 |
DoorCountyTravelersJournal.com |
| ... Your Quick & Happy Door County Read |
|
The other day I heard my grandma and grandpa talking about full-service gas stations. We were on our way up to Fish Creek to visit some friends, and we stopped to get gas. There was a sign on the pumps that read "Self-Serve." Actually that's all I have ever seen at any gas station. Then there is a little building where you can buy candy and other stuff. So Skipper, what is a "full-service gas station" and where is one? What am I missing? Do they have more food and drinks in them or what? Your friend, Zach Grade 3, Sturgeon Bay Dear Zach: Full-service gas stations are something from the past, like when your grandma and grandpa were growing up, or maybe your Mom and Dad, if they are old enough. Those were the original gas stations ever built. Instead of having candy and drinks in the building, they were more like an automotive repair shop, with mechanics and lifts to hoist the cars up in the air to work on them. There might have been a candy or soda machine, but really, you aren't missing much unless you are into fixing cars. The other big thing about full-service gas stations is that you didn't have to get out of the car and pump your own gas! A person, usually a smiley man or boy, would run out to your car. You would roll down your window (not many power windows then) and tell him "Fill it up with regular". He would ask, "Shall I check the oil, sir?" and he would do just that, if you agreed. If the oil was low, he would put more in! You could just stay in your car unless you needed to go to the bathroom. While the gas was pumping he would wash your windows, sometimes all of them! How cool is that? What was really neat about the old stations is that sometimes the gas station guy would live upstairs in an apartment. It was more of a family operation than it is today. Over the years, these kind of stations gradually disappeared. Gas station owners decided they could make more money by having you pump your own gas and by selling treats, drinks, and grocery items instead of working on cars. Sometimes they offered full service at some pumps for a higher price and self-service at the other pumps for a lower price. You were paying a little extra for the guy to come out and help you. Nowadays we don't see many full-service gas stations left. But there are some here and there, and this is a really important thing for people who are not physically able to pump their own gas. If you are handicapped or sick or elderly, you would have a hard time doing it. Some stations in our area are not really full service anymore but are still in the old building that had the living place upstairs. They are cute and remind us of the past. Have you seen any? I have; there is one in downtown Kewaunee called Parkos Service. I remember it from when I worked at the Kewaunee County News down there. Thanks for your question! Your friend, Skipper the Door County Otter
Write to Skipper at: skipper (at) doorcountytravelersjournal (dot) com Questions for Skipper are due one week in advance of the publication of his column, that is, Tuesdays, so that he has ample time to ponder, research, and respond intelligently. © Copyright 2011 by DoorCountyTravelersJournal.com
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Email article to a friend
