After reading the article on the closing of Sparky’s, it brought back some good memories.
Sparky’s was originally my dad’s, Errol Wilson, full- service Phillips 66 gas station, built in 1945.
He started in a tiny, gas pumps only Phillips 66 station in 1942. He had to do all his service work, such as oil & filter changes, tire repairs, replacing mufflers, etc., outside. He would lie on a little creeper and slide under the car(or truck) to do his work, even in the wintertime with bitterly cold temps. He soon built up a thriving business, and Mr. Van Scoy from the First National Bank asked Dad when he was going to build a full-size station. Before Dad could even mention the cost, Mr. Vanscoy said he would arrange the financing and told Dad to bring in a blueprint for the design & estimated costs to build it, and get it done. The new station would be located on a large lot next to the old station, which would eventually be hauled away to become a one car garage next to the house I was born in.
Problem was there was a large stump in the middle of the new lot. Dad’s father, John Wilson (my grandfather), was an experienced dynamiter. He blew the stump clear up in the air, and had it hauled away.
Construction began and in 1945 Dad opened his new full-service gas station, which became a very successful business. He had one stall with a hoist which allowed him to do almost every kind of service job, including even engine repairs. There was a second stall for washing cars (which I did in High School), and other odd jobs.
Later he was the first business in town to sell TVs, and his station soon became the social center of town. Friday & Saturday nights the station was packed with people wanting to watch television (the adults sat on the chairs and us kids sat on top of the cardboard TV boxes).
Dad ran this station till 1957 when he took over his brother Ed’s Phillips 66 tank wagon service. J.D. McDowell, who had worked for Dad for a long time, then took over running the station. Dad sold his stations & tank wagon business when he retired in 1980.
The full-service gas station is now just a memory, but for a long time it was a good business which provided a very good service to the community.
– Lynn Wilson
Dad’s first station as it looked in 1942
My parents and I standing in the driveway
The old tank truck that delivered gas to his station
Dad’s new station as it looked in 1945