Lebanon is home to two beautifully preserved historic gas stations, including this former Texaco. Although it has often been described as a 1950s station, the building was actually constructed in 1942 and is an excellent example of the "icebox" style service station that became popular during the 1940s. Its clean lines and compact design have survived remarkably well over the years.
After its days as a filling station came to an end, the building found new life housing Vic's Classic Cars and later a barber shop. Despite these changes in use, the exterior has remained largely intact, preserving the look of a neighborhood Texaco station from the early days of the automobile.
This station is sometimes confused with Lebanon's restored 1920s Shell station, but the two are separate buildings from different eras. Together they make Lebanon one of the few towns where motorists can still see examples of service station architecture spanning multiple decades. 09-13
UPDATE: The former Texaco station still stands and retains its historic exterior following its adaptive reuse for other businesses. Although it no longer sells gasoline, it remains one of Lebanon's best-preserved examples of a 1940s service station. 06-26
A view of the Texaco Building Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Shell
Lebanon, OH Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Just a block from Lebanon's restored Texaco station stands this beautifully preserved former Shell Station. Originally built in the 1920s, it features Shell's distinctive pagoda-style architecture, a design the company introduced to help its service stations blend into residential neighborhoods while giving them a recognizable identity.
The station was saved from demolition and relocated to its present site in 1996. A few years later, replica "Visi-Bowl" visible gas pumps were installed to recreate the appearance of a working Shell station from the era. Although the roof was updated with shingles during a restoration in 2017, the building continues to capture the character of one of Shell's most recognizable station designs.
Together with the nearby former Texaco station, this restored Shell station gives Lebanon an unusual collection of historic service station architecture spanning two different eras of the automobile. 09-13
UPDATE: The former Shell station survives as a restored office building. Its pagoda-style architecture remains intact, and the replica visible gas pumps continue to make it one of Lebanon's best-known roadside landmarks. 06-26
Texaco
Shell
