Obama Gas
Detroit, MI Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Now here's something you don't see every day. This Detroit gas station was renamed Obama Gas after the election of President Barack Obama, complete with red, white, and blue colors across the property. The main sign even featured a smiling Obama standing in front of the Capitol, making this ordinary neighborhood station anything but ordinary. 10-09
The whole setup had that one-of-a-kind roadside feel you only get from independent businesses. Instead of a standard gas brand or generic convenience store sign, this place turned a corner gas station into a very visible tribute to the moment. Whether you saw it as politics, patriotism, or just pure roadside creativity, it definitely made you slow down and look.
UPDATE: The gas station appears to remain in operation, though the original Obama Gas sign with the President Obama image has been removed. The site no longer looks the way it did in the 2009 photos. 06-26
(Right) The station decked out in red, white and blue colors and the Obama name throughout
Obama Gas pumps
Detroit, MI Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Sinclair Gas
Auburn, IN Photos and info courtesy Richard Weiss
It's hard to drive past a restored station like this without slowing down. This beautifully restored Sinclair Gas Station in Auburn looks much like it did decades ago, complete with vintage pumps, the familiar Sinclair dinosaur sign, and a streamlined Art Deco design that's becoming increasingly rare. It was already impressive when Richard photographed it shortly after the restoration was completed. 09-10
Auburn has long been known for its automotive heritage, so it's fitting that this old service station found a new purpose restoring and maintaining vintage sports cars instead of pumping gasoline. Rather than sitting vacant or being demolished, the building continues to celebrate the automobile in a different way. I always enjoy seeing places like this because they give you a glimpse of what pulling into a neighborhood gas station once felt like.
The station was restored by local car enthusiast Oscar Roberts, who preserved its period appearance with vintage fuel pumps and the familiar Sinclair dinosaur sign. It's one of those places that's hard to pass without stopping for a closer look.
UPDATE: Following the passing of owner Oscar Roberts, his collection of vintage automobiles was auctioned in 2026. The restored Sinclair station remains standing and continues to be one of Auburn's best-preserved examples of an Art Deco service station. 06-26
Old Gas Station (Gone)
Ray, MI Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
This weathered old gas station sits in the small rural community of Ray, where the main road soon gives way to dirt. Judging by its appearance, the station has been out of business for many years, leaving behind a quiet reminder of the days when even the smallest farming communities had a local place to fill up.
The simple building and pump island reflect the design of countless independent service stations that once dotted America's back roads. Two rusted gasoline pumps remained standing when these photos were taken, long after they had dispensed their last gallon of fuel. Any traces of the station's original petroleum brand have disappeared, making its early history difficult to determine.
Although little is known about the station itself, scenes like this have become increasingly rare as rural service stations disappear through demolition or redevelopment. The surviving pumps and building offer a glimpse of a time when small-town gas stations were an essential stop for both local residents and travelers. 09-10
UPDATE: The station has been closed for decades, and its original branding and signage are no longer present. While the building remained standing when photographed, its current condition is uncertain, and available records do not confirm whether the structure still survives today. 06-26
(Far left) One of the two rusted out pumps no longer serving gas
(Near left) The old gas station as it looks off the main road through town
Sunoco Gas (Closed)
Logansport,
IN Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
This classic 1950s-era Sunoco station in Logansport is a great example of how many service stations found a second life after the gas pumps went quiet. Built around 1950, the building retained much of its original appearance long after it stopped selling gasoline, making it an increasingly rare survivor of the full-service station era.
Known historically as Craig's Sunoco, the station stopped pumping fuel around 1995 but continued serving the community as an automotive repair shop. The porcelain enamel canopy, service bays, and original "Custom Service" lettering remained in place, preserving much of the station's mid-century character even as its purpose changed.
As full-service stations disappeared across the country, many buildings like this were demolished or heavily remodeled. This one managed to retain much of its original architecture for decades, offering a glimpse into an era when neighborhood service stations handled everything from fuel and tire repairs to tune-ups. 10-10
UPDATE: The former Sunoco station became vacant around 2024 after years as an auto repair shop. As of 2025, redevelopment plans have been proposed for the property, which could result in demolition of this well-preserved mid-century service station. The original Sunoco signage is no longer present. 06-26
Standard Gas Station
Logansport,
IN Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
Not far from the former White House No. 1, restaurant sits this beautifully restored Standard Oil station. Small neighborhood stations like this became popular during the 1920s and 1930s, when oil companies designed them to resemble homes or small commercial buildings so they would blend into residential neighborhoods.
Located on South 6th Street beside the Old Style Inn, the little station has been carefully restored to reflect its Standard Oil heritage with its familiar white-and-blue color scheme. Exactly who restored the building—and why—remains unknown, but its preservation has saved a style of service station that has largely disappeared from America's streets.
Standing by itself on the corner much as it has for decades, the building is a reminder that even the smallest roadside structures can become local landmarks. 10-10
UPDATE: Not sure if this former Standard Oil station survives as a restored historic building adjacent to the Old Style Inn property, now known as the Old Style 6th Street Lounge. While it no longer serves its original purpose, it remains one of Logansport's best-preserved examples of an early neighborhood filling station. 06-26
Obama Gas
Sinclair Gas
Old Gas Station (Gone)
Sunoco Gas (Closed)
Standard Gas Station
