#80535
Wed Mar 30 2005 10:01 AM
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A Petroholics Journey on the Road to Discovery Service Station Town U.S.A.: Buellton, California By Curt CraggAs a collector of roadside relics my recent journey of discovery began with a picture of Highway 101 as it traveled through the Central Coast of California in the town of Buellton. This photograph depicted a “Who’s Who” of the golden age of the service station. Most of the major west coast and national brands were represented in all of their glory and splendor. On the right, a row of clock face pumps guarded the island of Shell as a uniformed attended performed his service. On the left the neon script of a Seaside station shone as a beacon to the highway travelers. This image inspired me to search for more pictures of these historic stations. Searching for pictures led to names of owners and in some cases their stories. I can proudly say that these images and stories have turned me into a “Petroholic” on the road to discovery and now you can join me in my journey as I share them with you. Buellton: A Service OasisWe’re going to start our journey in 1917. This early Automobile Club map shows Santa Barbara County as it existed then. Note that on the map the town of “Buellton” was not even named in 1917. The major route traveling through Santa Barbara County and along the entire coast of California was Route 1 or the “Pacific Coast Highway“. Since it was impractical to literally drive along the beach for the entire coastal route a second highway branched off in places and this was called Route 2. In later years this would become Highway 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway would remain as Highway 1. From Santa Barbara there were two routes to the Santa Ynez Valley. One branched off of the Coast Highway and followed the old stage coach route over the Santa Marcos Pass by the Cold Springs Tavern and down into Santa Ynez, through Solvang out to Buellton and ending at the ocean west of Lompoc. This route was called Highway 150. The other route followed the coast from Santa Barbara out to Gaviota, to Las Cruces and through Buellton where it intersected with Highway 150 and continued north the entire length of the state. This crossroads of Highways 101 and 150 would form the foundation for the service town of Buellton. The first “horseless carriages” did not have large fuel tanks and where not as mechanically reliable. This necessitated a more frequent spacing of service stations and garages along the well traveled roads. From the 1920’s through the 1940’s Buellton was becoming an oasis of services offering lodging, food and gasoline for the driver venturing up the coast of California. The larger city of Santa Barbara was thirty miles south and the growing town of Santa Maria was thirty miles north. However, by the early 1940’s cars were traveling further and faster and drivers did not want to have to be inconvenienced by slowing down through the small towns along the “freeway”. In the early years of the automobile speed of travel was not as much of a factor as the need for frequent service, but this was quickly changing as automakers extended the range of the modern car. The state highway department began making plans to re-route the freeway around these towns that were dependent upon the travelers. This proposal spelled potential disaster for the town of Buellton. The property owners, businessmen and County supervisors lobbied the roads department to keep them from circumventing the town and thus the concept of a bypass road was born. In 1949 a writer for “California Highways and Public Works” magazine wrote about the recently completed bypass road and dubbed Buellton, California “Service Town U.S.A.” In this article the writer commented on the unique configuration of the highway whereby cars could exit the road into bypass lanes, much like “pit row” on a modern race track. This bypass allowed for free flowing traffic on Highway 101 and convenient stops for gasoline and food in the town of Buellton. This innovative design opened in May of 1949 saved the town from being circumvented by a relocated highway for over ten years.
C Cragg
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Please - NO offers to Buy or Sell in this forum category
Statements such as, "I'm thinking about selling this." are considered an offer to sell.
