One of the thrills of my profession and avocation is when someone decides to save a historic building. Last week, I received an email from the new owners of the wonderful historic filling station on US 68 in Mercer County, Kentucky – and they want to restore it!
The former view of the gas station as you approach from the Kentucky River.
I may have squealed a bit and done a tiny dance. And then – I was browsing through Instagram and I saw THIS!
The vegetation has been cleared out, and the historic building can breathe for the first time in decades! Photograph by @danielmorris777 on Instagram.
Do forgive my multiple exclamation points – sometimes being a lover of historic buildings is a sad and depressing path. Writing about demolitions, worrying about the farmland I see from the windows of my house, and tallying up the costs of restoring our enormous wood windows – when happy news arrives, celebration is definitely in order.
I first wrote about this little filling station and its irresistible geode-festooned façade in June 2020, as the realities of shut downs and Pandemic life were only beginning to take root. So I could not conduct any research beyond my own library and my own photographs. The new owners, along with the joyous news of their intentions, also shared an amazing historic photograph.
Circa 1920s image of the filling station.
I hope to share more of this story as it progresses, and I hope you will join with me in wishing the new owners the very best of luck and a heartfelt thank you for their decision to save this historic treasure.
Thanks for sharing this success story!
Excellent such great news to save such a historic landmark!
Great! I was So hoping someone would Restore this little Gas Stop & Store. Thank you for sharing.
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I have passed this building often and was afraid it would not be saved so thanks for sharing this great news!
Great to know it is going to be saved. I knew Mr. Champion the former owner. He lived in the house next door to it.
What great news!! We go that way and always hoped it was still there. Thank you for what you do. I love reading/seeing your historical posts as well as your restoration and garden!
Wonderful pictures and an excellent story full of hope for saving a very interesting building. Thank you for sharing the story.
Fantastic
FANASTIC!!
I distinctly remember stopping at this station when we visited Shakertown site (just old buildings then) in the late 40s. I would have been seven or eight.
On my way to Lexington this AM, I noticed someone had cleaned up around this little building. On my way home, I made a note to slow down and see whats going on. Yep, they are working on it!
Hurray! A victory!!! You should be happy, every building saved is another piece of history preserved!
This is such GOOD news! I’m like you Janie; doing a HAPPY dance!!!!
Hurrah! We pass that building so often on our way to Lexington as we prefer 68. I was told earlier it was a toll house. True?
I am so happy that this building will be saved. I grew up in the Shakertown area and have traveled by the building for years. So much history is being destroyed, thank goodness this will be preserved.
I drove by there today for the first time in months and thought it looked like something was happening. Traffic behind me so I couldn’t go back, but now I’ll make a point.
My family used to stop here when we went to Harrodsburg to visit relatives!
Fantastic!! Now hope that someone can repair the castle down the street. 🙂
hurrah
When I was very young we drove past many times. I remember there was still one of the old gravity feed gas pumps there. That was in the 50’s and 60’s.
I have always loved this place! I am old enough to remember the gas pumps that used to be out front. I’m glad this is being restored.
The couple who bought this is so excited. They are very talented and creative and I know they will put love and care into restoring and developing their new property into a beautiful and enjoyable new home. We will miss them in Pike Road, Alabama.
I love this. I am so glad they are going to restore it. I wasn’t to much on history stuff until they tore the old courthouse down. I was mad about that and still am.Thank You for restoring this piece of history.
I grew up on that land, we have been waiting and watching for it to come up for sale so we could build our home there and share the memories of my life with my Daddy and Momma to my grandkids. Somehow we missed on seeing and hearing this was for sale until it was too late.
I’m glad someone is going to bring the place back to life.
Best of wishes
I am so happy to see someone is going to bring back some history, instead of tearing things down. I always look at this when I go to Lexington. I’m fascinated with it.
Great news!!! I’m so happy this little building is being restored!! Every time we pass it I say I hope someone buys it and fixes it up. Congratulations and best wishes to the new owners!! Can’t wait to see the final results! We always called it the “house of geodes”.
I have always loved this little building! We have watched it every time we pass by it. I’m so glad it has been sold and is being restored!! Congratulations and best wishes to the new owners!!! We call it the “house of geodes”.
Oh YAY!!! So glad to hear this old building, which is beautiful even now, will be restored! I love seeing life brought back to these neglected historical sites. Thanks for sharing.