Here's a video about Soulsby Service Station, which has sit on a corner of old Route 66 in Mount Olive, Ill., since 1926. https://youtu.be/yP4qtCjhivw According to the description of the video, it was for a class project. It turned out pretty well.
Category: Gas stations
Bloomington gas station marks 70th year
There aren't too many of gas stations this old anymore. According to an article today in the Bloomington Pantagraph, Quinn's Shell is marking its 70th year of business today at Main and Chestnut streets (map here) in Bloomington, Ill. And, yes, it's on Route 66. Though it may look like any other Shell station, it … Continue reading Bloomington gas station marks 70th year
Former Firestone station will be reborn
The Bristow Firestone Service Station that dates to 1930 on Route 66 in Bristow, Okla., is being restored and soon will reopen as a body shop. The building once was owned by Bolin Ford Inc., but recently sold to Jack Longacre to expand his body-shop business. Longacre has been diligently restoring the building at 321 … Continue reading Former Firestone station will be reborn
Another new gas-station paint job in Tucumcari
Volunteers in Tucumcari, N.M., have been repainting abandoned gas stations in a classic, old-fashioned style to dress up the Route 66 corridor through town. The latest isn't an abandoned station, but one that has been converted into a smoke shop, across the road from the Lowes grocery store. The smoke shop now looks like a … Continue reading Another new gas-station paint job in Tucumcari
Bill Shea named grand marshal for Route 66 festival parade
I don't know whether this has been reported, but the prominent owner of a gas station museum has been named grand marshal of the cruise at the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Ill., this weekend. The Springfield State Journal-Register reports today: Bill Shea, owner of Shea’s Gas Station Museum, 2075 Peoria Road, will be … Continue reading Bill Shea named grand marshal for Route 66 festival parade
Chandler Phillips 66 station named to National Register
The historic Phillips 66 station along Route 66 in Chandler, Okla., was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective Sept. 8, according to an email from the National Park Service. The station, built in 1930, has been owned by Bill Fernau since 1997, and he's been steadily restoring it in exacting detail … Continue reading Chandler Phillips 66 station named to National Register
New “Tucumcari Tonite!” billboard
A new billboard usually isn't anything special. But this one for the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., boasts a retro look that's difficult to ignore. Richard Talley, owner of the Motel Safari in Tucumcari, said in an e-mail: We’re helping to celebrate New Mexico’s Centennial 1912-2012 this time, with a turquoise colored background, much … Continue reading New “Tucumcari Tonite!” billboard
From eyesore to eyeful
Ed Klein at Route 66 World made a very good video about the recent repainting of an abandoned gas station in Tucumcari, N.M., into an old-time Phillips 66 station. https://youtu.be/EaXNYHfwid0 I've been told that the Tucumcari volunteers will repaint another building in the coming weeks.
Plan for Route 66 / Lincoln Highway park stalls
A plan to convert land in Plainfield, Ill., into a park that pays homage to Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway has run aground after an effort to secure a National Park Service grant failed, reported the Plainfield Patch. The property known as the old Carlson house at the corner of U.S. 30 and Route … Continue reading Plan for Route 66 / Lincoln Highway park stalls
Normal may declare gas station a historic landmark
The town council of Normal, Ill., may declare the Sprague's Super Service station on Route 66 a historic landmark at its next meeting, reported WJBC radio in Bloomington, Ill. The recommendation from the planning commission will help Terri Ryburn, who purchased the former Sprague Super Service building with a long term plan: to restore the building … Continue reading Normal may declare gas station a historic landmark