History Images of vintage gas stations ~ pre 65

Amen to this!

 

Times Beach- Flood below

 

Here is a real photo postcard of the "Diamond Camp, Normal, ILL - 3 miles north of Bloomington on U.S. 66" and Sinclair filling station. Based on the look of the postcard and gas pumps this is circa the late 1920s. Click on this image, it has great resolution. We have found very few of these real photo postcards for gas stations in Illinois during the early days of Route 66. This was located on a corner a half block north of Sprague’s Super Service in Normal. There doesn't appear to be any part of this camp that is left standing.

 

Here is a photo of Claude Rigsby in front of his original Rigsby Station, Waynesville, Missouri on Route 66, circa the late 1920s. You can see the Route 66 shield to the left of the station. Just next door you can see their home. Over the years the station grew and was rebuilt a couple of times. The gas globe on the right says "Wilcox" and the one on the left says "Phillips Gasoline."
It was on the downtown Square, formerly the Rigsby Standard Oil Station. Claude and Eva Rigsby bought their house, which stands on lots 6 and 7 in block 4 of the original town of Waynesville, in 1924. We don't know the year of construction, but the foundation is made of rough-hewn logs. For 33 years, Claude operated the Standard Service Station next to his home, serving Route 66 as it passed through town. During the years when Fort Leonard Wood was being built, the Rigsbys rented rooms and beds to construction workers.
At Route 66 and Benton Street, you can see a building that was originally the Rigsby Standard Oil station, serving Route 66 travelers in its heyday. There is a historical marker for the Rigsby House and Standard Oil Station. We believe both buildings are still there.

 

1930 picture of the Cucamonga Ca. Richfield Station

 

Norris A. Mosher’s automotive service center in Mott, North Dakota. Seven men stand in front of the building, next to gasoline pumps. A Ford sign is on top of the building, and Firestone signs are on either side of the garage door. There are also signs for batteries and anti-freeze. On the right, and automobile is on a lift. Norris A. Mosher is the man on the far left...

 

This view looks east to the intersection of Kearney (Bypass 66) and MO 13 (Kansas Avenue) from Melville Road, Springfield, Missouri. The Silver Bow (1721 West Kearney) was a tavern and DX station later known as Sam’s Place. Further up the road is John Weatherwax’s Stuffed Pig Cafe and Cabins at 1701 West Kearney. It burned in June 1959. We see a couple great beer signs.
.

 

@Dave Mc

Hello,

Not to disparage folks living in Victorville, but for us, it was a stop over just to get some drinks and a rest stop. It was an important place, as it was the last vestiges of a gas station fill up prior to going out in the vast desert climate in this region of So Cal.


During our desert motorcycle racing days, there were only a few wide open spaces large enough for hundreds of racers to compete. So, the sponsoring clubs had to see where it was allowed and got the proper permission to hold the races. As the years rolled by, it seemed like originally, the courses were just over the Angeles National Forest North and South ranges. So, the drive was not so bad. Freeway, then desert roads, then dirt roads to the pits and the course area location.

These high intensity lights helped tremendously on those very “dark” desert roads… Upon flashing those bulbs on the desert roads only, the pitch black area lit up like daylight…

The Northern portion made us go through the Magic Mountain area to end up near the Antelope Valley locations. So, it was freeway then off road adventure driving. But, it seemed like the courses near the Edwards Air Force Base were nearby and it was like a one and done situation. So, those courses moved deeper into the Mojave Desert areas.

Jnaki

But, once those clubs chose the Southern portions of the area, Victorville was gas stop either way coming or going back home to Long Beach.

The most famous desert motorcycle race is the 160 mile one way race from the outskirts of Victorville/Barstow to Las Vegas. Hundreds of racers participated yearly. After the annual races started, the roads leading to Las Vegas were crowded with trucks and trailers to pick up the tired racers at the finish line.

The history of that portion of the desert area has been with us since 1946, when our dad drove his 41 Buick fastback from the Oregon border down to So Cal and Long Beach. But, then a zillion years later, it was the outlet to and from our Mammoth Mountain camping, fishing and skiing adventures.

One year in college, an elective class offered took us out to Edwards Air Force Base on an A/C cooled bus. It was an Aerospace/Aeronautics class and the goal was to see the fast SR-71 big black jet and what Edwards Air Base offered the program. It was hot to say the least. But, the wide open, flat spaces were all So Cal desert climate and "deserted" as usual... Victorville was the cool spot to stop and get refreshments for the long drive back to the college campus near Belmont Shore in Long Beach.