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#80536
Wed Mar 30 2005 10:10 AM
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Widening the road required a significant commitment on the part of the property owners abutting the road. Buildings had to be moved and property lines adjusted. Bill Fitzgerald owned a store and Texaco station on the corner of Highway 101 and Highway 150. He tells me that they literally had to pick up their station building and move it to make room for the new road. Where he once owned three small commercial lots, he ended up with only two due to the re-alignment and widening of the highway. Many other buildings had to be moved as well including diners, stores and motels. The early highway was merely a two lane road lined with businesses hoping to draw in the weary travelers. The most well known of the diners was Pea Soup Andersen’s home of the famous split Pea Soup. Even today they are still serving their world famous recipe in the same location. It is one of the few remaining business from the days when Highway 101 ran through the middle of town. The glory days of the gas station in Buellton ran from the 30’s through the late 50’s. Virtually all of the west coast brands and all of the national brands were represented at one time or another. At various times they included Mobil station and bulk plant, Shell station and bulk plant, Seaside station and bulk plant, Signal, Gilmore, Associated Flying A, Hancock, Douglas, Phillips 66, Texaco, Richfield, Standard, Union 76, and Chevron. As we travel on this journey of discovery we will try and visit many of these stations as well as some of the stations to the South and North of Buellton along Highway 101. We’ll see some photos, meet some of the owners and hear some stories about the glory days of Service Town U.S.A., Buellton, California.The story will continue....
C Cragg
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#80537
Wed Mar 30 2005 06:45 PM
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AWSOME. I've been on the lookout for a '30's-'40's phone book of Santa Paula. At one time we were the largest town in the county & had 30+ places to buy gasoline [stations, mom & pop stores, garages]. To make a map with logos. Dick
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#80538
Wed Mar 30 2005 07:35 PM
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Very interesting. Nice job Curt.
Wanted: Gas pump globes:Sinclair & affiliates, IL companies. Ripple bodies. Anything Sinclair, Stoll, Pierce, 4 Bros. http://www.lastgas15.com/
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#80539
Wed Mar 30 2005 10:30 PM
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Wow Curt , You should put that info into a small book , so others can learn about our local history. This topic hits home for me!!!!
Gas Pump Rob: Santa Barbara County Ca.
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#80540
Thu Mar 31 2005 07:40 AM
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Super Job Curt, great history.
Chris Holt
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#80541
Thu Mar 31 2005 08:15 AM
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PO'MAN - GREAT HISTORY AND PHOTOS! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! DOC @ TAG/WEST
DOC @ THE AMERICAN GARAGE
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#80542
Thu Mar 31 2005 08:21 AM
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#80543
Thu Mar 31 2005 08:34 AM
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Thanks for reading guys, I know there are a lot of words for the typical post. I wish I could post the photos as large as I can view them on my screen so that you could make out all of the detail. I have some awesome pictures that really put all of our roadside relics in perspective.
I am still working on the next chapter and the upcoming photos are great so stay tuned.
C Cragg
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#80544
Fri Apr 01 2005 07:44 AM
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Service Town U.S.A., Buellton,CA II. Road Construction and The Service TownRoad construction began through Buellton as early as 1915 when the first road was laid down through the Buell Ranch which eliminated a winding path around the Nojoui grade that passed through Solvang, up through the small stage coach stop in Ballard and into the town of Los Olivos. This old highway route was essentially the early stage coach route. This photograph shows the Moeller garage on the right at the corner of the new 101 route and highway 150 coming in from Solvang, the main intersection of Buellton. Moeller operated the first garage in Solvang and apparently in anticipation of this soon to be well traveled route, operated a garage in Buellton as well. As a service town, Buellton was almost entirely dependent upon the traveler. The populations of the small towns surrounding Buellton could not sustain all of the service stations and diners concentrated along this two mile stretch of highway. The location of the highway and the location of their businesses upon it were important too, as was recognizable branding for the service stations. The most critical factor for survival was how the highway was routed through the town. If the road was relocated as the State Highway Department proposed it would spell disaster for the businesses dependant on their visible and convenient locations. Through the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s California would be “straightening out” this winding coastal route to accommodate speedy and efficient travel. In fact California on the whole was embarking upon major highway improvements throughout the state to accommodate the onrush of travelers and immigrants to the golden state. Initially some of these adjustments seemed minor but they would inevitably leave some service station without a highway to support them. For Buellton there was at least a temporary solution. By the mid 1940’s The California Highway Department was considering plans to build a new section of “freeway” passing to the east of Buellton. This freeway would bypass the town and over pass the intersection of Highway 150 speeding up traffic through the area. When word got out about this new freeway the business owners began to rally to fight this change and propose a compromise solution. Eventually the County of Santa Barbara had to intervene and agree to pay a portion of the cost of building the new “outer highway” roads as evidenced by this letter from the Division of Highways. [This message has been edited by the poor mans museum (edited 04-01-2005).]
