  Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 41 Registered: 01-2007 |
I’m doing a photo study of defunct Detroit gas stations. Here’s one of my favorites: http://farm1.static.flickr.com /133/391622493_2bbdae3b2c_b.jp g | ||
Rod Member Username: Rod Post Number: 5 Registered: 01-2007 |
What's the location on that one?. If you drive north on Second from MLK, there are 1-2 interesting buildings. I also recall there being a few older buildings (like the linked one) on Van Dyke, in the city, but I don't know the area well enough to give specifics. There are also two on Van Dyke out in the country-but far from Detroit-still interesting though. They tore down the one at Canfield and Second (about 2 years ago?) that even had the original enameled panels on it. | ||
Milwaukee Member Username: Milwaukee Post Number: 790 Registered: 08-2006 |
Bulletmagnet I really like that Canfield Station. I'm trying to figure out if that is a wood building or a wood frame with stucco on it. Do you know the answer? Didn't KK pass some legislation saying that new gas stations could only rise from old ones or something like that? | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 44 Registered: 01-2007 |
Rod, this defunct gas station is on the 4700 block of Canfield between Elmwood and Galster.I urge anyone with an interest in this subject to photograph these relics as soon as you can. I can think of at least 5 of these buildings torn down in the last year or so. I missed a real stunner by only 3 days! Milwaukee, I think this one is stucco on brick with some wood framing. More views: http://farm1.static.flickr.com /188/391705263_d922150249_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /178/391705265_40f31127c9_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /163/391705266_768409e7af_b.jp g | ||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 466 Registered: 03-2005 |
I don't have a photo of it, but Brown Brothers Sunoco that stood on the northeast corner of Vernor and Parker. I bought gas there as well as having my car serviced and repaired from the 1970's into the 1990's before closed. When I was there the one Brown Brother had retired and the business was operated by brother Jack Brown and his son-in-law Tom Evans - who is not the same Tom Evans who now runs Ren-Cen Mechanical on Joseph Campau south of East Jefferson. As Ren-Cen customer for almost 20 years, I can recommend them highly for repairs, but they are not a gas station. Getting back to Brown brothers, Jack and his brother in the 1930's served the affulent of Indian Village, whose chaffeurs would bring their owner's cars into Brown Brothers, which at that time had wash facilities. One of the car wash helpers was a young Joe Louis, who later would go onto the the Heavy Weight Boxing Chapionof the world. There are a ton of storeis the late Jack Brown would tell, but they're for another time and thread. Bob Cosgrove | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 45 Registered: 01-2007 |
I’m looking forward to reading some of that history, B.c. Too many times these stories are lost forever, much like that of the buildings where they once spent so much of their lives. BTW, do you typically post at 3:10 am? | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6166 Registered: 10-2003 |
They are really interesting architectural buildings. Here's one in Windsor, does anyone recognize the shape? http://internationalmetropolis .com/?p=313 | ||
Beadgrl Member Username: Beadgrl Post Number: 119 Registered: 07-2006 |
Love the old Standard stations. Spanish style with terracotta roof tiles. There is one off Perry Street (near Clutch Cargo's)in Pontiac, no longer a gas station but still cool. Also, if anyone ever gets to Hickory Corners, MI. Go to the Gilmore(sp?) Car Museum. They have a great Sunco station set up there that you can walk through. Check out the cars too! (DUH!) | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 642 Registered: 08-2006 |
There's a real cool old one on 9 mile in Hazel Park that is in use by Hilton Industries. You can still see the small 2 pump diagonal foundation near the old front door. There is a neat Keystone on the front of the building which reads G. Oprean 1929. Anyone know what that means? | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1002 Registered: 12-2005 |
Is this gas station building still standing on Livernois?  | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1398 Registered: 04-2005 |
Here's on that was in the Gratiot St.Aubin area in 1957.   | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 1573 Registered: 12-2005 |
There's a small collection of those old gas pumps in downtown Utica across Auburn from City Hall. | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 5 Registered: 02-2007 |
