LocuMob
Fluid Technician with a hat
We call them Skyways in Minneapolis. Sure are nice when it's cold outside. They take some getting used to.
Photos of Vintage Auto Dealerships, Repair Shops, and Gas Stations
- Thread starter ayilar
- Start date
yeah, they are common too in detroit. Same name here.
A god-send when its single digit temps with double-digit negative wind chills in February.
Plus these are BIG streets .. there's a safety angle too.
this is downtown around GM World HQ, Jefferson Ave, right by Detroit River, connecting it to Detroit City Hall 1/4 mile away.
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LocuMob
Fluid Technician with a hat
My mom used the when she worked downtown. She knew of a burrito stand that had basic burritos for cheap,y favorite was the Diablo. I always had her stock up when she could. I didn't realize the skyway level was a business district, so to speak.
Those are some long Skyways you have there in Detroit!
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
F.B. Gates Gas Station, with proprietor standing next to gas pump. Circa 1920s. Carthage, NY
McClure and Johnson’s Garage and Gas Station also served as a Buick car dealership. 1922. Richville, NY
1928 Packard
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
The Theatre opened as Bard's Egyptian in 1925, 1931 the Fox Colorado.
In 1942 facelifted
And again in the 80s
Cool as the original was I could live with the 40s.
Alan
This one intrigued me.
Looked European, maybe 1950's, underground roof shape, prosperous country. An old fashioned Google search of the pic revealled what looks like the place. Sweden. 1955 in their elaborate, Cold War era nuclear bomb shelters.
Designed like underground cities .. 40 second video below summarizes it. For thousands of people, for a long time, if ever needed.
Many still there, fell into disrepair even before USSR collapsed, back in contention again with Sweden in NATO now.
source: https://paleofuture.com/blog/2023/1/12/swedens-cold-war-nuclear-bunkers-fancy-youtube-film-cafeteria-gym-sewing-food
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Aside.
The Packard aficionados have a site. There were quite a few dealerships at one time. Packard was a force it seemed. Odd they didn't survive the 50's. Must be a cautionary tale in there somewhere
This is NA only (every blue flag was a dealership) ... rest of my natural lifetime could be spent tracing their architectural history.
This is NAmerica only .. they were worldwide though..
source:Dealership List - Packard Motor Car Information
Not a happy ending for this one. Good long life though. Did not have historical structure status.
Ex. Packard, Hill Motors, 644 Madison, Oak Park (Chicago), IL. Built 1924, Spanish Colonial Revival, style, razed in 2022 (one of its last commercial usages was a Cadillac dealership.
Vintage photo is ca. 1930,
Looking through the wndows, you can see the evidence of the distinctive showroom (high ceilings, one story but multilevel, etc). Ala this one in Pasadena I am still jonein' over as a "hobby house": Post #72 above.
Real estate in Oak Park is said to become a grocery store.
source: Resource View: 644 Madison St Oak Park Illinois: RuskinARC™
2020
2022. gone
The Packard aficionados have a site. There were quite a few dealerships at one time. Packard was a force it seemed. Odd they didn't survive the 50's. Must be a cautionary tale in there somewhere
This is NA only (every blue flag was a dealership) ... rest of my natural lifetime could be spent tracing their architectural history.
This is NAmerica only .. they were worldwide though..source:Dealership List - Packard Motor Car Information
Not a happy ending for this one. Good long life though. Did not have historical structure status.
Ex. Packard, Hill Motors, 644 Madison, Oak Park (Chicago), IL. Built 1924, Spanish Colonial Revival, style, razed in 2022 (one of its last commercial usages was a Cadillac dealership.
Vintage photo is ca. 1930,
Looking through the wndows, you can see the evidence of the distinctive showroom (high ceilings, one story but multilevel, etc). Ala this one in Pasadena I am still jonein' over as a "hobby house": Post #72 above.
Real estate in Oak Park is said to become a grocery store.
source: Resource View: 644 Madison St Oak Park Illinois: RuskinARC™
2020
2022. gone
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The car is a Thomas Flyer.
Old Trails Garage, Andy Devine (historic Route 66) at 3rd, Kingman AZ.
Built 1915. lotta usages in a century. Dealerships, auto repair, gas stations, etc.
Still there. Remodeled, subivided, but hangin' in there
source:Old Trails Garage | Kingman Tours
ca. mid 1950's
Today
Built 1915. lotta usages in a century. Dealerships, auto repair, gas stations, etc.
Still there. Remodeled, subivided, but hangin' in there
source:Old Trails Garage | Kingman Tours
ca. mid 1950's
Today
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I know this one well.
Ex-Packard,Dealership & Factory, 1325 Main Street, Buffalo NY. Used by Packard until it went out of business in 1958. Built 1926, Albert Kahn Neo-classical design.
Still there, 68,000 sq ft., subdivided, and used more as a warehouse today.
Like a lotta Kahn things (old Detroit Plant for one), looks like third floor of showroom was an "afterthought" in the design process. It is a national historical site.
Sources: Packard Building, Packard Motor Car Showroom and Storage Facility, Buffalo New York
Today
Ex-Packard,Dealership & Factory, 1325 Main Street, Buffalo NY. Used by Packard until it went out of business in 1958. Built 1926, Albert Kahn Neo-classical design.
Still there, 68,000 sq ft., subdivided, and used more as a warehouse today.
