to 1787)

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

The mill is great! Probably hard to see when the leaves are on the trees. Ste. Genevieve seems very interesting- hopefully I can get back there again! Thanks!

[@oldcatch]

Saw the Shocker shirt so I had to subscribe.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

🌾 😊

[@Exploringwithmoose]

Another great video

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks!

[@cherylbennett7672]

I live pretty close to there

[@charlieb.8518]

we have an Indian trace that is still used as a street in Independence Mo.

[@johnc7512]

Someday I hope you make some videos on the ozark plateau it has so many neet things to see.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Depending on what you’re looking for I have done several videos in that area!

[@asimplehorseman4648]

Question: How many of the folks that helped build that old mill could read or write? And yet they could build a structure that still stands today. Sam Clemens said, "don't let school interfere with your education". Those words are more fitting today than ever before.

[@user-mv4be1tc2u]

Many people are educated beyond their means.

[@frankkerst5367]

Barrels upon barrels of history in that small community. This isn't a criticism of the video. You missed the endpoint of your journey - the Mississippi river. In the early 1700s the town was located at river's edge. Maybe you did or didn't shoot it. Main street would take you to the river's edge. A ferry runs across the river to Illinois at that point, assuming it's operational. The city park would have given you a great view of the river. Again, it's well done and very interesting. The locals still debate the actual founding date of the town. Thanks!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I appreciate the point about the river. I do wish I followed it to that point but I had a couple problems. It was raining all day, and while it might not have looked like it, it was pretty dark at the end and I was just trying to finish the video. The lights in the town helped seeing things and being unfamiliar with the town and not having much time I didn’t venture to the river. Hopefully I can come back and really explore the town someday. My main focus was of the path of the road through the rural areas but that would’ve been a great ending at the river 😊

[@JackCossairt]

Thanks for a great video. Do you have an idea how far apart the notches were placed half mile one mile ?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Good question - I have no idea. I would assume pretty close as the paths were probably difficult to follow.

[@asimplehorseman4648]

Do you know why they put fences around grave yards? Interesting country. Are you sure you belong there, "its not flat!"(lol) Thanks again for sharing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Is it to keep animals out? And thanks! I like hills too 😂

[@asimplehorseman4648]

No John, "because people are just dying to get in!"(lol) Sorry, old joke from an old guy.@@TravelwithaWiseguy

[@agoodlife2]

Eventually became Highway 61, the blues highway

[@randyhoneycutt8153]

My wife is from Central Missouri north of Jeff City and she’s always telling me how pretty Missouri is. Your videos have proved her right. Very scenic and pretty.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad I could help her out 😂😂

[@lhoffmanmy]

I enjoyed the video what's the music at 6:26 ?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! That is called Castleshire by Chris Haugen.

[@galewinds7696]

...........and the notches on his road numbered 3..................

[@dw620]

Four times shalt thou not notch, nor either notch thou two times, excepting that thou then proceed to three.

[@jakemasterson3328]

Did you get permission from the land owners to go on their property? If not you are trespassing. There are signs all over that posted “no trespassing” at the mill.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I chatted with someone in the area (not sure if they were the owners but it’s possible they were) once they knew what I was doing they gave me the ok. 👍🏼

[@user-xr9kc3xw3u]

DON'T forget Pilot Knob, Missouri the cross on top of it,and what and who used it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😊😊. Fort Davidson in Pilot Knob,mo.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yep! I did a whole video on Pilot Knob!

[@user-xr9kc3xw3u]

AND PLANKS FOR THE COVERED WAGON RUTS

[@user-xr9kc3xw3u]

Plank road inn?

[@user-xr9kc3xw3u]

What about plank road?????

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It wasn’t the topic of this video but would definitely be interesting to research!