Urban Archeology: Garages and Workspaces in Virginia and the Carolinas

[phartman]

Most weekend mornings I'll get up early and drive around in one of my old heaps, taking pictures of interesting garages and workspaces in Richmond, VA where I live. This thread is intended to share some of those pics with you. It spans the gamut of 20th century design, starting with Arts-and-Crafts to Atomic Age. Some of the spaces continue to be used for something automotive or industrial related, some have been subject to adaptive re-use, and others are quietly sitting and waiting to be rescued.

Yesterday on a trip to Petersburg, VA, we ran across this handsome guy. Well done, sir, well done. Now a design studio in the historic downtown area:



A few blocks away is this good example of Mid-Century Modern, used now by a few guys trying to make a go of it detailing cars:



A little Arts-and-Crafts, but a little Spanish Revival influence here, too, which is not uncommon in Virginia and North Carolina. Interesting combination of materials on this garage. I've seen brick and river rock used on residences, but not on a commercial building. These fellas had cutomers lined up down the street, waiting to buy used tires. All three bays are in current use.



The humble Quonset Hut used to be found everywhere in our area, but more and more they are being bulldozed. For more on these quirky metal designs, here is a website dedicated to them:

http://www.quonsethuts.org/huts/

Here is a typical example, along the Appomattox River, again in downtown Petersburg, VA.



Can't go rambling without a stop or two for grub. This enterprising fellow has converted a shipping container into a barbeque joint. He had three big industrial size smokers going. Who don't like a little barbeque pick-me-up?


Not a garage, but the old downtown bus station. A handsome deco design. Empty.

 

[jonathan75]

Very cool thread. Would you like others to add pictures as well? I live in NC and I still see a lot of these old garages.

 

[phartman]

Several coffee shops in Richmond have taken over garage spaces. Here are a couple of our favorites.

In The Fan historic district of Richmond, near Virginia Commonwealth University:



And their original location on Semmes Ave., another old service station:



Lamplighter Coffee, in the light industrial neighborhood called Scott's Addition. It is quickly being converted to nightclubs, restaurants, and urban living. That's the **** end of the trunk from my '61 Ford you see in the foreground.





And their original location on Addison Street:

 

[phartman]

Very cool thread. Would you like others to add pictures as well? I live in NC and I still see a lot of these old garages.

By all means, please post up other pics. VA/NC/SC are of special interest to me.

 

[phartman]

Just north of the city in Henrico County is a restored little service station from the golden age of motoring. It's worth a trip here. A humbly proud little gas station/country store, now part of Henrico Park System. Across the road from the Meadow Farm Museum.









That house in the background would have been where the owner lived. This particular design to the station was a popular form called "house and porch" design. Many, many examples are still around, but not always in this nice of shape.

 

[phartman]

Back-in-the-day, the area around North Boulevard in Richmond was ground zero for hot rodding. This building was the location for both Mallory Speed Shop and H & E Racing Engines.



Sonny Mallory was a drag racer, and campaigned this Ford Coupe at the various strips around Richmond. Here he is at the now-abandoned Louisa 1/5th mile track:




Here's what it all looks like today. In the front was the Mallory Speed Shop and retail showroom:



The H & E shop operated out of the garage space in the back:



They later parted ways with Sonny Mallory and moved over to northside, but that garage space and shop is now gone (razed and built a MacDonald's in its place).

 

[phartman]

Richmond has a long and lively history of racers and racing. Pee Wee Wallace was one of the early funny car/altered wheelbase racers in the East. He worked at this garage that is still in business today, off Pemberton Road in Richmond's West End. Here's what it looks like today:



And who sponsored Pee Wee? Yup, Mallory's Speed Shop from the post above.

 

[Clik]

Cool thread.

 

[phartman]

Junie Donlavy was another Richmond-based racer, the last of the independent car owners.



