RESTORED 1930'S TEXACO STATION DECATUR IL
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266 West Main Street
Decatur, Illinois

photo from grand opening advertisement

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Attendant is standing in front of bay to the right (east). Canopy extending to the pump island; you can see the pillars at the back and the front of the canopy. Pumps are to the outside of the pillars, on the island. The sign and two lamp poles are on an island near the sidewalk.

DECATUR REVIEW - FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1930 - PAGE 17

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newspaper ad 1931

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Grand Opening for another local 
Texaco Station, October 5, 1930

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Legal records

A search of the Macon County Recorder of Deeds shows a lease of the property in February, 1930 from Mrs. Laura W. Pahmeyer to the Texaco Company for 10 years.  The records also show additional 10-year leases in 1940 and 1950.  After that time, leases were no longer recorded...

Sanborn map

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compare to current configuration

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Sanborn fire insurance map, from the mid-1940's, of the area.

Note address is shown as 272 West Main instead of 266; the street numbers apparently changed at some time. 

Building is shown as concrete block.  "GT's" (gas tanks) to the west.  Both bays are single-car; the west bay was extended at some point, adding a wash bay to the north.

A canopy is shown extending to the pump island - frame-construction, probably asphalt-shingle roof.  You can see the canopy also in the Grand Opening ad.  The canopy was removed at some point in the life of the station 


telephone  directory advertisements

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Station Operators from city directories and phone directories

1931              Joseph D. Gallivan
1931              Hickman & Steed
1932              Nicholson & Fielder
1933              R. L. Flannigan
1934              A. C. Cooper
1935-36        Lysle F. Sriner
1936              Barrett
1937              James Sutliff & S. Eldon Lovell
1938-42        Andrew W. (Clyde) Freeman, Jr.
1944              Owen C. Merry
1945-48        William J. Redlich
1948-59        William M. Fitzgerald
1960-85        Harold E. (Butch) Hardwick
1986-88        Harold E. (Butch) Hardwick – Union 76
1989-2003   Joseph and Cheryl Jackson – Clean-Up Shop


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