Colonial Beacon Gas Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Colonial Beacon Gas Station
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 474 Main St., Stoneham, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Coolidge & Carlson |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Stoneham MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002554 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1984 |
The Colonial Beacon Gas Station is a special old building in Stoneham, Massachusetts. It's located at 474 Main Street. This building was once a busy gas station. It was built around 1922 by the Colonial Oil Company. They wanted it to be a very important station in their chain of gas stations.
A Unique Building's Story
This historic gas station was designed by a company called Coolidge & Carlson from Boston. It's made of concrete and stucco. The building has two main parts. One part is shaped like an octagon, which means it has eight sides. This octagonal section was where cars would drive through to get gas. The other part is a rectangular area next to it, which was for service.
Designed to Impress
The octagonal part of the building used to have fancy columns. These columns were called Corinthian columns. They helped hold up the roof. Now, these columns might be covered up or changed. The octagonal section has a round dome on top. At the very top of the dome, there's a small section with pillars. This part once had a special globe made of grillwork. Inside this globe was a light. When the light turned on, it became a bright "beacon." This beacon is how the gas station got its name!
The service area and the part where cars got gas have cool designs. There are "starburst" panels. These panels run along the top of the flat roof of the service area. They also go around the bottom of the dome where the gas was pumped.
From Gas to Goods
The Colonial Beacon Gas Station worked as a place to get gas until after World War II. After that, it became home to different kinds of shops. For example, in 1984, it was a shop that sold flowers and fresh produce. Even with these changes, the building still looks mostly the same as it did. The area where cars used to get gas is now closed off with glass. This makes it a part of the inside of the building.
A Historic Landmark
This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. At that time, it was one of only four Colonial Oil gas stations that were still standing.