Here is a nice article from Racers Reunion website about him. His old garage, Swansboro Motor Company, is located in Richmond just off Midlothian Turnpike near the Chesterfield County line.

http://racersreunion.com/when-junie-donlavey-closed-his-door/

The other Saturday "Second Son" Stephen and I took the '34 on a spin and dropped by the old place for a little nostalgia. "The Chief" was a fine man. Still with us, but he's had the wind knocked out of his sails with the passing of his wife.



This is the office where Junie held court. After he quit racing full-time, he'd still hang out at the shop. Last time we came for a visit, Stephen was a youngster. Junie was prepping a Ford for one last shot at Daytona. They didn't make the show. His time in the sport was over.

 

[phartman]

Some make it, and other garages don't. This fine little leftover bit of Mayberry, just up the street from my house on Forest Ave. In business since 1961. Sam owns it, James runs the front, and David is the mechanic. They still offer full service, wash your windows, check under the hood, check the tires.



Directly across the street on the facing corner is what was once a garage and repair shop. Now a nail salon. What a shame.

 

[phartman]

Peter Francisco's restored Esso Station on Lakeside Ave. in Richmond's Northside.



And others on the same street:



This handsome example of Art Deco:



And another Deco example a little further down the block, Bill Axelle's restored original garage sign:

 

[phartman]

And speaking of Deco, this example on Myers Street, immediately behind where Mallory Speed Shop was located. Now a hair salon. You can really see the merging of Deco and Industrial Age here:



And a better example of Industrial Age, this time a retired locomotive shop in a commercial area off Broad Street in the heart of Richmond.

 

[phartman]

Yet another Richmond drag racer was Monty Cline. He started a speed shop and engine building operation, Cline Automotive, down US 1 South of Richmond on Jeff Davis Highway. He ran his shop here at the corner of Jeff Davis and Willis Road for many years. He worked in the back, and lived in the apartment up above. Here's what it looks like today:





He then moved around the corner and operated on Willis Road, and sold out to what is now Advanced Engine Design:



He then took over the space on N. Boulevard that was once occupied by Sonny Mallory. Monty sponsored many racecars in his prime. Here is one example, an A/G dragster currently under restoration:



But business setbacks and other factors forced the closing of Cline Automotive. Monty worked out of this shop for a while, but now builds go-kart engines for someone else and races with his son when he visits down in Florida:

 

[fivespdcat]

My favorite local garage, pretty famous around Detroit:

Started of as this

Went to this

Now this

 

[Glenn M.]

Subscribed! Thank You!
This is a super cool thread - I just learned a bunch of things, and I don't live much over a hundred miles away from it...

 

[phartman]

Subscribed! Thank You!
This is a super cool thread - I just learned a bunch of things, and I don't live much over a hundred miles away from it...

Well, sheesh, nothin' I got comes even close to what you have downtown. Mark Smith's restored dealership downtown Lynchburg is the ultimate garage space, and I don't care who you are....

http://www.smithautomotiveinvestments.com/



Although I'd have to say that Bruce Elder's place over in Staunton downtown in the old dealership building gives anybody a run for their money. Can't get any better than those two spots. The ultimate garages in Virginia.

 

[bhalv]

Well, sheesh, nothin' I got comes even close to what you have downtown. Mark Smith's restored dealership downtown Lynchburg is the ultimate garage space, and I don't care who you are....

http://www.smithautomotiveinvestments.com/







Although I'd have to say that Bruce Elder's place over in Staunton downtown in the old dealership building gives anybody a run for their money. Can't get any better than those two spots. The ultimate garages in Virginia.

a really amazing collection of great cars....that's not open to the public.

 

[patent pending]

Very cool thread. This is a restaurant in downtown Charleston that was a service station in the 50's. Its called Fuel now. Good food. There's another old brick garage on one of the side streets that I love. Will try to get a pic of it.

 

[Glenn M.]

Well, sheesh, nothin' I got comes even close to what you have downtown. Mark Smith's restored dealership downtown Lynchburg is the ultimate garage space, and I don't care who you are....

http://www.smithautomotiveinvestments.com/







Although I'd have to say that Bruce Elder's place over in Staunton downtown in the old dealership building gives anybody a run for their money. Can't get any better than those two spots. The ultimate garages in Virginia.

