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W6071 US-12 | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society

Property Record

W6071 US-12

Architecture and History Inventory
W6071 US-12 | Property Record | Wisconsin Historical Society
NAMES
Historic Name:Service Station
Other Name:Shell Station
Contributing:
Reference Number:244806
PROPERTY LOCATION
Location (Address):W6071 US-12
County:Walworth
City:
Township/Village:La Grange
Unincorporated Community:La Grange
Town:4
Range:16
Direction:E
Section:23
Quarter Section:NW
Quarter/Quarter Section:NW
PROPERTY FEATURES
Year Built:1939
Additions:
Survey Date:2022
Historic Use:gas station/service station
Architectural Style:Art Deco
Structural System:
Wall Material:Stucco
Architect:
Other Buildings On Site:N
Demolished?:No
Demolished Date:
NATIONAL AND STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
National/State Register Listing Name:Not listed
National Register Listing Date:
State Register Listing Date:
NOTES
Additional Information:The Wendell Nelson Service Station was constructed in 1939 according to the date painted on the front window. A large modern concrete-block addition with five service bays is attached to the side (west) elevation. The front (south) display windows feature previous occupants’ names. The words “Wendell ‘W.C.’ Nelson Est 1939” is painted on the west window. “Darr’s Service 1949-2019” is painted on the east window. Nelson went on to serve as Chairman of the County Board after owning the station. No other information was found regarding Darr or his business. The service station had a restoration in 2019 based on Google maps images from 2018. It is unclear if the building was originally stucco. The pre-restoration garage doors and glass-block windows were retained. A white painted “Shell” sign above the entrance was replaced with a yellow and red sign, and a matching “Shellubrication” sign was added above the overhead doors. Finally, the original pumps have been replaced with one decorative vintage pump in the recreated pump island in front of the station.
Bibliographic References:
RECORD LOCATION
Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin

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Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory Citation
Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, "Historic Name", "Town", "County", "State", "Reference Number".