1960s shell station

[oilcaddy]

I have enjoyed watching and reading about all garage builds for about a year or two.Just purchased this building.Thought some would like it.It has been closed since 1980.My plans include restoring it to look as much as possible to original.
Would like to make this a small car lot and light repair shop.

 

[dlcwent]

First let me welcome you to the GJ. That is a great idea you have. Best of luck with your plans, and keep a lot of pictures coming as you go through the renovation.

 

[dlcwent]

I see you've been a member here longer than I have. So why the first post now?

 

[Lkdelta]

Where is this building? Looks like your first customer is already waiting in line by the right garage door

 

[Kirkski]

That's something I could really get into, I love those old shops. Good luck with that!

 

[Sunbimmer]

Wow man, you're living my dream. That is really something I would love to do
I hope you keep us posted on every little detail you do on this beautiful building.
Following you every step, and please lots of pics Thanks!

 

[1949 caddyman]

Subscribed

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Should be an interesting project. Hope you have deep enough pockets to make it happen. Where are you located. Best of luck! Mike

 

[rodbuilderjim]

SUBSCRIBE. Looking forward to seeing what your plans for it.

 

[Jagmandave]

After looking at the pics I understand the title - its just a shell of a station!

I think a lot of us would love to do this - take an old 2 bay gas station and make it into their shop. I tired to do it but the local taxes on the property were stupid expensive - $11K/year

Hope this works out - what sort of roof will you build?

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Wow, very cool. My dad owned a Signal station in the 60s. That is the sort of project I'd like to do, but won't happen here. So I'm just eagerly following along. Subscribed.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Welcome to the group, I am sorry that it has taken this long for your first post. Please update your profile to include your state at least and maybe your town. Please keep posting. Don't let the group scare you away. Do you have history with this station? keep the pictures coming....Richie

 

[T_R]

I like it. Are those the roof beams sitting in front of the building?

 

[timdp]

I like it. Are those the roof beams sitting in front of the building?

Probably from the roof over the pumps.

T

 

[Old_Buick]

cool.

i'll be watching the progress on this.. good luck!

 

[chruler]

What a great project. It'll be really cool to work in there once it's done.

 

[rmckee]

So much potential for awesome here. Congrats on the purchase, looking forward to the build!

 

[Kevin54]

oilcaddy.....Welcome to Garage Journal. Like already mentioned, if you could put your state into your profile, it helps when questions come up at times......Frost line, how cold is your winter, how deep to run water lines, and just questions like that. No need for a city, but just a state is fine.

What are your plans and what sort of paint scheme for it? You going to go for a full blown station look, or something a little more discreet? Whatever it is, I'll be looking forward to seeing it.

And don't be a stranger. Most on here don't bite. They may bark a lot, and may nibble, but we don't bite.

 

[qdvuu]

Great! Tell us about the internals: lifts, power, air/compressor, lighting, etc.

 

[oilcaddy]

My other shop not all that interesting. 30x50, 12 ft ceiling,1 rotary lift, tire changer, wheel balancer. I will post pictures of it soon. I am a terrible speller, and a poor writer and computer dummy. thanks for making me feel welcome

 

[oilcaddy]

Hey, thanks for all the replies. I am glad to see there is an interest in my building. I am currently in the process of fixing a rental house to sell so I can take the profit and put toward the fixing up of this building. My plans for the building are: wood trusses, being designed now; all new windows, doors, electric, air hoses; remodeling the bathrooms (planning on keep the original outside bathroom doors, but they will not be accessible - just for looks only). Paint scheme for inside is most likely a two-tone gray with a blue stripe in the middle; for the outside, I'm not sure yet. I am planning to install a two-post lift and a drive-on one as well. I will be turning one of the storage rooms in the back into a wash bay/paint booth. I want to keep the looks of the building as original-looking as possible. I hope to do something along these lines...