Like a lotta Kahn things (old Detroit Plant for one), looks like third floor of showroom was an "afterthought" in the design process. It is a national historical site.
Sources: Packard Building, Packard Motor Car Showroom and Storage Facility, Buffalo New York
Today
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Somewhere in Portland Oregon.
Very well done, 3,300 sq ft.. BUT, and NOT dissing (it is really well done), its not "me" -- a little too much "BH&G".
The "house' vs. "hobby house" balance is off. I want ALL three bays to remain usable as that.
The ultimate test?
When my mid-30 daughters go "Dad ... Eeeww", vs. "Oh, that's cute", I know I have found the place for me..
Guess what they said here?
source: Gas Station Conversion — Harka Architecture
Very well done, 3,300 sq ft.. BUT, and NOT dissing (it is really well done), its not "me" -- a little too much "BH&G".
The "house' vs. "hobby house" balance is off. I want ALL three bays to remain usable as that.
The ultimate test?
When my mid-30 daughters go "Dad ... Eeeww", vs. "Oh, that's cute", I know I have found the place for me..
Guess what they said here?
source: Gas Station Conversion — Harka Architecture
Interesting story .. "frozen" in time, so to speak, but still in business.
Reber & Foley Service Center 904 E. Main Street, St. Charles, IL. The pics will tell the story. Quotes above each one are from the link.
Founded 1938 as a Standard Oil Station with company designed "box". Architecture followed the evolution of brand (painted brick, porcelain, then brick again), in the exact same spot, in the same neighborhood for next 40 years.
Then the building stopped evolving after the 1970's but company stayed in business.
Probably ceased to be a competitive design (or perhaps a business choice) for a gas station (buncha convenience stor retail space and room for 16 pumps needed by then). Repair business with its 3 bays became the focus.
Not a "hobby house" candidate (too small, on a main drag, etc), but still architecturally distinctive "Standard Oil" motif .
source:History of Reber & Foley
"1938 - The original Standard Oil station on the site. Notice the outdoor car lift and tool box to the left of the building.
Also spot the 'Atlas' tire sign on the right side edge of the photo. They were Standard Oil's private tire brand.
Look to the background, and you'll see the the DuKane 'Operadio' factory."
"1944 - The station was renovated and received an enclosed service bay with a new porcelain exterior.
If you look underneath "Standard," you will see the original portion.
Main Street/Route 64 was only a two lane road at the time."
"1962 - To facilitate the widening of Main Street from two to four lanes, the original building was torn down.
A new building was constructed just behind the location of the original one.
Photo taken late 1960's."
"In the early 1970's, the station was upgraded with a new mansard roof, brick exterior, and Amoco branding.
In 1982, the canopy was added"
"1990's - The end of an era - And a new beginning. The last full service gas station on Main Street stopped selling gas. However, it continues to provide full service repairs and maintenance for generations to come."
Today
Reber & Foley Service Center 904 E. Main Street, St. Charles, IL. The pics will tell the story. Quotes above each one are from the link.
Founded 1938 as a Standard Oil Station with company designed "box". Architecture followed the evolution of brand (painted brick, porcelain, then brick again), in the exact same spot, in the same neighborhood for next 40 years.
Then the building stopped evolving after the 1970's but company stayed in business.
Probably ceased to be a competitive design (or perhaps a business choice) for a gas station (buncha convenience stor retail space and room for 16 pumps needed by then). Repair business with its 3 bays became the focus.
Not a "hobby house" candidate (too small, on a main drag, etc), but still architecturally distinctive "Standard Oil" motif .
source:History of Reber & Foley
"1938 - The original Standard Oil station on the site. Notice the outdoor car lift and tool box to the left of the building.
Also spot the 'Atlas' tire sign on the right side edge of the photo. They were Standard Oil's private tire brand.
Look to the background, and you'll see the the DuKane 'Operadio' factory."
"1944 - The station was renovated and received an enclosed service bay with a new porcelain exterior.
If you look underneath "Standard," you will see the original portion.
Main Street/Route 64 was only a two lane road at the time."
"1962 - To facilitate the widening of Main Street from two to four lanes, the original building was torn down.
A new building was constructed just behind the location of the original one.
Photo taken late 1960's."
"In the early 1970's, the station was upgraded with a new mansard roof, brick exterior, and Amoco branding.
In 1982, the canopy was added"
"1990's - The end of an era - And a new beginning. The last full service gas station on Main Street stopped selling gas. However, it continues to provide full service repairs and maintenance for generations to come."
Today
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Judging by the Expo '67 sign, this is Montreal in 1967.
These two structures together would have been interesting. The Gulf station dated to the 1920's. The garage about a decade later. I woulda liked this setup as a hobby house - neighborhood circumstances permitting.
Savannah at 7th Ave, Groves TX.. Alas, razed in 2009.
ca. 1930's
2008
Today
Savannah at 7th Ave, Groves TX.. Alas, razed in 2009.
ca. 1930's
2008
Today
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1601 Commerce, Somerville, GA Built 1950, Mid Centtury Moderne, former Davis Bros. Chevrolet. Now a classic car dealer specializing in Corvette resto's. Fitting reuse, very little external remodeling other than windows and street/sidewalk stuff by the city it appears. Even refurbished the original sign. About 7,000 sq.ft.
Dunnno if the Texaco themed area was part of original dealership or added on in the 70 years.
1953
Today
Dunnno if the Texaco themed area was part of original dealership or added on in the 70 years.
1953
Today
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