I believe that Oaklahoma station is still there , on Livernois corner of Bryden . | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 2564 Registered: 10-2004 |
quote: Bryden intersects Livernois? Where? | ||
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin Post Number: 3838 Registered: 10-2003 |
AIW looks like an old Clark Station... | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 4498 Registered: 11-2004 |
The closest thing to a working gas station with that sort of old school look that I can think of is the Vinsetta Garage on Woodward- just north of 11 Mile in Berkley. While they no longer pump gas, the building looks unchanged for decades. | ||
Korridorkid Member Username: Korridorkid Post Number: 43 Registered: 01-2005 |
There's an old Standard station on McGraw 3-4 blocks west of Warren and the Kronk Gym on the north side of the street across from the Thyssen-Krup plant. Big chain link around it with plywood but it's still there...tiny though. Mati's Deli in west Dearborn on Monroe between Outer Drive and Michigan Ave. used to be a Shell station with mechanics across the street. The new owners have alot of info+pics on it if your interested | ||
Softailrider Member Username: Softailrider Post Number: 6 Registered: 02-2007 |
Bryden doesn't intersect Livernois , It runs west of Livernois . I got confused about that cross-street . | ||
Oliverdouglas Member Username: Oliverdouglas Post Number: 69 Registered: 02-2006 |
Remember Sinclair stations with the dinosaurs? | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 595 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote: Sinclair is still around, just not in Michigan anymore. Here is their corporate history website. Their dinosaur was nicknamed "Dino" and back in the 1960's they would occasionally offer bars of green bath soap in the shape of a dinosaur as a kid's promotion. I took a lot of baths with "Dino". | ||
Catman_dude Member Username: Catman_dude Post Number: 93 Registered: 03-2006 |
Sinclair only exists in Illinois and Wisconsin in the Great Lakes region. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1009 Registered: 12-2005 |
We had a Sinclair station on 7 mile and Patton when I was growing up. Loved that sign. I have t-shirts I purchased from a vendor at the big Hershey antique car swap meet (the world's largest flea market) with the Sinclair logo on them. Whenever I wear them strangers come up and say things like "God, I remember that from when I was a kid!" | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3657 Registered: 08-2004 |
I think that one of the most shameful destructions of a gas station was the station on the west side of Gratiot between 15 & 16 Mile in Clinton Township. It was a Mobil Gas Station. The white enameled streamline moderne style gas station had the winged horse was on the curved front of the building. The station shape was reminiscent of the Elwood Bar downtown with the taller curved circular corner. It was left to rot, and was finally razed in the last 6 years or so. | ||
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg Post Number: 596 Registered: 12-2005 |
Mobil Gas Station sign from the 1950's  Kayo Gas Station (mid-1960's)  Both were on Van Dyke Ave. in Center Line | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 52 Registered: 01-2007 |
Gistok - That was March's and it was a damn shame to just tear it down. There was an ancient gas station in Warren near the corner of Old Chicago Road and Mound. It had been abandoned for so long, no one really recognized that the building was actually a gas station. Of course, it was torn down a few years ago. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3660 Registered: 08-2004 |
Macomb County hasn't been too keen on historic preservation in the past, although out in Washington there was a long and successful struggle to keep the 1860 Octagon House. Another bright spot was the citizens of Fraser getting together to put pressure on the city leaders to stop the destruction of the former Fraser State Bank Building at Utica Rd. & 14 Mile, just so a CVS (located 2 blocks away) could move to a better corner. That building is a Depression Deco delight (1930). But the destruction of the March's Mobil Station (in Clinton Township), still in pretty good condition, was awful. | ||
Magic_mushroom Member Username: Magic_mushroom Post Number: 24 Registered: 12-2005 |
This message is for those who posted pictures on this thread (56packman, Psip, and Mikeg). The webmaster of the website Gasoline Signs would like your permission to use the pictures you posted on his website. If you are into gas station history, I highly suggest you check out his website below. Thanks http://www.gassigns.org/ | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1015 Registered: 12-2005 |