 

[oilcaddy]

I have liked the building since I was 19; I am now 43, almost 44. Two men from my church worked there in the 60's. It took me four years to get the man to sell it to me. Last week, I got to meet the man who built it.

 

[y'sguy]

Have already been removed and disposed of?

 

[Jagmandave]

He's referring to the gas tanks underground. One of the things that has stopped a lot of people from doing what you're doing is the cost of removing the tanks and remediation of the ground.

 

[oilcaddy]

Tanks gone 1st thing i checked.Shell offered the man the tanks for 1 dollar when he closed
He said no thanks

 

[oilcaddy]

Thanks hope i do not disappoint

 

[wildbill23c]

Wow, can't wait to see what you turn it into. Looks pretty run down right now, but please post up your progress as you go.

 

[DynoDave]

Glad you are going to save this old station. I look forward to following your progress.

 

[Mapearso]

very cool project. look forward to seeing what you do with it

subscribed

 

[Ponchoguy]

I have enjoyed watching and reading about all garage builds for about a year or two.Just purchased this building.Thought some would like it.It has been closed since 1980.My plans include restoring it to look as much as possible to original.
Would like to make this a small car lot and light repair shop.

Good luck with it, I can just imagine all of the 60's and 70's muscle cars that rolled through it for fuel and perhaps service. It would be nice to see it restored to its former glory. My uncle was a chemist for Shell for many years, retiring around 1992.

You might check your local library or history center as they may have some "back in the day" photos of it over its lifetime. I wonder why it closed? A gas station/service center circa 1980 (especially Shell) was still a good bet back then. Only later on in the 1990s or so did many stations go from gas/full service/everything to just gas and a convenience store.

What's with the "first customer" at the door there? Looks like a stolen recovery? Might be your first order or business to scrap or part that thing out and make some money back .

 

[JC23]

Best of luck! You are living a dream almost all of us have.

Sooooo, we will be living thru you!

And welcome to GJ!

 

[thunderbird61]

Best of luck! You are living a dream almost all of us have.

Sooooo, we will be living thru you!

And welcome to GJ!

+1

/ronny

 

[oilcaddy]

Here are some more pics.Thatas my yougest son. He is a great backhoe

 

[oilcaddy]

Have been cleaning up around building since purchased.All trees now cut down .
Some of the locals stop and said "If you nothing else you already made great improvement".Several have told me about the time they spent there in past and how it was the place to be in the day.Have enjoyed the stories.

 

[Sunbimmer]

That's what we like man, lots of pictures
Absolute beautiful building with enormous potential.....and amount of work.
I'm so jealous .....not on the work though !!!!!!

 

[captain14]

There was another thread on here that someone bought an dee gas station and posted his progress on it and then the posts stopped. I am thinking it was in central Pa? A 2 bat staion similar to yours.

Enjoyed the photos and please post your adventures during the rebuild process.

Another good read is Beltsville Shell. Same vintage building and his strikes about working in his cars during his high school and college days there.

 

[Kevin54]

This is going to be a great build for sure. But please....get a couple of 6x6's and shore up those blocks. I'd hate to see the build come to a sudden halt because someone walked under there and a few blocks decide to let loose.

Other than that......make sure you keep the thread updated. I'm anxious to see this thing from start to finish and I'm subscribed to see it through. I see the station still has the old tire rack in it. What about the restrooms? Any old fixtures in there or have they went by the wayside? Do you plan on refurbing the restrooms back into the design or maybe use one for a compressor room and one back into a restroom? So many questions, so little time

 

[930dreamer]

This is going be a great project, I hope you're ready for some serious work.

 

[rmalkow2]

Like everyone said before me. Great project. You are living our dream. Subscribed now and will gladly follow your progress. Best of luck on this journey.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Here are some more pics.Thatas my yougest son. He is a great backhoe

I can picture what it looked like back in the day and all of the old muscle cars that got oil changes there. I see the remnants of an old wheel alignment sign in the back.

Any idea what happened in 1980 when it closed?