Yep, just not open to the public. I wish it was, I've got a '64 Comet Caliente - not one of the durability run vehicles like Mark has, of course... Would like to see it close up, rather than through the window...

 

[phartman]

Next trip to NC I gotta check out this place in Burlington. Where the legendary Ronnie Sox got his start. Wonder if the station is still there at 805 South Church St. in Burlington? Ronnie was 'da Man in Super Stock. Mr. 4-Speed.

 

[phartman]

Well, well, well...lookee here...thank you internet. The remodeled Sox Sinclair, available for rent. I suspect the ghost of Mr. 4-Speed wouldn't be pleased.

 

[Mike Miller]

Very nice tour, Thanks.

 

[phartman]

A favorite light industrial workspace in Richmond off Brook Road, near the main Post Office. Now office space after a major renovation of a pretty nasty maintenance shed. Very handsome indeed.

 

[Sachseguy]

What about Smokey Yunick's "Best Damn Garage in Town" on Beach street in Daytona? It was still there and For Sale the last time I was there. Is it still there? I would love to buy that shop.

 

[Thumper]

What about Smokey Yunick's "Best Damn Garage in Town" on Beach street in Daytona? It was still there and For Sale the last time I was there. Is it still there? I would love to buy that shop.

Unfortunately..fire got part of it a few years ago...then the wrecking ball came...

 

[phartman]

At the foot of historic Church Hill on Main Street in Richmond, just down the street from where Patrick Henry delivered his "Give Me Liberty" speech.

 

[phartman]

Further West, on Cary Street on the edge of Richmond's Fan District. A particularly well-done remodeling of a city garage, now a commercial office space.

 

[phartman]

Again, from downtown in my city, one of the oldest garages, formerly an Atlantic Richfield station. And again, that Spanish Revival design influence is once more present. From 1930.

 

[HSpencer]

This is a great thread. My thanks to the posters. I am enjoying it a lot!!! Makes you happy that these buildings are being saved!!

 

[phartman]

The House and Porch style structure of the pre-WWII filling station is everywhere in the mid-Atlantic. This example, recently renovated and ready for a scond life, is on Route 250 near Hadensville, VA. The gas pumps would have been at the front, just under the edge of the covering.

See Post #5 of the restored Courtney Road station or the example above in Post #27. Same layout and structure here. And just like Courtney Road, the house belonging to the operator is located next door.







Sitting and waiting, the now closed Esso staton in "downtown" Goochland Courthouse, VA. This style structure replaced the earlier house and porch design, and the filling station became the service station.

 

[Sachseguy]

Unfortunately..fire got part of it a few years ago...then the wrecking ball came...

I hate to hear that.

 

[NHBandit]

The House and Porch style structure of the pre-WWII filling station is everywhere in the mid-Atlantic. This example, recently renovated and ready for a scond life, is on Route 250 near Hadensville, VA. The gas pumps would have been at the front, just under the edge of the covering.

See Post #5 of the restored Courtney Road station or the example above in Post #27. Same layout and structure here. And just like Courtney Road, the house belonging to the operator is located next door.

This style of gas station is also all over East Tennessee where I live. Many are vacant and needing ALOT of work and while they are cool to look at, I'm not sure they would be of much use unless someone wanted to house a small collection of gas & oil memorabilia. As a "garage" they aren't big enough to work in.

 

[78Bird]

Reminds me of the local pizza chain, Fuel Pizza, that's doing very well and expanding rapidly.

Most of them are in 'normal' retail eating spots, but the original is in an old service station, and all use a garage/service station motif. Not to mention, really good pizza and wings.

 

[phartman]

This style of gas station is also all over East Tennessee where I live. Many are vacant and needing ALOT of work and while they are cool to look at, I'm not sure they would be of much use unless someone wanted to house a small collection of gas & oil memorabilia. As a "garage" they aren't big enough to work in.

