Were there gas stations on gravel roads in 1950's rural Illinois ? (Chicago: live, shop)

[xrhonda91]

Hello,
Doing some research to find some old family friends and was wondering
if anyone was old enough here to remember if there were gas stations
on gravel roads in 1950's rural Illinois... Thanks. John

[linicx]

What part of rural Illinois?

[xrhonda91]

Within approx. 60 mile radius of Peoria... John

[linicx]

Hi John,

I think the most likely would be between Peoria and Galesburg off US 150. In many of the little towns the only paved road was the highway. Between East Peoria and Bloomington, between Metamora and Eureka, Between Pekin and Lincoln, Canton to Peoria, Havana to Springfield Peoria to Astoria, and Pekin to Canton. Peoria to Dunlap, Peoria to Princeton and Spring Bay to Lincoln. . It's all rural. The gas stations you see on the highways today are modern and so are the roads. There is only one on the Manito Blacktop that has any age at all and it is at Manito next to a very old car repair shop. Kingston Mines was an exception because you had to leave the highway to access the road. Same with St. David.

The Main Peoria Library downtown on Monroe has information on Peoria County back to the day it was formed. And all the county newspapers in Peoria County on fichem too. A farmily reunion in a little town like Elmwood would have been big news.

[doll lady]

John....I checked with my brother on those books....he doesn't have those.

I am too young to know if there were gas stations on gravel roads in the 1950's. If my dad were alive he sure would have known as he owned a trucking company and travelled about every road in Illinois. Isn't it too bad that information like that isn't documented.

I'm trying to document my life story for my kids sake and for the annals of history and the county information books at one of the libraries in our county.....but I have found a person just can't document everything that went on in their lifetime.

Best of Luck
doll

[linicx]

John,

Every county is divided into townships that are responsible for their own roads. In the 50s the township roads were mostly gravel. Peoria County is roughly 625 sq miles. Township Supervisors are who you contact. The Peoria Historical Society has a lot of information on the County. So does the main Peoria library. Bradley U has a large collection of local history, too.

The two railroads that serve the Peoria, Fulton County area are the BNFS and the KJRY.
There is a fellow who works for the county that is a RR buff and wrote a book on it. I am trying to contact him.

[xrhonda91]

Hello Doll Lady & Linicx, Thanks again... I did find those Illinois atlases. Maybe that RR guy can help---prettysure there was a track across road from place. Doll Lady---if I can help with yourresearch, let me know... John

[linicx]

Every time I see your message I think Pottstown. I haven't been there in 30 years. There are 3-4 little towns west on 116 between Peoria and Farmington, too. I have not been there in 30 years either. What I remember most about the county roads in the 50s was - it wasn't paved it was gravel or ruts. I got my license in '57. .

[Elisie]

Originally Posted by xrhonda91

Hello,
Doing some research to find some old family friends and was wondering
if anyone was old enough here to remember if there were gas stations
on gravel roads in 1950's rural Illinois... Thanks. John

Yep sure was, Only rural roads not interstates.....

[linicx]

John, around Peoria for the longest time the roads were all two lane. 24, 116, 150, 9, 97, 26. 29, 51. I don't trmember the route number of the old route that went to Bradford via Knoxville Avenue.
I think Wyoming is out that way, too. Today it is IL 40, and old IL 51 is I-39 from Chicago to Cairo. .