This isn’t on Route 66, but it’s so cool and unique that it’s noteworthy.
The town of La Grande, Ore., contains a 1959 Texaco gas station that actually works for its intended purpose. There are plenty of well-preserved vintage gas stations around the country, but this is the only one that I’m aware of that actually uses the old equipment and offers full-service.
From the La Grande Observer:
The new “filling’’ station is becoming a haven for nostalgia lovers. Its features include:
• Attendants wearing 1950s and 1960s vintage Texaco uniforms. The men and women automatically wash the windshield of each vehicle with paper towels, not squeegees, and ask customers if they want their oil checked. Once under the hood attendants examine windshield wiper fluid levels and more.
• Vintage-style pumps providing Fire Chief (regular) and Sky Chief (supreme) gasoline, names no longer used at regular Texaco stations. The fuel sold at The Gas Station is Texaco-brand fuel; it is not generic.
The pumps have old-style meters.
“They are easier to reset than computerized ones,’’ said Wayne Marks, a station attendant.
• A station office filled with memorabilia like old framed ads for Texaco products including one for “ … Top Octane Sky Chief, Super Charged with Petrox’’ and motor oil that is “wax and tar free.’’ The office also has a display of automotive product cans, which disappeared from the market long ago.
Subtle features adding to the station’s old-style authenticity include 1950s vintage lights and bathroom fixtures and floor tiles.
“We found the original 1959 blueprints (of the Texaco station) and restored it almost everything exactly as it was,’’ Gregory said.
The Rev. Hank Albrecht is the station’s owner, and he’d been working seven years to restore it. The Gas Station opened in the past week or so.
In the coming weeks, coming will be ice-chest Coca-Cola dispenser, a garage for repairs and air pumps. Checking customers’ tire pressure during a fill-up be part of the full-service duties once the air pumps are installed.
Here’s another photo of The Gas Station. It’s a beaut.
The Gas Station is at 1508 Adams Ave. in La Grande (map here). It is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Very, very cool! Let’s hope it starts a trend.
It looks great! I can actually remember full-service stations. But, I don’t see the “ding-ding” lines in front of the pumps.