Highlights Archives
Fill 'er Up at Wisconsin's Historic Gas Stations
Since their unremarkable beginnings as cheap shacks and curbside pumps at the dawn of the automobile age, gas stations have taken many forms and worn many guises — castles, cottages and teepees, Art Deco and Streamline Moderne, clad with wood, stucco, or gleaming porcelain in seemingly infinite variety. But, where hundreds of gas stations once stood in Wisconsin's largest cities, only a handful remain today, victims of competition, obsolescence, changing transportation needs and housing patterns, as well as stronger environmental regulation. Wisconsin's historic stations, some of which are featured in the upcoming Wisconsin Public Television documentary Fill 'er Up: The Glory Days of Wisconsin Gas Stations (premiering July 12 at 7:30 p.m.), are the subject of this month's feature image gallery from Wisconsin Historical Images, the Society's online image database.
Gas stations developed in the early 20th century to provide fuel and other car-related products in a convenient location for the growing number of automobile owners. The earliest gas station was the "curbside" type, which appeared at the edge of the street, often in front of hardware and grocery stores. Evolving in tandem with the rest of America, gas stations responded with architectural and operational changes to the Depression, World War II, the postwar boom and new interstate highway system, and the environmental movements of the late 20th century, taking multiple forms over their long history.
But as ubiquitous as gas stations are to our modern society, they are possibly the most ephemeral of all commercial buildings. Built for a single, specialized use in a highly competitive business, the majority of Wisconsin's historic stations have been demolished. We may not dwell upon the evolution of gas stations or their historical importance, but in a culture directly shaped by the automobile, gas stations are an unavoidable and indispensable background in our daily lives.
Interested in learning more about Wisconsin gas stations? Check out the new Wisconsin Public Television produced program, Fill 'er Up: The Glory Days of Wisconsin Gas Stations premiering July 12, with encore broadcasts airing on July 14 and July 15 (check local listings for times). The program is a collaborative effort of the Society and Wisconsin Public Television. The companion book from Wisconsin Historical Society Press by James Draeger and Mark Speltz visits 60 Wisconsin gas stations still standing today and will be available in 2008.
Additional resources:
:: Posted July 11, 2007
|
