 Broadway Used Tires
Anderson, IN
Photo courtesy Craig Selvey
I always enjoy finding old porcelain stations still earning their keep. Broadway Used Tires gave this Anderson building another automotive role. The pumps disappeared, but cars still had a reason to pull in. Many thanks to Craig Selvey for info. 03-07
Its bright, clean-lined service-station design remained the attraction, recalling an era when even a neighborhood garage had a distinctive roadside appearance.
UPDATE: Broadway Used Tires remains listed as a local business, though the current condition of the porcelain exterior is unconfirmed. 06-26
 Marathon Gas Station
Anderson, IN
Photo courtesy Craig Selvey
This former Marathon Gas Station in Anderson found a fitting second life as a used car lot and service center. Still all about automobiles, just with a different sales pitch. Many thanks to Craig Selvey for info. 03-07
The garage bays remained useful, and much of the building’s mid-century character survived. It’s always good to find an old station getting another job instead of meeting the wrecking ball.
UPDATE: The property’s current business and condition remain unconfirmed. It was operating as a car lot and service center when photographed. 06-26
 Rick's Car Wash
Anderson, IN
Photo courtesy Craig Selvey
The script lettering at Rick’s Car Wash adds an unexpected touch to this former Anderson gas station. It’s still taking care of cars, though washing replaced filling the tank. 03-07
The building retained its service-station appearance, making its earlier role easy to imagine. Its original brand and construction date remain unknown.
UPDATE: The property appears in Indiana’s Brownfields records for a 2007 remediation project. Its current condition and whether the car wash still operates remain unconfirmed. 06-26
 Standard Oil Station
Monroe, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's the old Standard Oil Station in Monroe, Michigan. Unlike many former gas stations that have become offices or restaurants, this one is still doing what it was built to do. The pumps are gone, but it's still a working garage.
Standard Oil built thousands of house-form stations across the Midwest during the 1920s and 1930s. Designed to resemble small neighborhood buildings rather than industrial facilities, they blended naturally into the streetscape while giving motorists a familiar place to stop for gas, repairs, and directions.
This station, built around 1930 on South Monroe Street, never lost its connection to the automobile. After gasoline sales eventually ended, the building continued serving the community as an independent repair garage. That's part of what makes this place so enjoyable to visit. Step inside and you'll find a shop that's neat, organized, and still very much alive. The office is especially worth a look, filled with old oil cans, signs, and petroleum memorabilia collected over the years by the owners.
 Standard Oil Station
Monroe, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
It's always refreshing to find a place like this. So many old stations have been converted into something completely different, but this one never strayed very far from its original purpose. More than ninety years after it was built, it's still helping keep cars on the road. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 08-08
UPDATE: The former Standard Oil station remains in operation as Monroe Auto Repair at 605 S. Monroe Street. While the fuel pumps disappeared years ago, the building continues to serve motorists as an active repair garage, making it one of the better-preserved examples of a working Standard Oil station in southeast Michigan. 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 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. Many thanks to Kevin Heggi for info. 10-08
Stations like this served familiar customers before larger facilities changed the routine. Even without a complete history, the building preserves the appearance of a simpler roadside stop.
UPDATE: The property’s exact location and current status remain unconfirmed. 06-26
 Car Center
Munster, IN
Photo courtesy Kevin Heggi
The neon at Car Center in Munster gives passing motorists something worth looking over. Selling cars also meant selling the roadside spectacle, and this sign certainly helped. 10-08
Its bold design and glowing tubing recall the independent lots that competed for attention along busy commercial highways. The inventory could change, but a memorable marquee kept working after dark.
UPDATE: The dealership’s exact location and history remain unverified, leaving the current fate of the business and sign unknown. 06-26
 Barto's Gas
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo 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. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 01-09
Barto’s also became known among local racers. After fuel sales ended, Fort Wayne Oval Track Supply continued the automotive connection with stock-car parts and equipment.
UPDATE: The historic building remains standing, with Fort Wayne Oval Track Supply continuing to operate from the site. The pumps are gone, but cars still provide the reason to stop. 06-26
|
