History Images of vintage gas stations ~ pre 65

That doesn't look like the picture was taken pre-65.

 

This is very similar to the Shell station in my hometown, run by a good friend of mine and before that by his father. This is on East Street in Stockbridge, MA. You can see the similarities given my hometown's zoning requirements. This picture is quite recent, after a brownfield cleanup had been finished.

I remember pumping gas nights and weekends as a kid. Learned how to weld there at 14. Change tires, oil changes, and oh yeah, wash the windshield, check the oil and radiator, and air up the tires.

 

Come on guys, lets not clutter up this thread with recent pictures. As ***le says: pre-65.

 

1960 LA CA; Two hours after my paper route and all-day Saturday
Lots of life lessons learned there in four years
Thats the original "Tommys" in the back round for the LA crowd, Beverly & Rampart

 

I started a thread to post modern pics of old garages to keep this thread on topic.
''Old Gas Stations Today- Derelict or Period Restored'' JW

 

Sorry... The building is definitely pre-65. I figured that was close enough. Oh well, remove it if you want

 

11h ·


Here is a "then & later" of "The Blu-Cut Groceries" & Texaco filling station on the Blue Cut in the Cajon P***, California area on Route 66. A second photo in the first comment below shows the location of this business in 1955. We don't want to guess the date on the "then" photo but know the pumps are circa ~ 1925. The "later" photo is ~ 1980 and it is, obviously closed up. The Blue Cut rest area got its name from the color of the stone (schist) visible in the canyon walls. This is also where Route 66 crosses the San Andreas fault from the North American Plate to the Pacific Plate.
The "later" photo is courtesy of Otto Kroutil.

 

So fire me; I could stand to have the summer off anyway.

 

This is post #10 of this thread almost 7 yeras ago. No *****in, and Moanin, Back then!
Please just keep'em coming.

 

I guess the only one who knows if the intent of the thread was to include pictures taken post-65 would be the thread starter, @HOTRODPRIMER . Danny what do you say?

 

Route 66 widening project through Grants NM 1956. (NMDOT photo)

 

Hello,

This is a moot point. Dave Mc has the right idea. The inclusion of a photo taken in 2023 is accepted, only if there are photos of it way back then pre 1965. If there is an old photo, and a new one in its current state, that is how the comparison is made. A little history of the old gas station is always the way to go. Not just internet copied photos of any gas stations with cars in or out of the photos.

If it is a new era photo, include some old researching and see if you have information of the history of the pre 65 gas station(s).

Jnaki

There are a ton of old pre 65 gas stations in every modern city. But, historical search is necessary to tell who or what it was back then. So, the ones in this thread should have an old pre 65 photo, some information on who/what/ or city and if possible a new photo to show what became of it. To me and others, that sure seems like what the ***le is asking for.

Otherwise, it would be copy and paste from the internet with no information or history. Then it would be as many as one can find on a pre 65 gas station internet site... What is the point? We live in an information age and these clarification history facts make it fun...YRMV

 

As a kid I always wanted to work in a station. I had the rack to work on my car. I had so much grease coming from all the lube fitting . But the car never made in noise.

 

Well, I have no old pictures. I've never been very good at filing things! Oh well, I remember what it looked like, and all the times we'd stop there. So like I said yesterday, remove it...

 

Oh goodie, another good thread going south due to i don't give a SH@T. JW

 

Just re-read this thread again as it’s one of my favorites………sure brings back a rush of memories.
Thanks again to all that posted on the first 63 pages

 

Hello,

The South end of Laguna Beach was still the South end of Laguna Beach. The Southern portion was organized as South Laguna and the civic ***ociation created an atmosphere of being its own city, but was still in unincorporated Orange County on the local maps and government papers.

It was annexed to Laguna Beach city in 1987, but still remained in the unincorporated areas.

History of the whole community started in 1946 and for this portion of the highway, there several gas stations. One was at the northern end near the actual city limits of Laguna Beach. The other is in the labeled photo in the southern end of “South Laguna.”

When we lived in the southern portion of the city of Laguna Beach, it was closer for us to go to the amenities located in South Laguna. Grocery stores, laundromats, restaurants and the gas station. Our zip code was 92651, whereas the rest of Laguna Beach to the North was 92652. The post office was centrally located near the gas station and since it was the only one in this portion, it became quite busy.

Jnaki

Over time, its value to the whole area was noted and despite the now, commercially owned site, it still pumps gas and offers the new amenities like more modern gas stations everywhere.
Current view
Note: During normal hours, be prepared to drive in first/second gear as this portion of Coast Highway is always crowded headed North toward the city of Laguna Beach. On the weekends, it is almost stop and creep forward situation. The weekday, at least the traffic is slow, but moves through this portion of the community.

Note 2: There is the only Ruby's Auto Diner just up the highway across the street from the Montage Resort location. It is the only Auto Diner with plenty of old 50s-60s cars out in front of the restaurant. Upstairs is an open dining area with ocean views. (on a sunny day...)

 

The Hilltop Cafe was on the "million dollar stretch" of US 66 in Franklin County, Missouri, so named because of the number of roadside businesses. It was one of the first to close when Interstate 44 opened and no longer stands. The only trace is a retaining wall.

 

Red Star Service Station, North Carrollton, Mississippi in 1926

 

West, (near Waco) Texas

 

This is the Painted Desert Park along the Gallup-Holbrook branch of the National Old Trails Road circa 1924 that would become Route 66 in 1926. it was also known as "The Lion Farm". It was established in the 1920s by the mystical Harry "Indian" Miller. A few years later Harry would lease the iconic Two Guns, Arizona, and start many legends. Notice the "Ticket Office - Pickwick Lines" sign. Later they became Greyhound. Is the car on the left up on blocks?
This photo is courtesy of Bill Parker.

 

It has no tires on it. Thanks for the great photos, Dave. JW

 

The "Conway Motor Co." on Route 66, Conway, Missouri is an unusual-looking service station with lots of great signs and advertising.

 

I've always interpreted the thread ***le to mean the gas stations had to be pre-65, not that the images had to be.
I find it highly interesting to have a mix of both the old images and more contemporary ones showing what has become of these relics from our past. It's the mix of ****es that gives the dish more flavor.
When I eventually realized that some others felt that the intent was to be narrowly focused on images taken before 1965 I was rather shocked, to tell the truth. But I guess, given the limits on how poorly keyboards and digital screens communicate, I can understand how others have concluded differently.
But that soup is too bland and many of the old photos too ****py to be a steady diet for my tastes. My vote is to keep the mix of some old photos that do***ent what they were and other newer photos that show the landmarks that they have become.
Stay ****y, my friends.......

 

'1936 Hudson Terraplane taxis - M. J. Taylor - Aberdeen, NSW'; Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales [see little kid holding hose]