History Old Gas Stations Today-Derelict or Period Restored.

The Old Store at Whitehurst Station South of Bethel in Pitt County, NC

 

Interesting paint job on the building behind it.

 

The Whiting Bros. complex in McCartys, New Mexico opened in the 1940s, welcoming travelers with gas, a motel room, and a smile.
It burned down in the 1990s, but the old sign refuses to fall.
Imagine the families that passed beneath this sign — chasing the American dream one mile at a time.

 

Restored Conoco gas station in Helper Utah

 

This Station has been operating since 1938 and was restored a few years ago to how it looked in 38, the canopy was done to how it was and a few other things but the Firestone wall is so cool. A couple of old guys run it. Will get a photo of how it was in 38 and post it in the other thread. JW

 

Locust Grove, Alabama


Abandoned

 

Kennan, Wisconsin. Then





Now

 

In 1926 Arthur, Earnest, Eddie and Ralph Whiting began the Whiting Brother's chain of over 100 gas stations, 15 motels, and various truck stops with 40 locations along the "Mother Road" of Hiway 66. As the interstate began to bypass their locations and fuel shortages in the 1970s occurred, business declined. Some locations were sold, others were abandoned. Their business began in Arizona and during the summer, a fill up was rewarded with a bag of ice!

 

Here is a "then & now" of the old Danby service station in Danby, California, located on old Route 66, looking northeast. You can see the train tracks just up the grade from Route 66. The first photo of two ladies at the station is dated 1940, while the recent photo of the same location is from 2023. Danby is a Ghost Town in the Mojave Desert. The road was previously the NOTR (National Old Trails Road) prior to becoming Route 66.


same spot

 

Abandoned gas station in Archer City, Texas. Location of the movie "The Last Picture Show" and the sequel "Texasville."

Big Chief Station, New Mexico

 

“Paradise Café” in Tucumcari New Mexico
This cafe was located next to the Paradise Motel, which was built in the 1950s.
The motel had been closed since around 1991 and burned down in 2017.
The cafe somehow managed to survive but eventually closed.
In the 1950s, it was popular for its delicious hamburgers and
its location at the Sinclare gas station.

Sumter County, S.C.

 

Built in the late 1920's by J.W. Quesenberry, and later owned by Howard Wilson, the gas station sold Aetna Oil Company products. In 1936 the construction of U.S. 60 diverted automobile traffic and led to the end of the building's use as a gas station. The building, once home to Ted Wright's dry cleaning office and Howard Wade's and Bob Adam's taxi-cab stand was donated to Middletown by the Middletown Medical Center in 1996. With the help of a federal grant-in-aid through the State of Kentucky, the Middletown Historic Commission restored the once severely deteriorated gas station.

 

Detroit, Mi

 

Truckee, CA

 

I love a good "then and now" post.

 

Daniel, Wyoming

 

The Bent Door Café” in Adrian Texas
Originally built in the 1940s, Rte.66
the cafe and gas station were burned in 1946,
but the cabin remained under the name "Adrian Court."
After World War II, former employee Robert Harris bought it,
added a curved-window control tower to the corner of the restaurant,
and called it "the Bent Door Café."
It changed owners several times and became very popular in the 1950s and 1960s,
but in the late 1960s, it closed in 1972 due to the construction of I-40 as a bypass.
It has remained untouched since then,
but its unique architecture makes it a popular photo spot.

 

Not a gas station, but I guess something someone would use between stops. Never seen anything like it before. For sale on local FB Marketplace.

 

Looking at the SW corner of U.S. 66 and 3rd Street in Williams, Arizona. In 1939, a Mobil service station occupied the corner. Today, Mobil is long gone, but the original station still exists and now serves as an eatery called Cruiser's Route 66 Cafe. Glad to see that the city didn't raze the building.

 

NEAT! What a difference in camera resolution!

Ben

 

I was in Louisville, KY last month & saw this. It looks like they're turning it into an eatery of some sort, which is better than knocking it down & building some piece of crap. It appears that they've already glossed over some stuff..hard to tell the age.

 

In New Albany, IN, just across the Ohio from Louisville.

 

In Jarrell Texas along Interstate 35. North of Austin.

 

Worley, Tx. opened 1920s closed 1970s.

 

Still in business.

 

West of Austin

 

A gas station and store once run by Charlie and Bessie Causby Henry on West Pine Chapel Road Gordon Georgia