Yea, I took that picture (I'm not sure I should admit that) about 10 years ago, used a 35 point n' shoot out the window of my car. They can use it | ||
Chucktown_motown Member Username: Chucktown_motown Post Number: 40 Registered: 09-2006 |
That Canfield one is in Poletown Canfield and Chene?...when was you all down there and why did'nt you holla' | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 55 Registered: 01-2007 |
Magic Mushroom - Cool site!  You can have this photo if you want. Pic is circa 1945. Kalinin Brothers Service Station. Sunoco gas pumps. Address number is 20295. Been trying to identify where this station is/was located for over 3 years - No luck. Ookpik (Message edited by ookpik on February 19, 2007) | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4855 Registered: 11-2003 |
jjaba grew up with Pure Stations in Detroit and sonofabitch, he just saw some Pure Stations in Louisiana just last week. Amazing. jjaba, Westsider. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1767 Registered: 04-2005 |
This is an early Sinclair station, somewhere around Detroit. I forgot where I found it online, just that I'd find a place to post it in some thread.  | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 125 Registered: 06-2006 |
Great thread. I remember Carey's Hi-Arc on 7 Mile not too far west of Gratiot. Also, the old Vogue Service; it was a little Texaco tucked away behind the Shell station at Harper & Cadieux. It was on Harper and Harvard. It's a tire store now. A friend of mine worked there for a long time. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3055 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ookpik, Kalinin Brothers, 20295 JohnR. | ||
Rod Member Username: Rod Post Number: 6 Registered: 01-2007 |
Well, this one is not in Detroit, but in Flint. My Buddy's Grandfather owned several service stations in Flint. He was the "Vic" in the "Scotty and Vic's". My guess is this picture was taken in the late 40's. The tires look about that era, the car at far right (1/2 you can see) looks like maybe the rear of a '48 Oldsmobile. He also owned a Sinclair station in Flint, probably in the late '50's. My friend still has one of the original Sinclair glass domes from the pumps. We found these pictures while cleaning out the house his grandma/grandpa owned, after she died in 2002. I also remember one other thing we found: His last name is now "Holove", but we found hand written "calling cards" from when his grandpa graduated highschool in 1931, they said "Victor Holovchenko". He was Russian, and obviously there came a time when he no longer wanted to be identified as Russian. I also read recently about Sinclair being involved in "The Teapot Dome Scandal", sort of a Watergate for Warren Harding, and one of the many reasons for the beginning of the Depression. Sorry if this of off track, but I thought it was interesting. http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p162/rpcpurpose/Gasstation.jpg (Message edited by rod on February 19, 2007) | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 56 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanks Mike!!  Is that a Highland Park address? | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3057 Registered: 10-2003 |
From the number, I would guess it's close to Eight Mile (Detroit). | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3058 Registered: 10-2003 |
Between Winchester and Remington, 1½ blocks south of 8. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1016 Registered: 12-2005 |
This gas station/car wash/service garage was at W. Fort and West Grand boulevard  | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 57 Registered: 01-2007 |
 Gulf gas station circa 1968. Metro Detroit area - exact location unknown. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3665 Registered: 08-2004 |
Ordinary, I too remember that little service station at Harper & Harvard. It was an auto repair place for many years. Your friend who worked there wouldn't happen to be the one who ran the repair shop, by the name of Dave Smith, would he?? | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 127 Registered: 06-2006 |
Gistok, Yeah, that was ol' Smitty! He went to work over at Jim's Collision on Whittier and now he's over at the main one on Harper. I miss the old Vogue Service. It was like the east side men's club. There was always somebody there having a beer and shootin' the shit. | ||
Aarne_frobom Member Username: Aarne_frobom Post Number: 45 Registered: 10-2005 |
