30 replies to this topic

[Mike Patterson]

I've been taking pictures of interesting old buildings that I come across in various small towns here in Ohio, some of which are old gas stations that have been repurposed. Here's a couple of recent finds:

 

 

This one is on state route 800, just south of Woodsfield.

 

 

This one is in downtown Murray City, one of the "Little Cities of Black Diamonds."

 

Does anybody else have anything similar to share?

[Hworth08]

Somewhere and I haven't looked in a while is a site that has probably 50 old station of the different companies.

 

If I could scan I could show an old City Service distributorship that my granddad took over not long after WWII. My dad went to work for him and my family has been in the fuel retailing more than 65 years now.

[MG Brown]

This is a great idea for a project. I'm sure I can find a few to photograph around here.

 

Here's one that I found that's very cool.

 

[Duffy]

Ohh, this is rich. When I was researching logo images for my "Sinclair" stocker, my Google search was filled with pictures of some girl in a suede loincloth posed around vintage Sinclair green plaster dinosaurs. There's a repurposing for you.
 
Duf

[Tom Thumb Hobbies]

This is a cool project. I have a big jones for old gas pumps and gas station memorabilia.

[Mike Patterson]

Here's another one:

 

 

This one was in Zanesville. It was a gas station before WWII, and after the war housed the local Packard dealership.

 

It was recently demolished for a realignment of the intersection. 

[Mike Patterson]

I'm sorry it's taken so long, but I do have a couple of new entries.

 

 

This one is on state route 60 just north of McConnelsville.

 

 

Ed's Sleds, located on East Main Street in Newark.

[Dave Crevie]

There is actually a book of old gas stations. Motorsport Collector had them many years ago. I'm sorry I didn't buy one. 

 

The Route 66 book has a few. Gas pump collecting was real big about ten years ago, and is still pretty popular. If you watch "American Pickers" they deal on quite a few.

[Mike Patterson]

There is actually a book of old gas stations.

 

I know. I'm just documenting the ones I come across. There are a LOT of backroads and small towns here in my neck of the woods. My main difficulty is finding a safe place to pull over and take the picture. Narrow roads and narrow berms present problems.

 

Please feel free to post your own finds.

[Phil Hackett]

There is actually a book of old gas stations. Motorsport Collector had them many years ago. I'm sorry I didn't buy one. 

The Route 66 book has a few. Gas pump collecting was real big about ten years ago, and is still pretty popular. If you

watch "American Pickers" they deal on quite a few.

 

"Pump & Circumstance," I have it.

 

Just around the corner from the shop is an old Googie-style station that's been unoccupied since 1993 and hasn't been pumping gas for who knows how long before that. The City of Gardena routinely cuts the weeds and repairs the fence around it. There are probably three-five more stations I can think of that are near the shop that have been abandoned for 25+ years.

[Dave Crevie]

Documenting these relics from the past is important. I am sure there are many old stations that have been missed, or their purpose has been changed and they are no longer recognizable as stations. They are part of history. Each photograph taken makes sure they will not be forgotten

[Mike Patterson]

I came across this one a couple of weeks ago in Caldwell, Ohio:

 

[munter]

During a road trip last year I passed by this. It is the entrance to one of the Millen's(Steve?) property. The driveway is specially designed so you can hold a sprint/timed race on it. They host the Leadfoot festival every year.

[Phil Smith]

This gas station was about 10 miles from where I grew up in Dallas and I've drove by it thousands of times over the years. It was blocks from Dallas Slot Cars first 2 locations.I believe it was built in 1939 and was more beautiful than the picture. It was well maintained, but it was razed in 2012. I couldn't believe it. Very sad.

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[Dave Crevie]

Some model railroaders would give their left knibblet for some of these pictures. Gas stations are a favorite structure

on layouts.

[Phil Smith]

During a road trip last year I passed by this. It is the entrance to one of the Millen's(Steve?) property. The driveway is specially designed so you can hold a sprint/timed race on it. They host the Leadfoot festival every year.

 

 

 

I don't know why I didn't initially notice that this station had been totally restored, including a vintage gas truck. Very cool!

[Frankie Schaffier]

Here's a picture of one of our family's service stations..

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[Mike Patterson]

What year is that photo, Frankie? I'm guessing late 50s? And how many stations did your family operate?

[Frankie Schaffier]

Exactly Mike, sometime around 58 or 59 timeframe. Dad had a total of 4 stations at one time, all Mobil, most in the Brighton Michigan area. My Mom had restaurants, about the same number and within the same area along with a few other businesses in the area. My love is the old service stations, not this self serve crap we deal with today. I still feel if someone had a gas station with someone that pumped your gas, if even for a few cents more, it would be a busy place.

[Bill from NH]

Frankie, the state of New Jersey does not allow anyone to pump their own gas. But, I'm willing to bet that most station attendants don't offer to check your oil, wash your windows, or put air in your tires. Long ago, most, if not all stations, stopped giving out free road maps too, 

[Mike Patterson]

Frankie, thanks for the reply. Although personally, I don't mind pumping my own gas. After all these years, I've got a pretty good idea of how much more I can add after the pump clicks off.

 

Bill, here in Ohio, the "rest areas" usually have a supply of state road maps that you are free to take. So I do.

[Bill from NH]

With GPS, you really don't maps anymore. I don't have a cow bell (cell phone) but most of them have a GPS app now too.

[Frankie Schaffier]

Thanks for the reply Bill.. Cool that Jersey still has full service, or at least pumps for you. My Dad was pretty firm on once you heard the bell your butt better be heading to the pump. And even if it was only for $5 worth, you still washed the windshield and asked if they wanted the oil checked. If I didn't do that, well.. It was bathroom cleaning detail or taking all the oil cans down in the window and washing the windows..

[Mike Patterson]

With GPS, you really don't maps anymore. I don't have a cow bell (cell phone) but most of them have a GPS app now too.

I prefer maps. The kind actually printed on paper and cleverly folded so that it's impossible to return them to their original state. Rand-McNally road atlases are fun, too.

[Bill from NH]

I keep ME & NH roadmaps in my car's glovebox. I forget where I got them.  My wife has the R-M road atlases. They do contain lots of information, but I find them too bulky.