This photograph from 1935 shows the triangle shaped block on the west side of Pacific Avenue that is bounded by South 17th and Jefferson. The General Petroleum Corporation had recently purchased the Depot Service Station that had occupied the block since 1919. They remodeled the building, and put in new pumps - but they kept the name. The Depot Station went through the hands of a number of owners over the years, but it remained standing from 1919 until 2002. This photograph also shows the Carlton and Massasoit Hotels on Jefferson.

Depot Service Station (Tacoma); Commercial streets--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1930-1940; Carlton Hotel (Tacoma);

ca. 1927. Guy N. McCoy's Park Avenue Garage, service station at 56th & Park. Frame service station building, automobiles getting gas. The station was built in 1922. For Sperry & Hutchinson Trading Stamp Company. (filed with Argentum)

Park Avenue Garage (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1926. Wilkeson Service Station interior showing Western Dri-Kure Vulcanizing Manufacturing tire machine. Should be A1815-1.

Wilkeson Garage & Service Station (Tacoma); Tires; Tire industry--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1936. Exterior of Associated Oil service station. Station located at Sixth & Sprague, circa 1936. One island, three pumps, "Flying A" emblem. Automobile on lube rack. For Miller & Miller Advertising. (WSHS)

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Associated Oil Service Stations (Tacoma); Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Standard Oil service stations - Dravis Service Station, for Mr. Evans. The garage has been boarded up although old signs still hang in the front windows. Three gasoline pumps stand in the front of the one story building.

Automobile Service Stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Dravis Service Station;

Standard Oil Stations. Phil Pepper's service station. The gasoline pumps and cover cross the corner lot diagonally. The door to the one service garage is open. TPL-7114

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Phil Pepper Servce Station;

Valley Forge Service Station, believed to be located in Fife. The service station offered Standard Oil products and did automobile repairs. According to additional information provided by a reader, the Valley Forge was believed to have been located near the intersection of Hwy 99 and 54th Ave., across the street and east of the Poodle Dog Restaurant. The Oakwood Dairy, whose delivery truck is parked outside the service station, was located near the intersection of 54th Ave. and 20th St. (Milton Ave.) at the time of this September, 1945, photograph.

Automobile service stations--Fife--1940-1950; Valley Forge Service Station (Fife); Trucks--Fife;

Camp Francis, an automobile court between Tacoma and Seattle on the Seattle Highway (99). Camp Francis offered cabins for rent, as well as gasoline and Standard Oil products.

Automobile service stations--Pierce County--1940-1950; Camp Francis (Pierce County); Tourist camps & hostels--Pierce County; Motels--Pierce County--1940-1950;

A truck prepares to fill up at an unidentified Standard Oil station in September of 1945. The station is located at an unidentified Pierce County location. This is the same station as image #64.

Automobile service stations--Pierce County;

The Eagle Grocery, 2218 Marine View Dr. N.E.; photographed in September of 1945. The small market and automobile service station was owned by Charles Powell.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Eagle Grocery, 2218 Marine View Dr. N.E.; photographed in September of 1945. The small market and automobile service station was owned by Charles Powell. He and his wife Marian lived at the same address, probably on the second floor.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Grocery stores--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Standard Oil service station located at Mallon Ford, 5617 South Tacoma Way. The Ford dealership structure was built in 1917 for the Edward P. Leonard Ford Agency. Tommy Mallon had the gas station added in 1938.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mallon Motors, Inc. (Tacoma);

Clark's Garage - under construction.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Standard Oil Co. of California (Tacoma); Clark's Garage (Tacoma);

The Standard Oil gas station located at the Camp Tahoma Auto Camp cabins, 3836 South Tacoma Way. Camp Tahoma, owned by Frank and B.J. Winkes, offered the driving public an alternative to staying in a hotel. The auto camp was demolished around 1966 to make way for Gill Lincoln Mercury.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tourist camps & hostels--Tacoma; Motels--Tacoma--1940-1950; Camp Tahoma (Tacoma);

In 1945, Daley's Garage occupied part of the ground floor of 1411-17 Pacific Ave, the home of the Schoenfeld annex and Bargain Loft. Schoenfelds had expanded into this site around 1940. Daley's Garage, owned by John J and John M Daley, offered the consumer a place to park and also gas up. The actual street address for the garage was 1415 Pacific Ave.

Daley's Garage (Tacoma); Schoenfelds Bargain Loft (Tacoma);

Thorsen's Service Station was an official distributor of Standard Oil Company gasoline. View of garage interior, tires on top shelf (left side), advertisements featuring "RPM" lubrication and oil products and "Filko" automotive replacement parts, and grease rack in center.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies stores--Tacoma; Thorsen's Service Station (Tacoma);

Exterior view of Christiansen's Shell Service Station, located on Portland Avenue and East 98th Street. The building has two gas pumps islands and three visible pumps, an automobile parts and supplies shop, and an auto repair garage. Photo was ordered by Shields, Harper and Company, an industrial equipment supplier based out of Seattle, Washington.

