There is a neat e-mail circulating round the area which contains pictures of old filling stations (gas stations) as they were known back in the 40s and 50's! Wow! Don't they bring back memories of my teen driving years. I sent them around to some of my friends and I got this response back from Donna Collins who lives up near Singhampton.
John
Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this e-mail. My Dad was an owner/operator for Shell Canada for 40yrs. His Dad was before him. Dad closed his station down when Shell tried to force him to go self-service. He claimed that he built his business on and was very successful on his service. He maintained that his customers kept on coming back because of the courtesy and all the extras he and his staff offered like check the oil, clean the windows, top up the windshield washer fluid, and all with a smile and a have a good day. He even insisted that his staff wear the Shell uniform that he had provided and had had cleaned for them each day. I can remember standing on the running board of the old service truck (painted up very similar to the truck in the washing bay of picture #2) and throwing out balloons and candies to all the other children watching the parades. I too used to jump up and down on the bell hose out front. I believe Dad said that when he retired (early) that gas was only 29 cents a GALLON. Those were the days!!
I decided to share Donna's response with our news director, Ian McLennan this morning. He really enjoyed it too and fired back this response...
Yes. I enjoyed that.
Funny, my grandmother’s brother ran the Ole Texaco in Woodstock.My parents told me that in the late 60’s or early 70’s, (a Toronto radio host) paid tribute to my uncle—Cecil Mooney—commenting on the great service he received while at the Texaco in Woodstock. Sure don’t get that kind of treatment now. And my aunt’s dad ran an old gas station across from my grandmother’s beginning in the 40’s. I can recall jumping on the hose to make it ring. And also when the station was closed, tapping on the garage door to get the german shepard(guard dog) to bark its head off.
Fun and games.
It was a nice piece. Bring those days back!