David Threatt a few days ago launched a T-shirt sales campaign to help restore his family’s century-old Threatt Filling Station near Luther, Oklahoma.
The family wants to reopen the long-closed gas station on Route 66 as a historical museum.
As of Wednesday night, 55 of the long-sleeved shirts had sold, raising more than $1,400. The campaign ends in three days, so you’d better order one fast.
A custom T-shirt sale also helped raise money for repairs at the long-closed Painted Desert Trading Post in eastern Arizona.
I asked Threatt via email whether a recent land dispute involving the property had been resolved.
No, it has not. Our family is working diligently to preserve our history and all of our land — not part of it, but all of it. Resources may be limited but efforts are not. We are making great strides! I believe it’s a story that needs to be told to reach the masses to garner more support.
Built by Allen Threatt in 1915, the gas station remains one of the few surviving African-American-owned businesses along Route 66.
The Threatt Filling Station operated until the early 1960s, when it was converted into living quarters.
The bungalow-style station made of rock from the Threatt farm’s quarry was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
Kaisa Barthuli of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program said earlier this year the Threatt Filling Station needs a new roof and electrical work but is sound structurally.
“It’s an incredible wealth of history,” she said.
(Image of the Threatt Filling Station in 2014 by Melodbit via Wikimedia Commons; image of the Threatt Filling Station T-shirt via Customlnk)
We happened thru Luther ,Okla by chance .
Several months ago we were driving and found a road getting us off the interstate.
We ended up in Luther
We see the town is making a slight comeback
A shame the chance to buy does not run thru next month .