OT-country gas station photo

farmerjohn · May 4, 2013

The thread below of old school building photos reminded me of how I have often wished I could or would take time to photograph all the local landmarks that are disappearing, like old schools, gas stations, election houses, churches, unique bridges,...etc. A mile from me there was a little country gas station that I remember going to as a kid. The fellow who owned it had only one arm, I still remember watching him repair a tire, opening the rubber glue can with one hand, pumping up the tube and going across the road to dip it in the creek to check for leaks. The station was closed when he died and sat there for 40 years and one day I went past and it was gone. I happened to find this image on google maps. Does anyone else have a collection of gas station photos?

SweetFeet · May 4, 2013

farmerjohn,

Neat photo. Thanks for posting.

Go for it on the preservation idea. It is what I do with pics of old machines and buildings. My way of preserving them. (May donate to the Library of Congress someday... LOL).

ShadetreeRet · May 4, 2013

I have been intending to take some pictures of several old gas stations/grocery stores around here. In about twelve miles between two towns there are about ten buildings that once were gas stations and/or grocery stores. They are on what once was the main highway through these parts and there was a tremendous amount of beach traffic during vacation season. But when they built a new four lane it bypassed them and they starved out. My problem is, I never can remember to put my camera in the car when I leave the house.

twostepn2001 · May 5, 2013

The wife took some pics of a few restored gas stations in our area.
First one is a Sinclair station in Albany, Texas. The old Dodge gas transport has been restored and the guy puts it in local car shows.

Same guy restored this Gulf station on the other end of town.

This building is in Bradshaw, Texas. According to an old timer we talked to (he said he was 92 yr old) the building was originally built to be a Ford dealership in the mid 1920's.

Bret4207 · May 5, 2013

I have seen coffee table type books of such photos int he past. Used to see them at Borders before it closed. I'm sure there are websites with collections I've run across too. Not sure how I stumbled on them though. Look for something like "historical American gas stations" or something like that.

showcrop · May 5, 2013

Good on ya! I often wish that I had before pictures when I drive through a major road construction project and many old buildings are gone.

Hay_Man · May 5, 2013

Thanks for posting those twostepn2001. Those really are some beautiful "Fillin' Stations"! Really brings back some memories. I read up on Albany after your post. I've lived in Texas all my life and still find places I've never heard about or seen. I wish I could get caught up enough to be able to travel around Texas more, just to be able to see the unique places around here....

Paul from MI · May 5, 2013

Guess I need to remember my cell phone camera more often, there's a few of them around here.

OT-country gas station photo

farmerjohn

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SweetFeet

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ShadetreeRet

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twostepn2001

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Bret4207

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showcrop

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Hay_Man

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Paul from MI

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