I'm not surprised someone beat me to mention of March's Mobil station between 15 and 16 Mile on Gratiot. I grew up in the 1957 subdivision west of that stretch of Gratiot. Kids would walk or bike to the tiny matching grocery store for penny candy. Local pronunciation of the name was Marshes. But my dad always took the straight-8 Buick to Bowerman's Shell at 15 and Groesbeck for oil changes. The Mobilgas station was real time-machine piece as late as the 1980's, but the last time I was by, it had been stripped of its porcelain sheathing before demolition. | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 128 Registered: 06-2006 |
A few years back,my sister in Chicago sent me a calendar with pictures of gas stations from around the country for each month. March's Mobil was in there. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 3674 Registered: 08-2004 |
Ordinary, although Dave Smith is closer to my age, my late father used to hang out over there "shootin' the shit". My mother used to bake him stuff, and has followed him (to wherever he's working) whenever she needs auto work. Another favorite place to hang out for my late father was Lasko's Collision (over at Harper near Nottingham). George Lasko has repaired auto accident damage for everyone in the family for the last 30 years | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3064 Registered: 10-2003 |
Standard Oil, 3905 Lakeview, corner of Mack Ave  Rennie Bros Filling Station, 10150 Mack, corner of Hurlburt  | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3065 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wilson Oil, 18063 Van Dyke, corner of Emily  Sinclair, 5903 DuBois, corner of Meldrum  Raymond Martin Filling Station, 14636 Charlevoix, corner of Manistique  Emil Buelow Filling Station, 6621 Kercheval, corner of Bellvue  The city is littered with them:    | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 67 Registered: 01-2007 |
 Bobo's Service Gas - Oil Pickup pulling in from the right reads: Frank Stau___ Lawn & Garden Service Maintenance TW-1-2247 18045 St. L___ Larger view: http://www.geocities.com/detpix/gs2a.jpg Photo is circa 1943. Ookpik | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3066 Registered: 10-2003 |
Frank Staub was living at 18045 St Louis and in 1940 was a factory worker. The TWinbrook-1 (and TWinbrook-2) exchange first went into service December 27, 1941. Got nothing from the era on Bobo's Shell. | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 69 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanks Mike! | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6174 Registered: 10-2003 |
Here's one... Sorry for the poor scan... The sign on the back side reads "Garden City Inn" Although the article calls the location "Detroit".  | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 130 Registered: 06-2006 |
Mikem, Great pics. Where were the last ones located? | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 131 Registered: 06-2006 |
Gistok, A lot of people used to follow Smitty around. My late father used to hang out at Smitty's too. Is Lasko's still open? I know he had a couple of sons working there for a while. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3071 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ordinary, I can't remember. Of the last three, the first and last are somewhere on one of the eastside arteries; Mack, Forest, Charlevoix, etc. The middle one might be on Michigan or Grand River. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 2614 Registered: 10-2004 |
Did anybody locate that Oklahoma station yet? | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3075 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oklahoma was at 8720 Livernois, corner of Military. Looks like it's gone:  | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3076 Registered: 10-2003 |
5600 Wesson, corner of McGraw, Clifford Cunliffe Filling Station  | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 2618 Registered: 10-2004 |
There still might be one on the south side of Michigan around Lonyo. It was converted into a produce store (and then was vacant for years) and recently reconverted into a small convenience store. I believe it's now out of business again, but it may still be open. | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 132 Registered: 06-2006 |
I'm going to try and post a few photos. I was also looking for an old-style station at the corner of W. Warren & Central but couldn't find it. I think it got torn down. Anybody have any info/history on that one?   | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 133 Registered: 06-2006 |
