1920s Service Station Gives a Glimpse of the Past

Automotive history spans much more than just classic cars themselves. Over the last century (and beyond), the automotive industry has impacted fashion, architecture, hospitality, infrastructure, culture, and – most importantly – individual families. In some instances, a family-run service station may date back many generations.

Some stations I’ve featured include my great-grandfather’s station in Logan, Utah, the “snow cone” Art Deco station in Tucson, Arizona, and Bob’s Sinclair in Kanosh, Utah. Each was full of personality and history. As the saying goes, “If walls could talk …”. It would be fascinating to hear about some of the vehicles – and people – that have been to those sites.

In the 20 years I’ve lived in Arizona, I’ve stopped by a specific abandoned service station in Fredonia for photos countless times (and in many different vehicles). On a recent trip over Thanksgiving, I noticed a for-sale sign out front. I decided to inquire with the real estate agent, and I arranged a time to view the interior of the building.

Buckskin Tavern

During my five-hour drive from Phoenix to Fredonia, I had worked up an appetite, so I decided to hit up a local favorite: Buckskin Tavern. It was located a few miles up the road, just a bit shy of the Utah state line. Greeting visitors near the neon Buckskin sign out front was a 1955 Chevrolet 3200 pickup, complete with a skeleton sitting in the driver seat and a Christmas tree in the bed. While showing its fair share of patina, the truck had a relatively straight body from what I could tell in the dim lighting.

For 1955, Chevrolet was moving into what became known as the “Task Force” generation of light-duty and medium-duty trucks. Exterior features included an eggcrate grille, fender-mounted emblems, and a stepside bed. The truck on display looked like it had been parked there for quite some time. My curiosity got the best of me, so I looked on Google Maps to see if I could figure out when it was first parked. The 2018 street view image shows it there – and that the paint was in quite a bit better condition then. The Buckskin Tavern, by the way, holds the title for being home to Arizona’s “longest bar” at 96 feet in length.

Pratt Street Station

As for the Fredonia service station, information online is relatively light. Fredonia was laid out in 1886. At one point, Pratt Street was the major east-west route through town (it was later bypassed by a newer alignment of Highway 89A). The station probably got its start in the 1920s. I’ve been able to come up with only one historic photo of the property, but it provides a lot of clues about the building’s history. A few observations:

• The pump out front was a gravity-fed, hand-crank-style pump. One of the signs was for Vico Motor Oil. Vico was a brand produced by the Utah Oil Refining Company (Utah’s first refinery) from 1908 through 1948, and it was sold alongside “Pep 88” gasoline.
• The station was a multi-purpose roadside stop that offered bread and groceries – common in rural areas where people needed more than just fuel.
• The flat roof and stucco finish were typical of buildings in the Southwest.
• The wardrobe said a lot about the era, too, featuring high-waisted trousers for the men.
• The commercial truck out front was probably used for fuel deliveries and similar tasks.

The 1920s marked a time when automobiles were becoming mainstream and tourism was beginning to boom. The fact the station was only 73 miles from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon meant it was part of a key tourism route for the region.

Getting inside the barn-style front doors was like taking a step back in time. Littered throughout the interior were relics of the past – old cans, jars, boxes, and equipment. The smell was consistent with an “old building.” I was surprised there were no bathroom facilities apparent – just a stove, some shelving, and lots of memorabilia.

If I had a week to spare, I’d offer to help the family comb through it; if I had a quarter-million dollars to spare, I’d make an offer. Some friends and family were supportive of the idea. In fact, one of them developed an AI rendering of what the place would look like as an automotive-themed coffee shop (see below). We could all use a shot of high-octane espresso sometimes.

Interested in the property? Here’s a link to the listing on Zillow.