Standard Oil Gasoline Station (Odell, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Standard Oil Gasoline Station
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The restored Standard Oil Station in Odell, Illinois.
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| Location | Odell, Livingston County, Illinois, USA |
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| Built | 1932 |
| MPS | Historic and Architectural Resources of Route 66 Through Illinois |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001338 |
| Added to NRHP | November 9, 1997 |
The Standard Oil Gasoline Station is a special old gas station in Odell, Illinois. It sits right along the famous historic road, U.S. Route 66. Long ago, before big highways like interstates existed, this station helped drivers on their long trips across the country. It looks a lot like many other gas stations that were built along Route 66.
Contents
The Story of the Odell Gas Station
When Was the Station Built?
This gas station was built in 1932. A man named Patrick O'Donnell bought a small piece of land, about 200 feet long and 60 feet wide, in Odell, Illinois. His plan was to build a gas station there and then let his son run it.
How Was the Station Designed?
The station was designed like an older Standard Oil station from 1916. It had a "house and canopy" style, meaning it looked a bit like a small house with a roof extending out over the gas pumps. Later on, work bays were added to the station. These were areas where cars could be repaired. If you look closely inside, you can see that these repair bays were added after the main building was finished.
What Brands of Gas Did It Sell?
For its first few years, the station sold Standard Oil products. But by 1940, it started selling Phillips 66 brands instead. There were at least nine other gas stations along Route 66 in Odell. This competition probably led to the station adding the repair bays by the 1940s to offer more services. The station changed a few times between 1940 and 1952. At one point, it even sold Sinclair products.
Who Owned the Station Later On?
In 1952, a man named Robert Close started leasing the station from Patrick O'Donnell. When O'Donnell passed away, Close bought the station from his family. Robert Close and his family even lived in the building next door, which used to be a cafe but was changed into a house. They lived there until the house burned down in the 1970s. Close continued to do car body work at the station until 1999.
Saving a Piece of History
In 1999, the Village of Odell bought the station. They wanted to fix it up and bring it back to its original look. The Route 66 Association of Illinois became interested in the project. They helped get the station listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 9, 1997. This means it's an important historical site that should be preserved.
Why Route 66 Changed
Route 66 started to become less busy in the mid-1940s. In 1946, a new road was built around Odell. This meant cars didn't drive directly past the gas stations and businesses anymore. Because of this, many businesses along the old road started to close. The O'Donnell station, however, stayed open until 1967. It lasted longer than many others because it offered car repair services in addition to selling gasoline.
