Wadham's Oil and Grease Company of Milwaukee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wadham's Gas Station
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 Location in Wisconsin
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| Location | West Allis, Wisconsin |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Alexander C. Eschweiler |
| Architectural style | Japonist |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000849 |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 2004 |
Have you ever seen a gas station that looks like a Japanese temple? In the early 1900s, the Wadham's Oil and Grease Company built dozens of them! This company was based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it became famous for its unique and eye-catching service stations.
Back when cars were a new invention, getting gasoline wasn't easy. A man named Harger W. Dodge took over his father-in-law's company in 1916 and had a big idea. He wanted to make it simple for people to fill up their cars. He created special off-street stations with underground tanks to hold the gas and electric pumps to get it into the cars.
In 1930, Wadham's was bought by the Vacuum Oil Company. Later, this company became part of Socony, which you might know by its more modern name, Mobil.
Contents
Pagoda-Style Gas Stations
In the early days of cars, most gas stations were plain and boring. Some people even thought they were ugly. Harger W. Dodge wanted his stations to be different. He wanted them to stand out and be memorable.
A Unique Building Design
Dodge hired a Milwaukee architect named Alexander C. Eschweiler to create a special design. At the time, art and styles from Japan were very popular in America. Inspired by this trend, Eschweiler designed gas stations that looked like a pagoda, a type of tiered tower common in Asia.
This was a clever idea because it was one of the first times a company used its building's design to create a brand identity. This means that when people saw a pagoda-shaped building, they immediately knew it was a Wadham's gas station.
What Did They Look Like?
Wadham's built over 100 of these special pagoda stations between 1917 and 1930. While they all shared the same style, each one was a little different.
- Roofs: The roofs were the most noticeable feature. They were made of stamped metal tiles painted a bright red and curved up at the edges, just like a real pagoda. Many had a small tower, called a cupola, on top with lanterns hanging from the corners.
- Walls and Windows: The walls were usually painted black with bright yellow trim. The stations had huge plate-glass windows at the front and many smaller windows along the sides, making them look open and welcoming.
Where Are They Now?
Today, only a few of these amazing buildings are still standing.
One station, built in 1927 in West Allis, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It stopped selling gas in 1978. The city restored it in 2000, and now it's a museum display that shows what a Wadham's station looked like in its heyday.
Another station, built in 1926, is located in Cedarburg. It is part of a historic district and is now used as a jewelry store. It's a great example of how a cool, old building can be given a new life.
See also
- Fantastic architecture
- Gas pump
