Thursday, November 19, 2009

Dwight, IL: Ambler's Texaco Station

Ambler's Texaco Station was built in 1933 by Jack Shore. It featured the common architectural gas station design know as the "house and canopy" or domestic style.



The filling station had many owners over the years, but the most prominent one remains Basil "Tubby" Ambler who owned and operated the station between 1938-1966. Today the station is still refered to as the "Ambler's Texaco Station."



Even with that, the Station is also known as Becker's Marathon Gas Station when Phil Becker took over in 1970. For 26 years, Becker and his wife Debbie operated the station. In 1996, the couple leased the building to an auto repair business.



The station last dispensed gasoline in 1999 and was the longest operating gas station along the Route.



The building was donated to the village of Dwight. It took between to 2005-2007 for the station to be restored to its 1940s look. The station was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 2001. Today, it serves as a welcome center to travelers on the Route.

No comments:

Post a Comment