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Gas stations or filling stations, whatever you call them, have been a necessity since the onset of the automobile. With Carthage being the “Crossroads of America”, it was imperative that we provided a means to fuel up whether travelers were heading east and west on Route 66, or north and south on Highway 71.
One ad in the Dec. 15, 1930, Carthage Press urges customers to visit the “New Texaco Super Station, northwest corner Central and Garrison Intersection of Highways 66 and 71”. They go on to say “Drive in and get acquainted with Carthage’s ‘latest and best.’ A full line of Texaco products. Car washing and greasing. Cars called for and delivered. G.W. Robbins, agent.”
The corners of Central and Garrison Avenues, of course, saw the largest population of filling stations because of its deemed status as the crossroads. In the photo above, The Darrow Garage, which is now vacant at 200 S Garrison Avenue, is one of the very few of these types of structures still visible today. Darrow’s was constructed in 1935, a few years prior to Boots Motor Court in 1939.
Filling and service stations were not the only necessity, auto parts manufacturers sprang up, too, even in Carthage. H.E. Williams, known for their lighting supplies today, actually was established in 1920 as an automobile parts manufacturer. They played a role in providing auto parts to our men oversees during war time.
By 1951 there were nearly 40 service stations and over 25 auto repair shops listed in and around the city of Carthage in the Carthage phone book.
Some filling stations served more than just a place to fuel your car. My granddad owned a filling and service station on Route 66, just to the north of Morrow Mill road. You can still see the small cinder block structure that once housed the station, but the garage where repairs were made, is no longer there. Customers that visited his station when it was open talk about Saturday nights and how everyone in that area would go there for live music and homemade ice cream. Some kids would even make the long trek on a bicycle every Saturday just for the fun. People who stopped to fuel their cars were in for a grand treat.
Sadly, many of the stations closed once new highways were constructed. However, we have many excellent auto repair shops and gas stations in Carthage today.
Sources: Powers Museum, The Carthage Press
Wade Utter is a columnist for The Carthage Press
Zooming In! is a column dedicated to the history of Carthage. Every Wednesday since July of 2009, Wade Utter has photographed and exposed the history behind new and century-old structures in the Carthage area.