Man it took me a long time to post these photos. I've got a decent camera. The first station was at Calumet & Vermont off of Grand River. It's really beat. The other one was at W. Warren & Epworth. They are probably both architecturally insignificant. Mikem, how do you post such nice photos with text. Is the old school or the new school method better? | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3084 Registered: 10-2003 |
I dunno...must be the magic of Photoshop. First one was Harold Vardon's Sinclair Filling Station, 4261 Grand River, corner of Calumet/Vermont. The second was a High Speed Station, 5900 W Warren @ Epworth. | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 126 Registered: 08-2006 |
Warren and Gratiot dont know if its been shown.. http://i141.photobucket.com/al bums/r50/fareastsider/Detroit2 02.jpg | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1773 Registered: 04-2005 |
 | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 134 Registered: 06-2006 |
Fareastsider, Nice picture. I know I've seen that one a few times. Are you sure it's not on Forest right by Gratiot? Hornwrecker, how old is that map/brochure? Mikem, when did that Harold Vardon's close? Do you have any pictures of it when it was open? | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 130 Registered: 08-2006 |
Forest Warren I get them mixed up sometimes | ||
Bohemianrobot Member Username: Bohemianrobot Post Number: 4 Registered: 02-2007 |
I'm sure you all know about this one at Brush/Watson, but here it is anyway... http://farm1.static.flickr.com /125/317396422_fa6caeb52d_b.jp g | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 3086 Registered: 10-2003 |
That was the Snowden Williams Filling Station at 3100 Brush. The one on Forest near Gratiot was the Forest-Concord Service Station. I wish I could help more with the brands these stations sold, but when I find the stations by address, my directory just gives the owners' names and not the brand. If I look up brand names, some companies list all of their stations, others just give the corporate office address. High Speed list all their locations, but not the owners. Also, High Speed was sold locally by both the Highland Oil Company and the Wilson Oil Company, each owning about two-dozen stations around town. Shell lists all of their stations in older directories, but not in more recent directories. Gulf doesn't list any, etc. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4884 Registered: 11-2003 |
MikeM, jjaba traded for yrs. at the Pure Station on W. Davison. It was supplanted by I-96 when it pushed through our neighborhood, erasing the southside of W. Davison. Standard Oil had the station at Schoolcraft and Wyoming if memory serves jjaba. jjaba, Proudly Westside. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1778 Registered: 04-2005 |
Ordinary, I have no idea about the date, as I found it online. I'm guessing late 30s-40s. Here's a map cover from 1964, the scanner is acting funny, so the quality isn't too great.  | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 55 Registered: 01-2007 |
Here are a couple more http://farm1.static.flickr.com /175/404165170_464188064c_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /156/404165171_69900f447b_b.jp g | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 59 Registered: 01-2007 |
and a few more: http://farm1.static.flickr.com /168/406363622_5b438fbe0f_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /167/406363612_8570276222_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /186/406363609_612521f74d_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /140/406363616_96beee8ddd_b.jp g Mikem, we seem to travel in the same circles... | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 63 Registered: 01-2007 |
And another one: http://farm1.static.flickr.com /139/407348273_18c2987dd1_b.jp g Bonus! Land yacht in background. | ||
Gibran Member Username: Gibran Post Number: 28 Registered: 02-2007 |
That last one looks like a fixer upper...thanks for the photo's this is very nice of you to take the time. | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 145 Registered: 06-2006 |
Nice pictures Bulletmagnet. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 66 Registered: 01-2007 |
Thanks Gibran and Ordinary. Check out "Detroit Quick Pics" | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1485 Registered: 04-2005 |
Sunoco must be very proud of that store. | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 73 Registered: 01-2007 |