Then finally, the long drive home taking the inland route instead of the coastal route from 1965 to 2019 when we last drove on that Highway 395. Starting with the 65 El Camino and moving on to our recent daily drivers… YRMV

 

Rte. 66

Charles Brown at his Texaco Station, Brown's Tourist Camp, Springfield, MO.

 

Old Gas Station in Cogar, Caddo County in Oklahoma.

 

This photo with a "Missouri U.S. 66" shield is of "The Conoco station operated by Paul Wilcox had a historical marker built into it. It read “Site of the first school in what is now Springfield, built by pioneers, 1832, of small logs with mud and stick chimney, loose plank floor, and three-legged benches. Joseph Rountree first teacher.” The marker was salvaged when the building was demolished in 1984 and now stands on the site, a parking lot at 601 College Street," Springfield, Missouri.

 

Photograph of several unidentified men sitting on the front porch of D.R. Johnson Grocery Store in Mount Joy, Tennessee. A single gasoline pump and a sign for Coca Cola are visible outside the shop. David Richard ""Dick"" Johnson (1911-1967) of Mount Pleasant owned the store.

 

This is a photo of the old Howard Litch Garage on Route 66 in Galena, Kansas. Howard “Pappy” Litch opened his garage in 1937 and moved it to a former livery stable at 5th and Main Streets in Galena in 1954. He spent a lifetime gathering artifacts now displayed in the Galena Mining and Historical Museum. Howard died on November 6, 1996, and the site where his garage once stood is now Pappy Litch Park.

 

Dunmovin, California on US 395 between Coso Junction and Olancha, Ca. circa 1950.

 

What’s left of one just outside of Brainerd, NE.

 

REMEMBER, FULL SERVICE GAS STATIONS???
I GREW UP IN THIS WORLD, BACK WHEN ...
.
Once Upon A Time ...
There were full-service gas stations .... they'd pump your gas, check your oil and other fluids, hoses, belts, wash your windshields and check the air pressure in your tires ... sometimes, even sweep out your car ...

 

You havent seen "harrowing" 'till you've driven Tioga Pass in a Model T Speedster!!
You need a fresh pair of underware when you are done!!

 

Gulf Station 50's Check out the driver side taillamp.

 

Or the Ring of Kerry in Ireland. Always drive a small enough car to fit under the tour bus side mirrors.

 

Hello,

The last time we drove on Tioga Road from highway 99 through Yosemite, it was a bright sunny day. We were on the road from Oregon and decided to come down through central CA in 2018. Then turn left and go through Yosemite. We have done this a couple of times from those 1960s early years, but now that we were older, wiser and still on the road trip adventures, why not? We have been coming to Yosemite since 1950 and now we are/were better prepared for all road trip adventures.

The old cars handled ok, if we were not crazy. But, there is no comparison of old suspension and handling/braking with our current crop of daily drivers. so, with that in mind, the Tioga Road was still an adventure for us “older” folks and still created a drop off view that kept all eyes on the road. My wife was telling me to keep eyes on the road and not her or the drop off gorgeous views. I could not help it but to quickly glance at the views as we headed downhill on the road.

Several times in 1968-69, we did go uphill to get into Yosemite on our way North to San Francisco. It was just a mountain road and due to us being on the mountain side, no problem.

Jnaki

Yes, in any old car, it is always cause for concern. But, with the modern suspension, AWD handling and braking + great tires, we did not give it much thought. The serenity and beauty of the whole area just makes you look. And then, a quick recovery is necessary.

Needless to say, we have recovered and obviously are veterans of the steep, hazardous road. The odd feeling is/was still there on the descent. But, for those on either side of the large mountain range, it is still closed, as of today:

"Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road, and Mariposa Grove Road are closed for the winter
Alert 2, Severity closure, Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road, and Mariposa Grove Road are closed for the winter
Tioga Road (continuation of Highway 120 through the park) and Glacier Point Road are closed for the season due to snow. They usually open in late May or June."

With the record setting snow pack in these mountains since December, it will, perhaps be a longer time until a dry surface is available, again. The old Lee Vining town gas stations/cafes are a welcome relief for sure… YRMV

 

This is a Kodak color film photo of the New Mexico border at Glenrio, Texas looking into New Mexico with the iconic State Line Bar Texaco service station in the background, circa 1964. Under the Motel sign is a "Will Rogers Highway" official dedication sign for Route 66.

 

Franklin, Tennessee, 1940...

General store in Bingham that was run by mother and son Mollie and Newt McMillan. They are pictured in front of the store...

 

They look happy JW

 

Exact reproduction at Gilmore Museum using a copy of original blueprints