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:
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).
Wow! Beautiful photos! (It must be the bike…)
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.
Cool, that gives me an idea for a rally based on old gas stations …
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?
I need to visit the Airplane Station in TN. Did you do that one in the Void? And the Shell?
Nice. I share your enthusiasm for these places that are necessary for travel.
Awesome! Love these images and the history they represent. I bet each one has a million stories they could tell.
Wow, Cool photos mate! What kind of camera did ya use ?