The photo's location kind of intrigued me; it was on E. Erie (U.S. Route 6) at Georgia Ave. and I assumed it was located where Terry's Dairy (the former Dairy Queen) is now – but I was wrong. The Lorain Crystal Ice Company was at that location in the pre-DQ days.
Plus, the service station's address – 854 E. Erie – was on the other side (south side) of the street.
 |
| Vintage Hi-Speed sign |
The service station appeared in the city directory until around 1958, when the 854 E. Erie address was listed as "vacant."
Next, a variety of companies appeared in the directory at that address, including a laundry in the 1960s (The Washing Well) and a beauty salon in the 1970s.
After a macrame supply company briefly appeared at that location in the books in the late 1970s, the longtime business that followed is well-remembered by its fans: Granny D's Pizza.
The two tragedies that took place at that address– the murder of Granny D's Pizza owner Dave Kowalczyk, as well as the suspicious fire at the successor business D'Tutanelli's Pizza – will forever cast a sad shadow on that location.
Here is the 854 E. Erie location today. I don't know for sure if the current building is the same as the 1940s building, but it sure is likely; check out the two thick vertical structural elements on both sides of the entrance that are visible in both photos.
4 comments:
I think Georgia Huntington womens clothes was there. I went once with my Mom.
That definitely looks like the original building. Besides the two columns you pointed out (which match the original and serve no apparent purpose today), the location of all the windows are the same. It's difficult to tell for sure from your photo online, but it looks like there are two lines below the big window on the right, where they closed off the garage door for the service bay and turned it into a window.
I always thought it would be great if somebody bought one of these surviving gas station buildings and turned it back into a working vintage style gas station. Would make quite an attraction.
If I drove past a place like that, I'd have to stop just to see what the heck a lubritorium is! lol
I wonder if it's possible that this station became a Phillips 66 sometime after Hi-Speed and Pure. The shape of the canopy and location of the sign looks like the Phillips harlequin design of the 1960s. Perhaps Phillips remodeled and added the canopy.
Post a Comment