Petrol-Love: Olde Tyme Service Stations in Illinois

Last fall after finishing a stint at the Void Rally 10 in Virginia, I set off on a road trip around Illinois. My plan was to just bum around and look at stuff. As an Americana-lover, Illinois and it’s section of Route 66 have a lot to offer.

One thing that always catches my attention is old service stations. It must have something to do with my affinity for what petrol-powered vehicles represent to me: freedom, possibility, motion, the open road.

These were some of the lovely old stations that I saw in Illinois:

Dwight, Illinois:

Dwight, Illinois:

Dwight, Illinois:

Odell, Illinois:

Odell, Illinois:

Odell, Illinois:

I previously posted about this lovely old skeleton in Vienna, Illinois:

Fuzzygalore

Rachael is the whimsical writer behind the 20+ year old Girlie Motorcycle Blog. As a freelance blogger, she is on a mission to inspire laughter, self-examination, curiosity, and human connection. Girlie Motorcycle Blog can be found on several Best Motorcycle Blog lists.

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9 Responses

  1. Dave says:

    Very cool old fill’in stations. Reminds me of when I was a kid and you got “full service” at the station (gas pumped, windows washed, oil checked, tires filled).

  2. RichardM says:

    Wow! Beautiful photos! (It must be the bike…)

  3. Ry Austin says:

    That Odell, Illinois 1932 Standard Oil Gas Station: Those three benches side by side out front…

    Maybe they’re original, maybe not–let’s just say they are. They speak volumes, Fuzz. Oh, imagine the stories they could tell.

  4. Chris says:

    Cool, that gives me an idea for a rally based on old gas stations …

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      That sounds good! I’d be in to that

      America’s first drive-in gas station was actually in Pittsburgh. There is a historical marker sign there.

      There’s another good station in Kingwood, WV I visited during the Void. Did you do that stop?

    • Fuzzygalore says:

      I need to visit the Airplane Station in TN. Did you do that one in the Void? And the Shell?

  5. Shybiker says:

    Nice. I share your enthusiasm for these places that are necessary for travel.

  6. Michael says:

    Awesome! Love these images and the history they represent. I bet each one has a million stories they could tell.

  7. Goodbikers says:

    Wow, Cool photos mate! What kind of camera did ya use ?

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