Got some more: http://farm1.static.flickr.com /168/408299313_23116cc313_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /155/408255260_6512898c4b_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /170/408255258_113588a414_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /162/408255256_6512898c4b_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /130/408249283_97a7c655ff_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /168/408249281_1f62f8c147_b.jp g http://farm1.static.flickr.com /167/408245053_26075db716_b.jp g There is one reoccurring thing that turns up in a lot of photos of Detroit buildings; do you know what it is? Please post your answer with an example of your own. Want a clue? It’s not hard to… | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 2674 Registered: 10-2004 |
If you want another empty, vacant lot to shoot, try Van Dyke at I-94 across the street from the high school. I'll bet it's still vacant... | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 42 Registered: 02-2007 |
It's one of the latter Older Gas Stations to close. I remember when it was still open and doing well doing the Mid 90s same thing with the Amoco on the other side. Besides, I wouldn't call it defunct, but definently had a retro look as they were chain Gas Stations (Amoco and Sunoco). | ||
Michmeister Member Username: Michmeister Post Number: 123 Registered: 10-2006 |
I`d like to know how many tanks are under the earth leaking that good stuff into the ground water. Ah, yes the costs, the costs....... | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 46 Registered: 02-2007 |
Two defunct Gas Station chains that haven't been mentioned though are Total and 76. Anyone have older pictures of these gast stations? The 76's unfortunatly were brought out by British Petro and the Totals were brought out by Marathon. (Message edited by Urbanize on March 03, 2007) | ||
Gtat44 Member Username: Gtat44 Post Number: 46 Registered: 02-2007 |
I wonder if that Gulf station from 1968 is located in city airport area? Kind of looks like that area. My brother runs a shop on Kercheval and Beaconsfield, that was and old Standard station. You can still see the old sign in stone at the top. Any old pictures of it anyone? | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 54 Registered: 02-2007 |
"I wonder if that Gulf station from 1968 is located in city airport area? Kind of looks like that area. My brother runs a shop on Kercheval and Beaconsfield, that was and old Standard station. You can still see the old sign in stone at the top. Any old pictures of it anyone?" If I had to take a gander, that is where the BP Gas Station is on 6 Mile and Gratiot is now. Anyway, no I haven't seen the engraving. Have to check it out one day. Whoopsy, meant Conner, not Gratiot. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1602 Registered: 11-2003 |
And even another defunct gas station chain was the old Cities Service Gas. I can't recall where they were in Detroit but WJR radio used to have a house band which I think was called Paul Lavoy and his Cities Service band. I do recall a small Cities Service station out in in Oakland County way back when, and it was on the South Side of Maple West of Orchard Lake road. It was an old stone structure. It seems to me their signs were green and white. I may be stretching it , but I am going back to the late 40's. | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 148 Registered: 06-2006 |
I remember my Father-in-law telling me about a Cities Service up in Boyne Falls where he grew up. I remember because he said the kid who worked there had trouble saying 's' and it would always sound like 'sh'. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1498 Registered: 04-2005 |
Something like this? http://www.gas-on-line.it/var/ shop/storage/images/media/imag es/cities_service__1/1880-1-it a-IT/cities_service.jpg | ||
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian Post Number: 724 Registered: 08-2006 |
"Two defunct Gas Station chains that haven't been mentioned though are Total and 76. Anyone have older pictures of these gast stations?" Any one remember the '76 Balls that people would put on top of their car antennae? | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1604 Registered: 11-2003 |
Then there was Martin Gas, one South of the Blvd and another out in Ferndale. I recall gas there cost you 17.5 cents a gallon in '60. Oak Gas, owned by Sam Levi,was a Royal Oak concern that sold it for the same price as did Giant --first of the price wars? And there was a dealer out at Conner and McNichols who advertised 12 gallons for a buck after WWII. That's as far back as I can go. I just paid $2.55 this afternoon. | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 153 Registered: 06-2006 |
Shitty Shervish! | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 154 Registered: 06-2006 |
The_rock, Wasn't it called Purple Martin? Wasn't their slogan, "So famous they named a bird after it". Or am I hallucinating again? | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 780 Registered: 10-2003 |
