Filling Stations in Ben Lomond | Local History

By Ronnie Trubek

Gasoline powered automobiles became popular in the 1920s as motorists enjoyed a new sense of mobility and adventure. In the early days, travel required careful planning, and gassing up was always a priority. Initially, gasoline had to be obtained at “bulk depots” where fuel was provided in cans or other containers. Later, a horse-drawn wagon loaded up at Standard Oil in Sausalito, CA and delivered Red Crown Gasoline to retailers in the Bay Area for resale to motorists.  

Local motorists could fill up curbside at the Red Crown gravity-fed pump at Dickinson’s Grocery and Meat Market, which had opened on Mill Street in 1906 near where Ben Lomond Super is today. Later Dickinson’s pump was upgraded to Chevron and could still be seen in photos as late as 1957. 

Full-service filling stations appeared and were soon competing for business by offering uniformed attendants that pumped your gas, checked your oil, and washed your windows. Quickly stations became one-stop shopping for lubricants, tires & mechanical work, restrooms, give-away Green Stamps, dishware, maps, and other local information.

In 1932 Mrs. Flora Bartlett of Glen Arbor Orchards built the Food Depot & Produce Market and added an Associated Dealers/Flying A filling station. 

Mill Street had an auto repair and gasoline station in the 20s. The 30s saw that same corner location (now North Glass) offering a summer Shell station with signs proclaiming “Home-Clean Restrooms” and “Official Mechanical Service Station” with the AAA logo. The dramatic Flying A logo graced the station in the 40s, and Ted Rolff operated the station as a Texaco throughout the 50s and 60s. (See photo at top of page.)

The 1935 highway realignment through Ben Lomond required the demolition of Captain W. P. Stirling’s Ben Lomond Garage located at Mill Street and Highway 9 – now the Ben Lomond Super parking lot. Colorful flags and A-frame signs proclaiming “A New Richfield Station to Serve You” announced the replacement station opened by Hans Nisser in 1938.

Do you remember this Arco price of $.369 for a gallon of regular gasoline? Gasoline was plentiful and the shortages during the oil embargos of 1975-76, 1979 (and the turmoil in the Middle East) were not yet even imagined. Photo by Ken Stone, courtesy of Adrian Stone

The landmark station changed hands several times over the decades and finished its run as an Arco station that finally closed for business in the 80s. The building was repurposed as a real estate office, leased to Valley Resource Center for several years, and finally torn down in 1991. 

Let’s not forget to mention the last remaining gas station in Ben Lomond, the Shell Station (still called Goobers by many old-timers) on Highway 9, where you can have an attendant pump your gas and fill your propane canisters.

In case you’ve ever wondered, gas stations are required to post their prices and conditions of sale, i.e. cash or credit, and must be visible to the motorist before entering the station.

Happy Motoring! 

Photos contributed by Ronnie Trubek.

Passionate about the history of Santa Cruz County, in her spare time you’ll find Ronnie Trubek participating in history classes, lectures, and walks around the county or at shows collecting maps, postcards, photos and other ephemera relating to our rich and diverse community.

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