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    Gas Station Stories
    Gas Station Stories
    Gas Station Stories
    Ebook118 pages1 hour

    Gas Station Stories

    By Bob Balch

    ()

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    About this ebook

    In this humorous collection of stories about incidents that occurred in and around gas stations, the author captures moments in time that tells the American story about our fascination and love for gas stations. With the advent of the horseless carriage at the beginning of the 20th century, the mass production of the Model T, and the hunger of the American public for this new form of transportation, gas stations sprung up all over the country to satisfy the thirst of these new contraptions. With the end of World War II came an unprecedented demand by the American public for new automobiles, gas stations to service them, and highway systems to accommodate this craze. Americans are a mobile society who love their vehicles, and the broad expanse of our great nation demanded high performance, luxury, and looks for their vehicles.

    The automobile liberated the average American, and our country would never be the same. As the reader turns the pages of this book, it wont be long before he or she is reminiscing about his or her own experiences in and around that great American

    Establishment, the gas station, and thats what the author intended for this book to be all about. It also is a tribute to the men and women who fought in World War II and preserved the freedoms that we enjoy today in this great country.

    So what are you waiting for America? Crank her up, and lets get started on this journey back in time.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateMay 22, 2007
    ISBN9781463463588
    Gas Station Stories
    Author

    Bob Balch

    Bob is a native of Seymour, Baylor County, Texas, where he was born in 1947. Being a baby boomer and growing up in the post World War II era, he enjoyed the slow pace of small town America. He spent many leisurely days roaming the areas around his hometown with his friends. This included frequent trips to the Brazos River to hike, swim, seine for minnows, hunt, and trap game. Lake Kemp was another favorite spot for boating, swimming, water skiing, fishing, duck hunting, camping, and for just hanging out with friends. Between Seymour and Lake Kemp he enjoyed outings with his scouting buddies, and two of their favorite spots were the Craddock Ranch and the old George Place. It was on the Craddock Ranch that the famous Permian era bone bed was first discovered in the late 1800s which has attracted much attention from the scientific community down through the years. As a Boy Scout, Bob learned about these discoveries and even did some fossil hunting himself. He earned the Eagle Scout award along side his friends, Bill Whitley and Ken George, the current owners of the Craddock Ranch and the George Place, respectively. Bob graduated from Seymour High School in 1965 and went on to Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he earned a BBA and JD degrees in 1971. He took a geology course as an undergraduate, and the field trips during that course brought back memories of his experiences on the Craddock Ranch and the old George Place. Now over forty years later serving as a director of the Whiteside Museum of Natural History in Seymour, his interest in this bone bed has been renewed. This eighth book, D-Don Lives! is his tribute to his hometown and the people who have made this story come to life. Bob has lived in Wichita Falls, Texas, since 1974 with his wife, Deborah Ann, where they raised two sons, Trey and Josh, both of whom are doctors who practice medicine in both Texas and Alaska in the fields of physiatry (physical medicine and rehabilitation) and interventional pain management. Bob practices law in Wichita Falls but maintains close contacts with his hometown about an hour away where his mother still resides at the age of 97. He hopes the readers of this book learn some history of the area and enjoy this tale of dimetrodons. A lot has transpired since I first started writing this book in 2014 and completing in 2015 with revisions through 2017. Many new specimens have been found and assembled for research, education of the public and study. New dig sites are opening up for study including the Ross Place owned by Joe Clay Ross. We appreciate the opportunities provided by all of the landowners in allowing us access to these sites. The future is bright for the Whiteside Museum of Natural History that has become a world class museum in the City of Seymour, Baylor County, Texas, my hometown which I am proud to say I grew up in and continue to visit regularly.

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      Book preview

      Gas Station Stories - Bob Balch

      II.

        "

      BRIEF HISTORY"

      With the advent of the motor vehicle across America in the early 20th century, a new industry was born to service these so called horseless carriages. When Henry Ford began to mass produce the Model T in 1908, the doors were opened for the average American to purchase a motor vehicle, and that they did in mass numbers. Gasoline was first sold behind the counter by local retailers such as hardware stores, grocery stores, general stores, blacksmiths, and garages which sprang up to repair these vehicles. It wasn’t long before corporate America seized upon the opportunity to provide both service and gasoline, and the first American filling stations were born. As stated most fuels were sold in stores in cans without markers. In 1907 in St. Louis a small tin warehouse appeared with two high pedestals upon which rested two old metallic hot water tanks with ordinary garden nozzles from which a gravity flow system was used to dispense gasoline. According to National Petroleum News this was the first American gas station. From this humble beginning the first gas pumps began to appear on the scene with curbside service out of house like sheds. From purchasing gas by the bucket at first it now became necessary to measure sales uniformly by the gallon and pumps began to spring up that could do this for the proprietor and purchaser. Around 1910 stations resembling small houses with larger offices started to appear. Brand names, logos, and advertising arrived on the scene. In the middle teens standardized station designs appeared. In the 1920’s for customer convenience canopies were added. In the 1930’s bays began to appear offering repairs and other services. Other amenities such as public restrooms, water fountains, concessions, and even restaurants were provided. Slowly the station design evolved over time. A more uniform industrial type shape for full service appeared after WWII which continued until the explosion of the modern convenience store design with covered pumps clustered on islands throughout the large parking area in front of the stores in the early 1980’s. The history of the development of the gas pump is a fascinating story in itself. Brand identification also was an important part of station layout and design as companies tried to get an advantage in the ever increasing market. From special identifying uniforms of the attendants to catchy slogans and mascots for their products, the advertising business never had it so good. Just close your eyes and think back in time. What do you see? Which slogans do you remember? Which mascots were your favorites? What were the colors, signs and logos of your favorite company? Now you are getting a feel for what this book is all about. Sit back and enjoy the

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