Texaco
Lebanon, OH
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

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.

A view of the Texaco Building
Lebanon, OH
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

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

Standard Gas
Port Huron, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

As you pass through Port Huron, you'll come across this beautifully restored Standard Gas station. Originally built in 1922, it's one of Michigan's finest surviving Standard Oil stations and today serves as a visitor center for a nearby waterfront development. The building in the background of these photos has since disappeared, but the station itself remains in outstanding condition.

One of the most interesting features is the restored pump island. The pumps sit on a red platform that's actually mounted on wheels. When the visitor center closes, the island can be jacked up and rolled inside one of the service bays to protect the vintage pumps from the weather. It's a clever solution that helps preserve the station while still allowing visitors to enjoy it outdoors during the day.

Standard Gas
Port Huron, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Built during the early years of the automobile, stations like this were designed to be attractive neighborhood buildings rather than simply places to buy gasoline. Fortunately, this one escaped demolition and has found a new purpose while retaining the character that made it special in the first place. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 01-07

UPDATE: The former Standard Oil station remains beautifully restored and continues to serve as a visitor center along Port Huron's waterfront. Although the neighboring building shown in the original photo has been demolished and the surrounding property has changed, the historic station continues to be one of the city's best-preserved roadside landmarks. 06-26