C Cragg
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#80545
Fri Apr 01 2005 07:46 AM
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This construction project would require a significant commitment on the part of the property owners fronting the old two lane road. Buildings would have to be demolished or moved. Property lines would have to be adjusted. Construction would at least temporarily interrupt access to businesses along the road or close them down until the buildings were relocated. Pea Soup Andersen’s famous café was one of the buildings that would have to be moved along with the Texaco station on the corner of the property fronting Highways 150 and 101. This picture shows the café on blocks in preparation for the move. Note the large sign saying “OPEN during alterations above the door. It was decided to begin construction in September of 1948, after the summer tourist traffic had subsided. Weather was generally not a major factor in this part of California during the fall and winter, so construction was expected to be completed prior to the next summer. Considering the magnitude of the work to be undertaken this was a monumental task. Fortunately, able bodied young war veterans were streaming home from a world war with capabilities to complete the task. The job was finished by May of 1949. With one notable exception the weather cooperated through the winter. Rain was minimal allowing work to progress, but the almost unbelievable occurred in December of 1948, it snowed! Average rain fall in this part of California is about 13 inches a year, which means that most years it rains five or six inches and then every ten years it pours. It never snows. Snow is practically unheard of along the coast and yet in December of 1948 it snowed enough to blanket the road bed. It was cause for celebration because of the sheer novelty of it. In reality the snow hardly slowed the progress of the roadway but it provided a pretty picture of this work in progress.
C Cragg
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#80546
Fri Apr 01 2005 10:17 AM
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Keep it coming Curt,great story!!!
Chris Holt
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#80547
Mon Apr 04 2005 07:18 AM
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III. Service Town U.S.A.J.F. Powell was the District V Right of Way Agent for the California Highways and Public Works Department at the time. He related the story of this new outer highway in their official publication around September of 1949. This article about the recently completed highway is titled “Service Town, U.S.A.. His words tell the story well, “A few short years ago Buellton, California, as one businessman there described it, was a “small crossroads, under-developed, traffic-bottlenecking, village” with a highly uncertain future as a highway town. Today, through recent completion of the Buellton Freeway and its integrated system of parallel outer highways, this former ”village” is an outstanding example of an outer highway community known as a service town, and its economic future, dependant on highway business, is assured for many years to come.” This roadway expansion did in fact inspire economic growth and development in the community of Buellton. Many potential business owners saw the potential of this new roadway and began investing in stores, motor courts and service stations. Since many of the buildings had to be relocated it was a perfect time for upgrading and constructing new buildings and additions. As the road was being built, these new building were erected. Some of the photos of the road work from the highway department captured this construction on film. This photo shows the workers putting the finishing touches on the new Flying A station between Garlands Garage and the Seaside bulk plant. This Flying A (the second in town) would later become a Signal and then Jack Mendenhall’s Richfield. Across the street new pavement was being laid in front of the diner just north of the Shell and Chevron Stations. In the background is the other Flying A on the southeast corner of Highways 150 and 101 and across the street the newly re-built Fitzgerald Texaco. On the opposite corner the Fitzgerald’s owned a market and another Texaco station to catch the southbound traffic on Highway 101. There was a sudden proliferation of service stations, diners and motels along this promising new road. Powell describes it in his article about the new roads, “Buellton, despite a population of only 250, today boasts on its new outer highways alone no less than eight service stations, five motels, three restaurants, three garages, two cocktail lounges, and a well known hotel, not to mention a half-dozen other businesses including a drug store, grocery, liquor store, and wine shop, the majority of which enterprises safely can be said to fall into the de luxe or modern and first-rate category.” It seems that in addition to gassing up the car the drivers could gas up in the cocktail lounges and diners as well.. It certainly gives “filler’ up” some additional meaning. In fact it was often the stations owners that could often be found lounging in these cocktail houses on a slow day until they heard the familiar ring of the driveway bell and slumbered to attention.
