History Images of vintage gas stations ~ pre 65

Mauston, Wisconsin 1940/50s

 

Magnolia service station #110 in Dallas in the 1920s

 

Waynedale, Indiana 1920s

 

hope the 'coffe 'is better than the spelling

 

Hello,

When my wife’s parents moved to a large 20 acre piece of property, it certainly was different than coastal So Cal. Their home had 360 degree views, since it was sitting on a hill. But, the roads were graded and not paved. So, during the rainy season or winter snow, it was a mess going anywhere. We did our best to get to the property when we had time during the Christmas season or easier road driving during the summer months.

We usually drove up the I-5 freeway through Los Angeles and toward Bakersfield. But at the Wheeler Ridge exit, we took an Eastern route through this dinky town called Arvin. There, we stocked up on snacks and drinks or stopped for gas in town. If we had enough gas to get to the property in the hills and back, we just stopped at the frosty freeze place for cool drinks and a cone.

The whole area had weird names for locations. (Arvin, Caliente, Bodfish and Piute Meadows, ending up at Lake Isabella.) It was outdoor activities in scrub to forested areas. It got dark early as the large Sequoia National Forest was close by on the Westside and that created a large mountain to block out the setting sun early.

Jnaki

Yes, it snowed in the winter and the roads were a nightmare as they curve and drop, as well as leaving blind rock formations on the steep curves. We even fell off the road due to melting ice and around the blind corner, even at slow speeds, slid off into a ditch. It was icy in dark side of the curve and the road was off camber.

But, 20 acres is a lot of property and it was quiet…YRMV

 

Missouri 1920's

 

Coosawhatchie, SC 1929

 

Walhalla Grocery and Gas Station in Walhalla, Michigan 1940s

 

was that really the genesis of the 'mega' little america of today??-wow , if so!

 

Kind of a telling story in this picture. An auto service and gas station and a harness maker next door to each other. I wonder how Mr. Beckett and Mr. Holton got along with each other?

 

If the average price for gas today is $3.50, it is 33 times higher in price than this station. The price for a car wash today is $10-$15.00 with a hot wax and tire gizzum. .95 cents was a premium price tag back then for a car wash. The equivalent of a $32.00 wash job today.

 

Gilmore Gas Station located at 5th and Bonneville., Las Vegas, Nevada

 

The 1932 English Ford that Edsel fashioned the American 1933 Ford after.

 

Hot Springs Texaco Gas Station, Frontage Road (old Route 40) near Fernley, Nevada

Atlanta, Ohio

 

The Coffee Pot lunch stand and Atlantic Gas Station, Bedford, Pennsylvania 1930

 

Way back when Meers, OK had a post office and gas was 13 cents per gallon! The only remaining structure of the original town is the Meers Store and Restaurant. The Meers Store served as the town's post office from 1902 until 1989 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has served as a doctor’s office, newspaper office, drugstore, and general store.