Early Filling Station Lives Again
Edited By James Burnes

The following is from material provided by the City of Lebanon discussing the project and the value the small station now provides to the community. Editorial corrections and additions have been made.

How the Automobile Changed Life in America

The evolution of the automobile revolutionized America's transportation system. Along with the automobile came a transformation in the American roadside landscape. Drive-in filling stations, drive-in restaurants and drive-in movies began cropping up to meet the needs and convenience of motorists. The outdoor advertising industry capitalized on these changes by introducing a mix of unique architectural forms and styles that have become an integral part of the American culture. Lebanon, Ohio's restored filling station represents a classic example of this twentieth century architecture.

The first "filling stations", which date back to 191 0, were typically primitive brick buildings or steel sheds. By the 1920s, the prefabricated station building was introduced by companies such as The Edwards Manufacturing Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Later, the more ornamental classic" filling station appeared adapting Tudor, Roman, and Georgian architectural styles.

A Past Surrounded By Mystery And Myth

For many Lebanon residents, the former filling station at the corner of Cherry and Mulberry Streets conjures sentimental memories of "Americana", some of which may be mystery or myth. Local historians remember the building operating first as a Shell Gasoline Station, although this has not been fully documented.

The competitive need for corporate identity among the different oil companies resulted in the emergence of eclectic architectural styles for the twentieth century filling station. Many of the features on the Lebanon filling station are typical of company filling stations in the 1920s including the small square cottage configuration, the steel roof with enamel finish, and the use of bright red and yellow paints. Imagine pulling up in a early Chevy Roadster looking to get out of the hot sun for just a moment taking cover under the ornate overhang.

Observers of historic architecture note that the pagoda style of Lebanon's restored filling station resembles the exotic Chinese architectural style which was so fashionable in the United States in the early twentieth century. This style is reflected in the structure's broad eves and curves at the corners, yellow painted bricks, and red doors. next>>>