There has been considerable curiosity among the residents of Mansfield regarding a quaint fuel station visible from Cook Rd. After locating the proprietors, I initiated contact and courteously requested a tour and informational session. Delightfully, the owners graciously granted my request for a tour through their time machine and a glimpse into their memories.
The charming fuel station on Cook Rd., accompanied by its neighboring cabin, is under the ownership of Mr. M and his esteemed spouse. Mr. M graciously facilitated a comprehensive tour and permitted photography. In the interest of brevity. Mr. M’s collection of antiques and memorabilia comes from all over the country. Mr. M has been collecting for over 40+ years and has an awe-inspiring collection. It made me feel like a kid in the candy store.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. M and his esteemed wife for graciously welcoming me into their splendid home and generously sharing their cherished memories. It has been an honor to capture and convey their remarkable stories to all of you. It’s important to note that Mr. M’s emphatically acknowledged that none of his achievements would have been possible without the unwavering support and love of his cherished partner, his beloved wife.
I shall refrain from delving into an extensive narrative. Instead, I invite your attention to the accompanying photographs, each of which conveys its unique narrative.
Images are of a large file size and you may need to click on them individually, may not load into the image carousel.
This photograph captures Mr. M alongside his impeccably preserved 1955 Ford Thunderbird, a prized collectible boasting approximately 800 original miles and housed within a meticulously maintained garage. Mr. M glows with pride standing next to his cherished possession, and rightfully so, as it stands as a remarkable piece of automotive history.
This photograph presents a captivating sight. Mr. M has ingeniously repurposed a Texaco fuel pump into a functioning television, a testament to his creativity and craftsmanship. This unique addition to his living space has become a focal point, where Mr. M actively indulges in regular viewing. As an accomplished engineer with decades of experience in constructing roads nationwide, Mr. M’s ingenuity shines through in this remarkable transformation, adding a distinctive touch to his ultimate man cave.
This photo of a photograph captures a glimpse into the past: a snapshot of Mr. M’s first fuel station, painstakingly constructed at his former residence. Regrettably, the subsequent owners failed to uphold its legacy, and this charming structure now exists only in memory.
In bygone days, Texaco delighted young patrons by gifting them a set of twelve marbles for every purchase of ten gallons or more of gasoline. Marbles held a cherished place in children’s pastimes, offering hours of entertainment. Additionally, in an era predating modern GPS technology, navigating the roads relied on the trusty guidance of road maps.
This intriguing photograph is sure to evoke nostalgia for many. Mr. M shared with me that this phone booth was of the variety designed for vehicular use – a convenient option where motorists could simply pull up, insert coins, and dial their desired number. Nowadays we carry our phones with us in the palm of our hands. Once thought of as science fiction.
Surprisingly, there was a time when milk delivery was a common place occurrence. Every morning, glass bottles were filled with milk and carefully placed into crates. These crates were then loaded onto wagons, ready for the milkman’s journey through the neighborhoods, delivering not only milk but sometimes also orange juice, bringing freshness right to people’s doorsteps all across town.
To limit the length of this article. I will post the rest of the photos and let your imaginations run wild.
