Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Showcase and Stories, Petroliana Great Grandpa & Granddad's Service Station 20's

The following pictures are of Camp Houston, Oklahoma in the early 1920's. The Camp Houston Corner is 25 miles west of Alva, OK. at the corner of SH-50 & US-64 Jct. My Great Grandpa, William Henry (Bill) Stewart, in the flat brim hat near the right door of the Model T, built the station. The other Gentleman on the drive is my Granddad, Charlie Wanger, the little fella is Bill Stewart Jr. a Great Uncle. I remember the old station when I was younger but it was torn down in the late 70's or early 80's after many other owners through the years. These forefathers may have a lot to do with my addiction to old gas station stuff.

Then when I was a younger man, 1970's & 80's, I worked at a Champlin Station in Alva, OK. at the corner of 5th & Barnes.

Then sometime after that I worked at Wamsley Service Station, I think a Champlin, at Monroe & College in Alva.

Later I worked at Woodson's Texaco at the corner of Oklahoma Boulevard & Hwy-281 South in Alva.

The last Service Station I worked at was a Conoco Service Station in Durango Colorado on the corner of 9th & Camino Del Rio.All the Service Stations I worked at were full service.

Then I worked at two part stores three different times here in Alva, Oklahoma.

That all took place prior to a current career at the Alva Fire Department that started 21 years ago.

Most, not all of the fella's I worked for or with are long gone and all thats left is foggy faded memories of good old times.

Not a place I worked for pay but I also have fond memories of Collie Oil Co. a Conoco Station in Alva, OK at the cornet of 5th & Choctaw. I spent several hours a day there from the time I was 11 yrs old through 15 yrs old. Great memories! Great times! Great people!

My Mother was born in a little cabin behind the pictured Station in 1938 Kirk T.

good story & pictures .. ...

Kirk, Thanks for sharing a little of your family history. Great photos and story, but the memories you have are priceless.

Great story and pictures. What is that at the top of the cylinder dome to the left of the globe in the second picture? A flag of some sort? Pat

Looks like an American flag.

Great old pics!! Thanks for sharing!!

Very nice.

Pictured is an article from the "Freedom Call" Freedom is a little community of a few hundred people about 5 miles south of Camp Houston, Oklahoma. "The Freedom Call" Thursday, August 16, 1979.
The following is a condensed version of the article.
"Landmark Gives Way For The Future"
The late William and Mabel Stewart Sr. came from Champaign Illinois, to Red Cloud, Nebraska, then later to the Camp Houston, Oklahoma area where they homesteaded on a farm 1/2 mile north of Camp Houston. After moving to their home there were many times that tramps and hitchhikers stopped by, the Stewart's fed them, gave them a place to sleep and gave them some change to help them on their way when they left.
It was in 1926 when their son "Little Bill Stewart" was seven years old that they decided to build a store and service station with living quarters on the corner they owned at the highway intersection. They purchased a building at Old Freedom from Dinky Vincent. The old building was moved to their corner and became the front of their new business. They built the back portion on it new. The highways US64 & SH50 were not yet paved. Bill was ask when working on the building what he was going to call his business, he replied, Camp Houston, after the Houston Creek, which runs through just below. Inside the station they built a counter with stools and two tables were placed along the east side next to the living quarters. Mabel served home cooked meal's there. Many times people who did not have money for their food came through, the Stewart's fed them without charge, they could not turn anyone away.
They build eight cabins below the store in a beautiful setting of trees near the creek. Each cabin was furnished and had a "Topsy" wood stove. There were picnic tables and an ice house. People from the area came to Camp Houston to load and haul water which they pumped from a hand pump outside the station.
When transit buses started routes Camp Houston became one of their bus stations. Long hours and hard work took place with very little profit. Travelers and strangers were always made welcome and, no doubt, they left with the feeling that it was nice to just meet plain country folks, who "Did unto others as they would have them do unto them". Camp Houston has had several operators and owners since Bill & Mable. In August of 1979 the pains of hurt was felt in the hearts of many as they stood by and looked on as the building was demolished to make way for widening the highway. The business had been the staple of the area for many years.

Yes it is an American flag, My original picture is good enough to see that the globe on the pump is Champlin.

Great story and pictures!!

Can anyone identify the pump in the picture in post #1? It looks similar to a Hays, but it looks like the corners are rounded. Thanks Kirk

It’s a Butler