The historic Miami Marathon Oil Station on an old alignment of Route 66 in Miami, Oklahoma, sold for $18,000 at auction Friday, but its new owner remains unknown for now.
The Joplin Globe newspaper reported the station’s new owner declined to identify himself or do interviews.
The deal for the station should be close in about 30 days. By then, its new owner will be known, as it would be public record at the Ottawa County Recorder’s office.
The station, built in 1929, sits at 331 S. Main St., is part of the oldest alignment of Route 66 in Miami. That segment leads to the so-called Sidewalk Highway of Route 66 on the south edge of town.
Daryl Buckmaster of Miami owned the structure for years and had restored it to exacting detail, according to the newspaper:
Kansas author Judi Kirk visited the building when she was researching her book, “Remnants: Prairie Gas Stations Remembered.” Kirk said she was impressed by how careful Buckmaster was in his restoration efforts.
“Daryl even matched paint chips with the original colors of Marathon and found Marathon visual pumps to complete the package,” Kirk wrote. “The yellow center pump was for kerosene … and the red pumps were for gas.”
The auction included 1920s Sinclair signs, a porcelain Marathon sign, Pepsi signs, Coca-Cola signs and a rare Marathon map holder. The auction by Williams & Williams Real Estate Auctions drew about 30 people.
According to the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, Transcontinental Oil Co. built the 320-square-foot station in 1929 — less than three years after the creation of U.S. 66 — and a local family leased it for $40 a month. Marathon bought the property not long after that. Until recently, the station was used as a beauty salon. It became listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
(Image of the Marathon station in Miami, Oklahoma, via William and William Real Estate Auctions)
SOMEbody got a bargain. I’d have guessed those pumps alone were almost worth the whole purchase price. Good buy!
The real value would be if this station still looks just like this in 30 years, except with a deco-style charging station for electric cars.
You are correct Mr. Brown…someone stole this place at auction!