Frequently there is some type of second building along side this structure that functioned as a garage part of the filling station. But for the most part, repairs were done ouside. Many had a set of ramps along side the building so the mechanic could get under the vehicle. This form is the earliest version of what we now call generically the service/gas station. All part of that family tree.

This particular example was renovated as a small office. I'd love to have something like that as a work space for my day job.

As 78Bird mentions in his post above, in our urban areas, these simple structures without a dedicated under roof mechanic space are regularly turned into restaurants. We ate at one Sunday afternoon. Not the house and porch design, but something even more simple. Not too long ago, this space still functioned as a gas station. In Richmond's historic Church Hill. The white awning covers where the pumps would have been located.

 

[KEH]

The biggest obstacle to using old service stations is the EPA or state equivalent. There is a old service station similar to the one Phartman posted in a town near me. It has been use as a florist shop but there is gas pollution under it and the state guys come along occasionally and drill test wells to track the "plume" of gas. No one will buy it for that reason.

KEH

 

[phartman]

The biggest obstacle to using old service stations is the EPA or state equivalent. There is a old service station similar to the one Phartman posted in a town near me. It has been use as a florist shop but there is gas pollution under it and the state guys come along occasionally and drill test wells to track the "plume" of gas. No one will buy it for that reason.

KEH

Yes, what KEH points out is a significant consideration to taking on a renovation of any industrial space. The burden is on the seller to provide a clean certificate or otherwise indemnify the buyer against the liabilities from environmental pollutants.

Many sellers either can't or won't. The otherwise wonderful old service station is left in the lurch. The potential costs of the cleanup exceeds the value of the renovated property.

 

[phartman]

If I had a gazillion dollars, I would already own this complex. Currently on the market for sale. Crozier, VA, out Route 250 from my house. You get the old dealership, and the garage that is adjacent. Old Pontiac dealer? Believe so, can't remember.

The last picture is the garage, which was enclosed and turned into office space. It is across the gravel parking lot from the dealership. It served originally as a second service facility.

Wonderful old complex. Wish it were mine, but it might have to wait until my ship of gold comes in.

 

[sarvbill]

Again, from downtown in my city, one of the oldest garages, formerly an automobile dealership. And again, that Spanish Revival design influence is once more present. From the 1920s.

Is this by chance the old Capital Towing garage on Broad Street?

 

[phartman]

Is this by chance the old Capital Towing garage on Broad Street?

No, that is a different building further west on Broad St. The Capital City Towing Building has been renovated and turned into condos for VCU students. When I get a chance I will shoot a pic of what it looks like now and post.

See this page from Jalopy Journal. It has a little history on both buildings. Post 25342:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6517672

 

[phartman]

Sometimes the coolest stuff hides in plain sight. Just around the corner from my house is this '57 Ford. A closer look finds a Thunderbird Y-block under the hood, indicating it's a 312. Hot little car in its day. The car that was the star of the Robert Mitchum film, Thunder Road. Same ride.

And a peek in the window shows that the 3-speed was converted to a Hurst floorshift "way back when." It's all still there, 9" rear and all:

My buddy John Bowers grew up in the 'hood and tells me that many years ago, near this intersection, was a grocery with a nip joint and gamblin' parlor around back. Easy spot for folks to buy beer and moonshine. Notorius place for rogues and roughnecks. I've heard stories of shoot outs over card games. Long gone now.

Was this car a rum runner? Sure could be. Parked for many years, quietly rusting away. Dunno its history.

The owner has this garage in the woods behind where the car is in the yard. We're friendly, but he's never let me see inside to metal shed.

Don't you just wonder what might be in there?

The garage was surrounded by old junk cars, but two winters ago, he sold them off for scrap. I've asked and hinted that I'd really like a look inside the garage, but my request is always met with a stoney silence.

All right there in plain sight, in Richmond's snobby West End. Who wouldda thunk?

"Around and Around"
Chuck Berry