Long ago on independence square (Kansas City, Lee's Summit: locations, winter, work)

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

The One Pump Gas Station had exactly that--one pump. He kept his price one cent lower than everyone else and in keeping with the times, an attendant filled the car.

I dont believe one could buy Ethyl gasoline there. Back then I dont believe you could get more than one grade from one pump station, while today each pump station usually has three separate grades available.

Remember the Standard Oil "White Crown" "Blue Crown" "Red Crown" and "Gold Crown" gasoline?

Back then every oil company had their own additives that made your automobile run like it was new, chuckle.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Remember the Standard Oil "White Crown" "Blue Crown" "Red Crown" and "Gold Crown" gasoline?

Back then every oil company had their own additives that made your automobile run like it was new, chuckle.

Here is the Standard Oil Gold Crown. I think it was supposed to represent a King of England crown or some such.

I think Gold Crown was the most "ethylized" gas they had.

When one pulled into a Standard Oil Station each pump had a crown similar to this one on top. If I patronized a Standard station, I pulled up close to the White Crown pump for regular and I told the attendant to give me $1 worth of White Crown. I never could afford to fill up in the fifties.

However, I very seldom patronized a Standard Station because their prices, along with the other majors like Phillips 66 or Texaco, charged at least two cents more per gallon than the independent stations, such as Site Oil, etc.

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Those motels along Highway 24 we have mentioned were all that were available in Independence back in the fifties. They were all mom and pops. There were no national chains.

The Earle Hotel was on the square but there was nothing else in town.

I think the Holiday Inn on 40 highway and Noland in the late fifties marked the first motel away from 24 Highway.

Maybe, but before the US 40 western stretch was annexed (I think the map shows in 1956) there were several Mom n Pop motels that I suspect were built before the HI. Li-Kome, Kozy Kourts, B-B Lodge Motel.

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by MRG Dallas

Maybe, but before the US 40 western stretch was annexed (I think the map shows in 1956) there were several Mom n Pop motels that I suspect were built before the HI. Li-Kome, Kozy Kourts, B-B Lodge Motel.

The first one was closer in on 40 hiway, ( just west of Sterling on the south side) the last two, were also on 40 hiway but were a little further west, (west of Blue Ridge Cutoff) towards K.C.:

[SilverDoc]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Remember the Standard Oil "White Crown" "Blue Crown" "Red Crown" and "Gold Crown" gasoline?

Back then every oil company had their own additives that made your automobile run like it was new, chuckle.

[SIZE=+3][/SIZE]


The Ethyl Corporation is a gasoline additive manufacturer. Originally Ethyl was founded as a 1922 joint venture between General Motors, DuPont, and Standard Oil of New Jersey (Exxon).

This logo was on gas pumps and/or the glass globes. People would soon learn that this symbol meant higher or premium quality, and therefore, gas with this additive was called premium or Ethyl.

Most, if not all of the major gas companies, and also the smaller ones, used Ethyl as an additive in their higher grade gasoline.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by SilverDoc

The first one was closer in on 40 hiway, ( just west of Sterling on the south side) the last two, were also on 40 hiway but were a little further west, (west of Blue Ridge Cutoff) towards K.C.:

Last year I went looking for the USmile and could not find it. It was apparently torn down. There were a few WCHS dinners held there after graduation.

[WCHS'59]

At one time the business location on the northwest corner of 35th and Noland had a difficult time keeping a business in business.

The lot size is constricted because of the railroad tracks. Over the years a number of places moved in and then out. Access is restricted somewhat also.

A Sonic is at that location now. Cities Service was the first to go in there. That company is now Citgo, which is Venezuelan owned.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Mr. Brown then went across Kiger and built a hardware and a dime store and service station on that corner displacing the ice cream place, which was not that old. The service station was run by a fellow named Stan who was Mr. Brown's son in law. I use to go in the back of his station and would select the best discarded tire he had for $1 when I needed a tire for my car. All these buildings are now gone.

Stan's Service at 23rd and Kiger (now Lee's Summit Rd) sold DX gasoline.

[SilverDoc]

How about one of these:

[MRG Dallas]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Last year I went looking for the USmile and could not find it. It was apparently torn down. There were a few WCHS dinners held there after graduation.

There was a second U-Smile at 7501 Blue Parkway which would put it about 50 Highway "350" & 435.