Broadway Used Tires
Anderson, IN
Photo and info courtesy Craig Selvey

I always like finding old porcelain gas stations that are still hanging around. This one in Anderson has been reused as Broadway Used Tires, giving the old station a second life that still feels right at home with its automotive past. The pumps may be gone, but the building is still helping keep cars on the road. 03-07

The porcelain-style service station design is the real attraction here. These old stations were built to be clean, bright, and easy to spot from the road, and even after years of changes, this one still has that classic roadside look. Broadway Used Tires has operated here as a local tire shop, carrying on the building's long connection to everyday drivers passing through Anderson.

UPDATE: Broadway Used Tires appears to remain listed as a local tire business in Anderson, though I couldn't verify the current condition of the original porcelain station exterior. 06-26

Marathon Gas Station
Anderson, IN
Photo and info courtesy Craig Selvey

I always enjoy finding old gas stations that are still earning a living. This former Marathon Gas Station in Anderson has been converted into a used car lot and service center, which feels like a pretty natural fit. It's still all about automobiles, just in a different way. 03-07

The garage bays are still doing what they were built to do, and the building itself has retained much of its mid-century character. While plenty of old stations have disappeared over the years, this one found a second life instead of the wrecking ball. I think that's part of what makes places like this worth slowing down for.

UPDATE: At the time of the original photo, the building was operating as a used car lot and service center. I couldn't verify whether the business is still operating today, but the former Marathon station has survived through adaptive reuse. 06-26

Rick's Car Wash
Anderson, IN
Photo courtesy Craig Selvey

It's always fun finding old gas stations that have found a second life. This one in Anderson became Rick's Car Wash, and the transition feels pretty fitting. It's still taking care of cars—just in a different way. What really caught my attention, though, was the beautiful script lettering across the front. It's not something you expect to see on a neighborhood car wash. 03-07

The building still looks every bit like the service station it once was, making it easy to picture cars pulling up to the pumps years before the wash bays were added. The original gas station brand and construction date haven't been verified, but the property later entered Indiana's Brownfields Program in 2007 as part of an environmental remediation project, a common step for former gas station sites.

UPDATE: I couldn't verify whether Rick's Car Wash is still operating today. The property remains listed in Indiana's Brownfields records related to the 2007 remediation project, but its current condition and use are unknown. 06-26

Save Gas sign
Gary, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

Check out this old Save Gas roadside sign in Gary, Indiana. It's a great reminder of a time when independent gas stations competed just as much on price as they did on appearance. 10-08

Before every major intersection was lined with the same familiar national chains, local gas stations often relied on eye-catching signs to bring motorists off the road. A simple message like "Save Gas" was hard to miss, promising affordable fuel without the need for elaborate logos or flashy advertising. Sometimes the straightforward approach worked best.

I always enjoy finding signs like this because they represent the countless independent stations that once served neighborhoods across the Midwest. Most of the businesses are long gone, but an old sign can still tell part of the story. It's another reminder that roadside history isn't always found in grand neon spectaculars. Sometimes it's hiding in the simplest designs.

UPDATE: Little historical information has surfaced about this particular Save Gas sign, and the exact location and current status could not be verified. Whether it still stands or has disappeared like so many other independent gas station signs remains unknown. 06-26

Maple Service Station
Hobart, IN
Photo and info courtesy Kevin Heggi

This little old Maple Service Station is one of those roadside survivors that instantly catches your eye. Located in Hobart, Indiana, it's a reminder of the days when nearly every neighborhood had its own corner service station. 10-08

Small independent stations like this once handled everything from filling fuel tanks to fixing flat tires and checking the oil. Many served the same neighborhoods for decades before larger service stations and convenience stores gradually took their place. While thousands disappeared over the years, a few managed to survive long after their original purpose had come to an end.

It's always fun coming across places like this. Even without knowing its complete history, the building still captures the look and feel of a time when service stations were smaller, simpler, and an important part of everyday life.

UPDATE: Little historical information has surfaced about Maple Service Station, and the exact address and current status of the property could not be verified. The original photograph preserves another glimpse of the small independent filling stations that once dotted towns across the Midwest. 06-26

Car Center
Munster, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi

The neon makes Car Center quite a sight to see off the highway in Munster. It's the kind of sign that reminds you when selling cars was as much about grabbing your attention as it was selling the vehicles themselves. 10-08

Independent dealerships often relied on eye-catching signs to stand apart from the competition, and this one certainly did the job. Its bold design and generous use of neon made it hard to miss, especially after dark when the glowing tubes transformed the dealership into a colorful roadside landmark.

I've always enjoyed finding old car lot signs like this. Long after the cars have changed and the businesses have come and gone, the signs often remain as reminders of a time when dealerships invested as much in their roadside image as they did their inventory.

UPDATE: Because the exact location and property history for this dealership have not been verified, the current status of the business and its neon sign is unknown. The original photograph preserves a great example of the eye-catching dealership signage that once lined America's commercial highways. 06-26

Barto's Gas
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley

Barto's Gas is one of those places that reminds you of a time when neighborhood service stations were found on just about every corner. This small, full-service, two-pump station has served Fort Wayne from the same location since 1930, according to the sign out front. 01-09

Located at the corner of Creighton Avenue and Oliver Street, Barto's was the kind of station where an attendant pumped your gas, checked your oil, and probably knew many customers by name. While larger corporate stations gradually took over, Barto's kept its small-town personality and became a familiar landmark for generations of Fort Wayne motorists.

The station also developed a reputation among local racers, eventually becoming home to Fort Wayne Oval Track Supply. Even after the gasoline pumps disappeared, the building continued serving the area's automotive community by supplying parts and equipment for stock car racing.

UPDATE: The historic building still stands at 1201 E. Creighton Ave. Although the fuel pumps are long gone, Fort Wayne Oval Track Supply continues to operate from the site, keeping another small piece of Fort Wayne's automotive history alive. 06-26