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A couple of weeks ago, I talked with Zachary Foley, who has purchased Gerald Trull’s old gas station across from State Employees Credit Union. And we got to talking about muscle cars and gas stations. So, I thought I would bring back the memory again.
During the mid 1960s and the early 1970s, Andrews had 11 gas stations on Main Street. But you must understand they were needed because Andrews was a haven for muscle cars that cruised town every night; it looked like a parade of power. And the A&P Grocery store parking lot looked like a car show.
Jerry Cox had a yellow Corvette, and Lush Ledford had a “Shelby” mustang that would shake the windows of Nichols Department Store when he stopped at the traffic light. Boyd Adams had a Z-28 Camaro, Linda Curtis had a Super Sport Chevelle, Ricky Barnard had a 1966 GTO with a 389 that was red with a white convertible top, that he bought from Randy Barnett.
Mike Huls had a red 1965 Mustang with a 289 and a three speed in the floor, and Mike Mosteller had a black 396 Chevelle Super Sport with a racing cam. Leroy Payne drove a 1966 GTO hardtop with a 389 engine, and had outrun the law several times. Paul Mosteller had a 1956 Chevrolet with a duel-line Holley 4-barrel carburetor with a high-rise intake and a chrome breather that came up through the hood.
Nancy Adams had the first “Heavy Chevy” in town. Tony Painter had a blue 1966 Corvette with a 327 engine and 365 HP. He came across the bridge, past where Burger Basket is located today, so fast he was burning up the road then hit a puddle of water and the car flipped over into the cornfield and broke into pieces, but he lived through it. And we cannot forget Jimmy Jones had a bright blue 302 BOSS Mustang with a four in the floor.
And this is just to name a few of the muscle cars, so we needed a lot of gasoline in Andrews.
Starting from the east end of town, Walt Calhoun had the Shell Station, and later Roy McHan ran it, then Joe Deaton, and down the line, Clyde Yonce and Jerry Lambert opened it up.
The Spur station was located where Darlene’s produce opened, and was owned by Jack Sutton. Grover White worked there and gave free drinking glasses when you purchased gas.
Across the street was the “Struttin Curtis” Texaco Station, and he grew green onions in the median. So, when tourist would ask for “Green Stamps” he told them he did not give green stamps, but he gave green onions. Struttin would run and pull a handful of green onions and hand them through the window.
Ben Mintz’s Exxon station was the place all the hunters hung out, where Maennle Insurance is today. Then Phillips 66 Station was located where Frank’s Dog House is today. Eddie Love ran the 66 for a while, then Frank Stowe ran it until it closed. Across the street where the police cars park, Billy McFalls had the Gulf Station. Walter Raxter, Bennie Raxter and Todd Reece were a few of the workers.
On the other side of City Hall, Gerald Trull had the Citgo. Edwin Bristol had a Texaco Station where Ferncrest Winery is today. He later sold it to Lawrence Hyde. Ralph Dailey ran it for a few years as the American Station, and Mack Tatham worked there. In the 1970s, Billy Ray and Larry Allen ran the station.
On the west end, the Pure Oil Station was located across the street from where United Community Bank is today. Kellis Radford owned the station, and Meb Miller and J.B. Bettis worked there. Across the street, Carl West had a Texaco/Esso Station (Sounds Good Building).
Later Newell and Wendell Owenby opened a tire shop. And that building was the first Ford Place in Andrews. At the railroad track was Bill Blevins Texaco Station.
All these folks who loved muscle cars will be delighted at what Zachary Foley has planned.
Kandy Barnard is a columnist for the Cherokee Scout. To talk about the Andrews Valley, call her at 828-361-3268 or email kandybarnard@gmail.com.