Remembrances - Wanamaker's Filling Stations

By Sylvia Henricks
First printed in the Franklin Township Informer, November 29, 2007

When Dave Ostheimer and Eddie Meyer got to reminiscing during lunch on a recent Wednesday at Wheatley’s, they began to name the “gas stations” that they remembered along what is now Southeastern Avenue. The list kept growing, and during the following week Dave wrote down the names of all the stations. “Hoosier Pete” was one Eddie had forgotten.

Here is the list: “Gas Stations” Along State Road 29 (Southeastern Ave.) in Franklin Towship. Listed West to East:

  1. H.A. Waterman’s
  2. “United Station” (southwest corner Five Points and Southeastern)
  3. Denny’s Market (now Marathon Convenience Store)
  4. Jack Horner’s (now the Gold Mine)
  5. Sinclair Station (north side Southeastern Ave, west of Franklin Road)
  6. Texaco Station (northeast corner Franklin Road and Southeastern, now Marathon Convenience Store)
  7. Ault’s Mobil (now Randy’s Pizza)
  8. Flagle’s (now Wanamaker Flower Shop)
  9. Hunphrey Motors (now Dalton Body Shop)
  10. Elmo’s Gulf (site of present Dollar General Store)
  11. Wanamaker Auto Service (Stu Joyce, JohnYoke and others)
  12. Neal’s Standard (now Logan’s)
  13. Indian Gas, at R.Purvis, Groceries, Dry Goods, Hardware (now Wheatley’s)
  14. Humphrey Garage (mid-block of existing Allied Appliances)
  15. Site of Buck Creek Nursery (uncertain of this location)
  16. “Hoosier Pete” Station (Acton Road and Southeastern).

Note: These stations were not all in existence at the same time. Credit to Eddie Meyer for starting this list!

Dave and Eddie remembered “gas wars” when gasoline prices went down to 15.9 or 17.9 cents a gallon. They recalled the noise the semis made going through Wanamaker, before the completion of I-74 diverted trucks.

I remember the days when you drove into a filling station, and an attendant hurried out to “fill ‘er up,” and while the tank was filling, he washed your windshield, checked the oil and, if you wished, the pressure in your tires. And gas in those days was 25 cents or so a gallon!

Ault's Service Station

Above: Ault’s Service, 8602 Southeastern Ave, now Randy’s Pizza. Photo taken about 1953 by Earl Mattingly. The car is a 1950 Chevrolet.

RANDOM FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP FACT: