Many roadies were disheartened to learn that the ever-affable Sue Preston, proprietor of the Seaba Station antique and crafts store on Route 66 near Warwick, Okla., had moved and put her historic building up for sale.
However, Seaba Station’s two new owners intend to restore its original appearance as a 1930s D-X gas station and convert it into a motorcycle museum, slated to open in late summer 2008.
It will retain its Seaba Station name.
“Everybody knows it by that name,” said co-owner Gerald Tims. “It’d be crazy to change it.”
Tims owns Performance Cycle on old Route 66 in Bethany, Okla., just west of Oklahoma City, which specializes in Suzuki and Triumph models. Seaba Station’s other new owner is Jerry Ries, a retired schoolteacher from Nicoma Park, Okla., an east suburb of OKC. Both are motorcycle enthusiasts.
Tims said he was considering opening a motorcycle museum in Bethany. But on a trip on Route 66 to Tulsa to pick up motorcycle parts, he and Dies saw the Seaba Station was for sale. Because of the station’s long Mother Road history, they thought it would be an ideal spot for the museum.
Longtime roadie Guy Randall has a good historical overview of the station on his Road Wanderer site:
In 1924, two years before Route 66 would be certified, the Seaba Station was built. This business was the dream of John and Alice Seaba. The Seaba Station, as it became known, operated on this stretch of Route 66 as a garage and NevrNox filling station. In the thirties John Seaba installed the machinery and equipment needed to repair automobile connecting rods. He was successful at this new business venture and soon the Seaba Filling Station became Seaba Manufacturing Company. During World War Two the company held contracts with the U.S. Government to rebuild connecting rods for government vehicles.
In 1951 John Seaba sold the business to Victor and June Briggs. When Victor was killed in a small aircraft accident June ran the business herself. Despite the prejudices associated with a woman running a business in such a male oriented area, the business thrived. In the 1960s June was recognized by “Motor Trend” and “Hot Rod” magazine. In 1987 June sold the business and building to a father and son team who ran the business for seven more years. Then in 1995 Sonny and Sue Preston bought the building, which had been listed on the Register of Historic Places. The building needed extensive restoration. Sonny and Sue were up to the task.
Tims said after they bought the building, Preston gave them a 1930s photograph of it. They will use that photo as a basis for additional restoration, including bringing back a second fuel island and erecting D-X memorabilia. Note: Nevrnox later became part of Diamond, then D-X.
Tims has more than 100 vintage motorcycles in his collection. They will be displayed on a rotating basis, along with other vintage equipment. Seaba Station also will contain a gift shop.
“Our hope in some point in time is to also have an eatery,” Tims said, “so it would be a destination.” It was noted that there are few restaurants on the 30-mile stretch of Route 66 between Chandler and Arcadia. “But we’ll leave that to someone else; I know motorcycles, not restaurants,” he said, adding that he’ll probably lease space in the station to a restaurateur.
(Photo courtesy of Guy Randall.)
Well done, don’t let it die!!
I am hoping to plan a trip to ride the 66 bringing one of my own motorcycles, either a BMW R80gs or I’d prefer to bring a 412cc Fuji Robin Enfield diesel, great to hear the old property is not going to die, well done and hope to visit you.