It was a new day yesterday
But its an old day now.
But its an old day now.
McLean, Texas is more a shrine than a lost icon. At its apex there were 16 gasoline stations in less than a square mile, 
Most were 1940's style. Two pumps under an overhang (that was sometimes not) connected to the main building which housed a 2 car service bay and a small office for paperwork and the cash register. The original stations would have had one underground tank. One grade of gasoline. 
As I photographed each station, I thought about my home town's 1950's / 60's gas stations. For a population of 13,000 in about 4 square miles we had 7. A Mobil Flying "A." 2 Union 76. Phillips. Standard Oil. Texaco. 
And a Richfield, who's office was a beautiful circular building with wooden pane windows painted a dark blue. The Richfield sign rose from the top of the office roof. A long vertical fin of letters. Neon lit.
I shot 12 of the 14 stations that were still standing. I am guessing the lost two are vacant lots. #13 was the only operational station. Eight pumps in four rows. No island - no overhang. Quick mart / gas combination. 
#14 was Phillips Petroleum Company's first station (1928). It looks like a cottage and painted an orange like color. A tourist attraction to keep Route 66 alive in McLean. I could not push the shutter. 
The largest station was on the western edge of the town. Twin wing overhangs with a modest central office. 8 two pump stations. 
To handle the increase in traffic the town made Route 66 into a 2 lane Westbound only street. A parallel one way street supported Eastbound traffic. 
It must have been amazing to witness the opening of each station. Would this one finally be able to handle all the travelers?
And then the decline. The corporate meetings to decide whether to keep the station open. The last days of operation - the last day when the doors are locked and the station owner does not return.
Why so many? McLean is 185 miles West of Oklahoma City. 70 miles East of Amarillo. Only a few motels. I would guess that those going Route 66 would find McLean the perfect stop for lunch. Get some gas and go. 
In my home town, the Flying "A" and the Phillips stations were gone before I started to drive. The Richfield became Arco and then was gone. The Texaco was torn down and the site rebuilt as retail shops in the late 90's. Standard Oil sold to an independent. Only one of the Union 76 remain, but the owner of the land wants to build a 2 story office building.