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Gasoline--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Automobile equipment & supplies; Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Shields, Harper & Co. (Seattle);

Big Six Service was owned by M. A. Martin, they were located at 3826 Sixth Avenue. Big Six offered their customers a full service gas station with a repair shop, fuel oil, battery and tire service, radios and electrical appliances. Exterior view of Big Six Service station, photo ordered by West Marquis Incorporated, an advertising agency based out of Seattle. The man in the hat is reported to be Malvin Andreas Martin. TPL-9267

Automobile service stations--Tacoma; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Gasoline--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Big Six Service (Tacoma); West Marquis, Inc. (Seattle);

Associated Oil Service Stations. Eldred J. Omundson and Paul L. Crosby operated the Associated station at 3102 South 12th Street. The station features the "Flying A" neon sign over its distinctive concentric rings on top of the station. The station featured Aero batteries and Federal tires. A sign affixed to a light pole in the parking area reminds customers of the Community Chest drive. The lot is fenced and two automobiles are parked near the station. TPL-1886

Associated Oil Service Stations (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Omundson & Crosby Gas Station (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950; Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On February 11, 1952 two of the mechanics at Big 6 Service Station were photographed while lubricating a Cadillac while it was up on the hoist in the garage at Sixth and Proctor. The mechanic at the far right has been identified as Paul Eaton. TPL-7181

Big Six Service (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma; Cadillac automobile; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1950-1960; Eaton, Paul;

A woman bends over to look under her car as one of the mechanics at the Shell station at Division and Yakima lubricates it while the car is up on the rack. Tires, belts and other supplies are stored along the back line.

Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mechanics (Persons)--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mobilgas Station, automobile by gas pumps, Coke Machine. For West Marquis Inc., Dexter Horton Inc., Seattle Account of General Petroleum.

Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Mobil Oil Dealers - Tacoma

ca. 1951. Self-service gas stations, although relatively rare in the early 1950's, were starting to make their mark in the Puget Sound area. This photograph, taken probably in the late summer of 1951, announced the grand opening of a Serve-Ur-Self type of service station. Four uncovered gas pumps wait for the incoming motorist. Quaker State Motor Oil and Miller tires could be purchased as well. Free gifts were also promised to all who stopped by during the grand opening.

Automobile service stations; Automobile equipment & supplies; Gasoline pumps;

Shell Station #L814 was newly opened in the summer of 1951; it was located on South 38th Street near Thompson. Owned by Lyle Edwards, Edwards Shell Station had two gasoline pumps in a large parking lot. A banner advertising that Shell provided the "most powerful gasoline you can use" hung over the office entrance. The familiar "shell" shaped sign alerted customers to the new service station.

Edwards Shell Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Vehicle maintenance & repair--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices);

Close up of Ernie's Lakewood Center Service with a Union 76 station. Photograph was taken on Halloween, 1951, of the service station located at 9404 Gravelly Lake Dr. S.W. Operated by Ernie Eichler, it celebrated its grand opening on December 3, 1949.

Lakewood Center Service Co. (Lakewood); Automobile service stations--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Searchlights pierce the darkness of a winter evening as they beckon drivers to the new Shell Service Station at South Twenty Sixth Street and Pacific Avenue on December 6, 1952. Owned by Jesse C. McGee and Kenneth T. Baker, the gas station was actually located at 2523 Pacific Avenue. It celebrated its grand opening in early December with free giveaways. This view of the exterior of the new station was taken from across the street. The station, with the company name aglow in neon, apparently had four pumps and a small repair facility. Photograph ordered by Shell Oil. (TNT 12-4-52, D-3--ad)

Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1950-1960; Twenty Sixth & Pacific Shell Service (Tacoma); Searchlights--Tacoma; Gasoline pumps--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shell Oil Co., Inc. (Tacoma);

Sunshine Service, new General Petroleum Company Mobilgas station at So. 48th and Park. Night time view of quartet singing in the doorway of the MobiLubrication garage. For Smith and Drum, J.J. Miller.

Business Enterprises - Automobile Service Stations - Mobil Oil Dealers - Tacoma - Sunshine Service Station Music Ensembles - QuartetsMusic - SingingPeople - Men - Singers

ca. 1938. Beacon Service Station at 84th Street and South Tacoma Way. Attendant handing customer a spark plug, display of Richfield products. For Richfield Oil Corporation of California. (T. Times) (filed with Argentum)

Beacon Service Station (Tacoma); Automobile service stations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Automobile equipment & supplies;

Big Six Bowling Team, the "Oilers." Big Six Service Inc. was located at 3824 Sixth Ave. M.A. Martin was president-manager and J.J. McDonald was vice-president. The company sold gasoline, oils, stove oil, batteries, tires, radios and electrical appliances. Their bowling team was the 1941 Sixth Ave. Merchants Bowling League champion. Pictured are, front row l to r, Malcolm Panther, Clarence Rinard and Harold Hansen. Standing, l to r, Jack Clampitt, Walt Agney, Mel Martin and Bill Clampitt. (T. Times 4/22/1941, pg. 12)

Big Six Service Inc. (Tacoma); Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Big Six Bowling Team, the "Oilers." Big Six Service Inc. was located at 3826 Sixth Ave. M.A. Martin was president-manager and J.J. McDonald was vice-president. The company sold gasoline, oils, stove oil, batteries, tires, radios and electrical appliances. Their bowling team was the 1941 Sixth Ave. Merchants Bowling League champion. Pictured are, front row l to r, Malcolm Panther, Clarence Rinard and Harold Hansen. Standing, l to r, Jack Clampitt, Walt Agney, Mel Martin and Bill Clampitt. (T. Times 4/22/1941, pg. 12)

Big Six Service Inc. (Tacoma); Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Panther, Malcolm; Rinard, Clarence; Hansen, Harold; Clampitt, Jack; Agney, Walt; Martin, Mel; Clampitt, Bill;