C Cragg
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#80548
Sat Apr 09 2005 10:36 AM
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IV. Danger at the CrossroadsFor the engineers at the state highway department the modern Buellton and it’s network of outer highways was an engineering dream come true. The highway department practically crowed about the virtues you of this unique design. Their reporting emphasized the ease of access and the safety of travel experienced by the motorists along this route. In their own words they extolled the benefits of this innovative design, “progressive highway practices based on the safety and convenience of through-traffic and the principle of roads being located in accordance with the greatest public good and the least private injury”, . A few months after completion of the highway a merchant quoted in this article said, “Our customers tell us that they like the highway arrangement. The can get off the main line more safely and find it easier to park and shop. We’ve seen heavy traffic here on two holiday weekends, but not so much as a scratched fender. Don’t let anyone tell you are outer highways aren’t safe.” Perhaps no fenders were scratched those first few months, but the new highway arrangement would hardly prove safe. In fact, at times, it was a total disaster! Accidents became so frequent that several tow car services were able to flourish in the small town of Buellton. It became a game of speculation for the station employees on the corners where the two major highways intersected.. “Who would make it and who wouldn’t”. This was especially true when traveling east or west on Highway 150 and attempting to cross eight lanes of traffic moving in changing directions. First two lanes of traffic moving north and south, then two lanes in one direction, then two lanes the other direction and then two more in both directions. For the timid driver it was an anxiety attack, for the aggressive and daring it was a challenge. Getting on an off the fast flowing lanes caused problems too. Motorist traveling through would suddenly realize that they had to get off to get to their brand of choice and slam on their brakes, causing a pile up. The tow truck operators loved this new design. It provided steady work. The local teen drivers liked it as well, but for a much different reason. It spawned a new game of “chicken”. Racing was becoming increasingly popular in this town of service station owners and there were plenty of hot rods in town. New Chevy’s and Fords were featuring powerful V-8 engines too. And of course, what is the point of horsepower if you don’t put it to use? In one incident, two young Danish maids from Solvang were making their way home from Lompoc late one warm summer night. They were driving a relatively new convertible with the top down and driving fairly fast along the empty highway. Somewhat intoxicated, perhaps by the balmy weather or the “punch” that was served at the party, they decided to attempt the crossing at over 100 mph. Successfully navigating the eight lanes wasn’t always about speed as much as it was about timing. The chances of making the bypass lanes was pretty good this late at night due to the lack of traffic, but the four lanes of freeway could be treacherous due to the occasional late driving truck. Of course, they weren’t thinking too much about strategy at this point. As it turned out, traffic wasn’t much of a problem this night, compared to the crown of the road. Because they were traveling at such a high speed they managed to get air borne when they hit the ramping pavement at the edge of the lanes. They nearly cleared the jump. Unfortunately the car got sideways on the landing spilling the Danish maids out on the median and wrecking the convertible. Miraculously they survived.
C Cragg
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#80549
Sat Apr 09 2005 10:38 AM
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Buellton’s First Drive In?A jack-knifing semi truck nearly created Buellton’s first drive through restaurant. As in most cases of trucker involved accidents, it was probably not the truck driver that caused this collision, but a distracted motorist pulling out of the bypass lanes into oncoming traffic. This truck ended up with it’s front bumper just touching the front door of the Horseshoe Café on the southbound lane of the highway. The trucker survived the accident and saved the café. The owners were so happy they immediately offered drinks all around once they realized that they couldn’t get out the door until the tow car arrived. Unfortunately the motorists weren’t so lucky. Accidents were practically a spectator sport along this new “safely designed” highway. It was good for the tow companies and generally it was good for business despite the hazards. It was certainly a lot better for business than the alternative, which was to move the highway completely. Ultimately, common sense and the State Highway Department would prevail and the highway would be moved. No part of persuasion on the part of the merchants or the county supervisors would convince anyone otherwise. For the businesses along the highway, especially the service stations, the affect on their trade would be devastating, and they knew it.
C Cragg
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