Fill 'Er Up: Authentic 1910 Gas Station calls Mid America Motorworks home
The MY Garage Museum is known for its collection of rare Corvettes and Volkswagens. However, one of the most interesting parts of the collection isn’t even inside the museum. It’s outside: a 1910 Gas Station, refurbished in Mid America Motorworks red and black that greets guests as they arrive.
The Move
The 1910 Gas Station started life in Casey, Ill. as a Standard Oil station, serving a small community that was largely supported by oil drilling. In 1995, Mike Yager heard about the dilapidated building, long past its prime but still standing. He purchased the gas station and had the whole structure and canopy moved to his corporate campus in Effingham, Ill. A complete renovation gave the gas station a new life as part of the Mid America Motorworks experience.
The exterior received fresh paint and decals in Mid America Motorworks colors. The restored gas pumps flank a permanent display of oil cans, all below a wooden sign that reads “Yager and Sons.” The interior of the gas station features the typical Yager flair with a touch of yesterday, including a pot belly stove for heating and an old desk for conducting business. Probably the most popular feature of the Gas Station is the driveway cable, which still sounds that familiar “ding-ding” when driven over.
Photo Ops
Mid America Motorworks welcomes photographs in the MY Garage Museum and anywhere on the grounds, even providing great locations – such as the 1910 Gas Station – for that perfect shot. Originally the location for Celebrity Choice winner photos during Funfest for Air-Cooled VW, the 1910 Gas Station is also the location of choice for group photos of clubs that visit by Mid America Motorworks. From motorcycle groups to a Model A Club, you never know what kind of vehicle will roll up to the 1910 Gas Station.
Beyond Volkswagens
The Hot Rod Power Tour has made Mid America Motorworks part of their route in past years and the 1910 Gas Station is always a popular attraction for muscle cars of every era. They line up to take shots of their cars under the canopy or in front of the pumps, momentarily reuniting a classic vehicle and a vintage gas station.
The Station also served as a check-in for participants of the 2013 Hot Rod Drag Week, a road race where quarter-mile racers drove their vehicles on public roads to reach different tracks for time trials. Hot Rod Drag Week challenges enthusiasts to not only put their cars to the test on the track, but also to test their ride on the roads.
The check-in served to confirm that the racers were in fact driving their cars and gave them a great story to sell!
