The small town we live nearest to, Ridgeland, just opened a town museum in an old gas station donated by a citizen. It's called the Morris Center and its first exhibit is about Highway 17, a historic road in South Carolina that put Ridgeland on the map and then took off again when Interstate 95 opened and bypassed it.
Highway 17 is an extension of the King's Highway commissioned by King Charles II as a postal route for the king's couriers built between 1673 and 1735.
The original King's Highway ran along the coast for 1300 miles from Boston, Massachusetts to Charles Town (Charleston), South Carolina.
(Photo from public domain)
But back to Ridgeland and the Morris Center.
Here it is today, looking a lot like it looked in its heyday.
It was built in 1937 at a cost of $5000 and served motorists traveling Highway 17, the Coastal Highway, through Georgia and as far south as Punta Gorda, Florida.
I found this old photo of it from the early 1950s.
Around the service station "motor courts" sprang up to provide automobile travelers places to sleep and restaurants to feed them.
The motels also still exist in Ridgeland, although now mostly as cheap rooms for the poor and transient to rent by the week.
Claude Dean worked in the station for his uncle and later bought it.
Here he remembers Ridgleland's heydays.
Here's what was recommended for automobile travelers to carry with them in the early days of long distance travel.
My family traveled a lot and I had seen most of the United States by the time I was a teenager. Every summer we would pack up the car with camping equipment and head out for a few weeks to explore the country.
My sister and I favored Sinclair gas stations because we like the dinosaur.
On the road, early 1950s
Is it any wonder I love to travel?
Posted with Blogsy
It's no wonder - it's in the blood. That's a classic petrol station, good to see old buildings put to good use.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fascinating piece of history about the highway and its connection to Charles II How fitting that the Museum is in a gas station. Can't believe how little you have changed over the years!
ReplyDeleteI really like repurposed buildings! I like old photos that stir good memories, too.
DeleteWonderful educational post! Thank you
ReplyDeleteyou live in the lovely town so different from European ones
ReplyDeleteInteresting historical post, Cynthia.
ReplyDeleteThere is an historical town near the Clare Valley in SA, called Burra,
which I have told you about with links etc.
In this town there are quite a few antique shops selling all manner/matter
of stuff. One sells these old petrol bowsers or what you call "gas" machines.
I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would collect them and for that
matter where would you display your lovely purchase - front garden???? ha ha.
Cheers
Colin
PS: Still this lovely weather here in Brisbane - only expected to get to 33 Celsius
today, but down in Melbourne for the "Australian Open" tennis, the heat besides on the court
is terrible. On day 1 thankfully the "extreme heat rules" were not needed.
We call them gas pumps. I do see the old ones in people's yards as a decoration. They are quite expensive in shops.m to each his own!
DeleteLove that restored station. We didn't know the treasures we had back then!
ReplyDeleteI remember Sinclair gas stations too, we traveled route 66 a lot.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting post. It is so good that the gas station has been given a new life. Love the old photo.
ReplyDeleteI like the 42 cent gas! I remember gas at 29 cents.
ReplyDeleteI know! And did you also notice there is only one place available on the left of the decimal for the total purchase? I think that means y couldn't spend more than $1.99 on a full-up. Wow, wouldn't that be nice!
DeleteI like to see old building restored, it's history of architecture.
ReplyDeleteFancy a list of what was needed back then to drive on a long journey. Good idea I expect.
You was lucky to have that opportunity of travelling your country when young....nice memory on that :)
Nice post to read all the old histories. My parents also liked to travel and took us abroad in Europe. We only had no car but went by train or bus. I was also affected with the travelvirus and love to go on journeys.
ReplyDeleteThis brought back memories for me too. I like how families stopped at picnic tables along the road to eat back then. We always did that when traveling. Sometimes if daddy drove quite a ways without finding a picnic table and we were all hungry, he would pull off at a decent looking clear spot, open the trunk and mama would spread a cloth and unpack lunch right there. I love your posts!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Henny Penny. I enjoy your blog, too. We still take our food and picnic when we travel even if it's just s shopping trip, sometimes outdoors and sometimes in the car. It's nice to enjoy a quiet, pretty spot rather than a restaurant I think. And our food is healthier.
DeleteComplimenti per la tua passione, è bello far rivivere nella memoria luoghi, persone e fatti. Tutto questo deve essere custodito poichè la storia insegna a rispettare l'ambiente.
ReplyDelete"Congratulations on your passion , it's nice to revive the memory places , people and events . All this must be kept as history teaches us to respect the environment ."
DeleteThank you for visiting my blog and commenting, Gianni.
What a wonderful museum! So glad it wasn't torn down! No wonder is right...you sure were cute in that old photo! :)
ReplyDeleteHi, from biebkriebel. Highways sure change. Wonder if they had trouble getting funding to put in the highway.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on