Union 76 still exists out west as a unit of ConocoPhillips, which has recently started rebranding the stations without the 76 "ball". This has created something of a backlash, to the point that there is a group trying to push ConocoPhillips to: www.savethe76ball.com | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 100 Registered: 01-2007 |
I have one of those '76 balls on my car antenna right now. They made a repro a few years back. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1078 Registered: 12-2005 |
There was a Purple-Martin station in Dearborn, on the north side of Michigan, west of Military IIRC, and one on Michigan in Detroit, at or near Wyoming on the south side of the street, where the big gas station/Subway/party store sits today. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 69 Registered: 02-2007 |
There's no '76 gas stations in Michigan though. All the ones here are owned (used to be anyway) by BPAmoco. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 70 Registered: 02-2007 |
I tink the last one (without a ball) to go away in Metro Detroit was the location on 7 Mile and Woodward. I used to love t go for car rides and ride pass the '76 in our neighborhood on 7 Mile next to Vegas Food Center. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1610 Registered: 11-2003 |
Yes. I think Martin had a "purple grade" which might have been their idea of "ethyl". I don't recall the jingle. I was more a Giant fan than a Martin fan for our '60 Rambler. And don't forget-- "Speedway's going steady with Ethyl". | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 1082 Registered: 12-2005 |
insert "pumping Ethyl" joke here_________________ Have to explain this one to the kids | ||
Soomka1 Member Username: Soomka1 Post Number: 1 Registered: 02-2007 |
There is an old gas station fenced off on the corner of Helen and Grand Blvd. It is the building with the red "X" in the picture. This is right after Grand Blvd. turns left after coming up from E. Jefferson. It is across the street from what used to be Arrow Uniform Rental's processing plant (lower right in picture). I was inside this building in the 90's and it was in pretty good shape.  | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 155 Registered: 06-2006 |
Welcome to the forum Soomka1 | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 104 Registered: 02-2007 |
Are you talking about that one a Kercheval. It's also one on 6 Mile and (trying to remember that street) where the Car Wash is at and Dresden meets. | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 204 Registered: 08-2006 |
Here is one very forlorn looking one at Mcgraw and Wabash....Who says that urban praries aren't on the west side! Anyways here is a pic and a quick vid I made of this once busy area. I can only imagine what this place was like in Detroits prime....now I got to go to the old aerial photos..... http://i141.photobucket.com/al bums/r50/fareastsider/Detroit/ RENCENtop001.jpg http://i141.photobucket.com/al bums/r50/fareastsider/Detroit/ RENCENtop002.jpg video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =UhMdy5i5K3c | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1522 Registered: 04-2005 |
Kudos Fareastsider, you actually got out of your car! It was not a 60MPH drive by. | ||
Ordinary Member Username: Ordinary Post Number: 156 Registered: 06-2006 |
Fareastsider, Excellent photos. Does anyone from the east side remember a gas station over by I-94 and Moross on a little street named Alstead? I could have sworn there was a little gas station there and it was torn down and a house was built there. I think this would have been in the early 70s? It would have been the first lot on the east side of Alstead just south of Moross. Nobody I talk to remembers it and I wonder if I'm dreaming. Did I spell Moross correctly? | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 564 Registered: 01-2007 |
Hey! Looks like we made a 2nd page! Thanks all. Meanwhile, here is a Station from the past: http://i148.photobucket.com/al bums/s22/bulletmagnet69/FH0000 15.jpg?t=1181096802 I think this is up on Hayes somewhere. The sign over the door reads 'WINDSOR SERVICE'. Anyone? | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 578 Registered: 01-2007 |
I do believe I found the above station ^ on Hayes and Seymour: http://i148.photobucket.com/al bums/s22/bulletmagnet69/Wednsd ayJune062007208.jpg?t=11811772 07 | ||
Bulletmagnet Member Username: Bulletmagnet Post Number: 579 Registered: 01-2007 |
Here is one from the past on the water. I think this is up in the Anchor Bay area: http://i148.photobucket.com/al bums/s22/bulletmagnet69/FH0000 19.jpg?t=1181177477 |
