When was the last time you stopped for gas and admired the architecture of the gas station? Not highly likely these days – but early gas and service stations celebrated the allure of car culture and popular culture (including trending architectural styles). The former Pure Oil Station, built circa 1926, in downtown Paris, Kentucky, is one such example of a utilitarian structure rendered anything but by its charming design.
Facade of the Pure Oil Station in Paris, Kentucky.
Pure Oil Company, founded in 1914, was well known for its “English Cottage” gas stations. John A. Jackle, in his book The Gas Station in America, discusses the origin of this romantic cottage idea and its architect, Carl A. Petersen. Jackle (and other sources) trace the Pure Oil English cottage prototypes to two gas stations built in the Indianapolis, Indiana area in 1927.
This former gas station in Clifton Forge, Virginia, looks like a Pure Oil type.
The date of 1926 for the Paris Pure Oil Station comes from survey and National Register of Historic Places data gathered in decades past, and I haven’t launched an exhaustive search to confirm the date.
The brick-faced Tudor Revival structure has a steeply pitched roof and gable end chimneys, arched openings, bay windows, and a distinctive cross gable with a cat slide roof.
Another view of the former gas station.
Before the Pure Oil building, this site was home to a historic Baptist Church – illustrating a trend in county seat towns during the 1920s and 1930s- the “hot corner” where new structures for the automotive age went, displacing older historic buildings.
A Pure Oil Station (circa 1940) in Durham, North Carolina. Image from http://www.opendurham.org/buildings/central-service-station-west-main-gas-station
These historic service stations are becoming a rarity except in the places where they are (thankfully) adaptively reused. The original garage doors on the Paris Pure Oil building were replaced when the building was remodeled into a clothing store in 1976. In later years, the former gas station has been home to a florist. This delightful building is even featured in an architectural walking tour brochure produced by Hopewell Museum!
This is in my hometown! I can remember when it was still a gas station/garage. There are a few of these signature Pure Oil Service Station buildings left, but you almost never see one with 2 bays, and some have no bays but just the little office part. Thanks for sharing!
P.S. This one is now the home of Edward Jones Investments
I’ve driven by that building many times and have even shopped there when it was a clothing store! I had no idea it had been a gas station but always wondered about it’s interesting architecture! As always, thanks for sharing!