Standard Gas
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

This Standard Gas marquee has seen better days, but the weathering adds to its roadside appeal. The worn finish and surviving lettering offer enough character to warrant a closer look.

After Standard Oil’s 1911 breakup, regional companies continued using the name, keeping it familiar to generations of motorists. Signs like this helped advertise fuel and service long before convenience-store canopies became the dominant roadside feature.

UPDATE: The marquee’s original location and present whereabouts remain unknown. Surviving examples are prized by collectors of early petroleum advertising. 06-26

Union 76 (Demolished)
Wabash, IN
Photo courtesy Ross Trimboli

This Union 76 station in Wabash stood at Indiana 15 and Business 24, with its rear built into a small bluff. The compact building recalled the days when a neighborhood station offered more than a quick fill-up. Relocating it was reportedly considered, but the structure wasn’t sound enough for an affordable move. The station was demolished for a Walgreens development, replacing another familiar automotive corner.

UPDATE : I was living in Indiana at the time. That 76 station closed in 1996 and remained vacant. Judging by the building, it was originally a Pure station, converted to 76 after Union rebranded all the Pure stations. It didn't have a 76 ball, but 76 sides were retrofitted into the old Pure frames. Another landmark destroyed. Many thanks to Big Dave for update. 06-06

UPDATE: The station closed in 1996. Its architecture suggested an earlier Pure station, with 76 panels fitted into the old Pure sign frames rather than the familiar orange ball. A small detail that told another chapter of its history. 06-06

Gas Station
Chenoa, IL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

This gas station in Chenoa appears to have pumped its last gallon long ago. Along historic Route 66, it recalls the small service stops left behind when Interstate 55 changed the traffic pattern.

Its practical design suited the job: fuel cars, fix flats and keep travelers moving. Not every station needed a dramatic canopy or towering neon sign to earn its place along the highway.

The pumps are gone, but the quiet building still offers a glimpse of the Mother Road’s neighborhood filling-station days. It’s worth slowing down for before continuing through town.

Standard Oil
Odell, IL
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Standard Oil station in Odell has welcomed Route 66 motorists since 1932. Its house-style design gave the growing business of selling gasoline a familiar neighborhood appearance.

It later carried Sinclair and Phillips 66 branding, adding service bays during the 1940s before closing in 1975. When photographed, restoration was underway, supported by volunteers and the Route 66 Association of Illinois.

UPDATE: Restoration is complete. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and owned by the village, the station now serves as a seasonal visitor center and museum. 06-26

Standard Oil
Lafayette, IN
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

White glazed brick and a red tile roof distinguish this Standard Oil station in Lafayette. Built around 1927–1928, the Red Crown station became known locally as “Jonesy’s” and operated until 1979.

A later restoration uncovered its glazed walls and replaced the roof tiles, returning much of its early appearance. Fortunately, this neighborhood fuel stop escaped demolition.

UPDATE: The station survives at 6th and South Streets. Formerly the Red Crown Mini-Museum, it now houses the public library’s 24-hour media kiosk. Books and movies have replaced gasoline as the reason to pull in. 06-26

Old Gas Station
St. Elmo, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

This abandoned gas station in St. Elmo recalls the small-town stops along U.S. 40 before Interstate 70 drew traffic away.

Its original brand and history remain uncertain, but the weathered building captures the familiar scale of a neighborhood filling station. Fuel, repairs and local conversation once made places like this part of everyday travel.

UPDATE: The exact location and present condition remain unconfirmed. Whether the abandoned building still survives is unknown. 06-26

Phillips 66
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Phillips 66 shield became a familiar welcome along American highways. Mounted on porcelain signs, poles and neon marquees, its distinctive outline helped motorists recognize the brand before reaching the pumps.

The name dates to 1927, with company lore linking it to a test car reaching 66 miles per hour on Route 66. That connection gave the gasoline brand a particularly fitting identity along the Mother Road.

Original signs now attract collectors as well as roadside photographers. Even without a station underneath, the shield remains easy to recognize.

UPDATE: This sign’s original location and current status remain unknown. Vintage Phillips 66 porcelain signs continue to be sought-after reminders of earlier highway travel. 06-26

Zeeway Gas N' Go
Cleveland, OH
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

The Zeeway Gas N’ Go sign in Cleveland has always reminded me of an old Zenith advertisement. Intentional or not, the resemblance gave this independent station a memorable look.

Bold lettering and an unusual design helped it compete for attention without a national oil company’s familiar logo. Before digital price boards became commonplace, a distinctive marquee could give motorists a reason to notice one station among several.

UPDATE: The station’s exact location and history remain unverified, leaving the fate of both the business and sign unknown. 06-26