I drove some of the Lincoln Highway’s Washington DC Feeder route on Monday. If you’ve read the LHA’s official history, you’ll know that after the route announcement in 1913, DC leaders tried to get the city on the LH, even having President Wilson plead their case, but were turned down. Impassioned LH researcher Craig Harmon kept digging to find that in 1915, LHA President Henry Joy changed his mind and put DC on the route – but only as a feeder, like at Chicago, with red-white-red signs.
The DC Feeder ran from Philadelphia south through Wilmington, DE; Baltimore, MD; DC; north to Rockville, MD; and on to Gettysburg, PA. The LHA never acknowledged it in its road guides or institutional history book.
Much of the feeder route south of Gettysburg is now US 15, or former US 15, such as through Emmitsburg, MD. South of there in Thurmont, I bought gas at the oldest station I’ve seen pumping in a long time, maybe ever. The c. 1920 station is at the corner of Emmitsburg Rd (MD 806/old LH Feeder/old US 15) and Church St. Anyone know of any older stations still operating?
Tags: feeder, gas station, MD, Thurmont, Washington DC
Lincoln Highway News 
November 1, 2007 at 6:45 am |
Not certain about oldest, but this one’s definitely an oldie:
This is Brewster’s on US Route 1 in Ogunquit, Maine. The photo is by Ron Dylewski several years ago, but I was here Memorial Day 2007 and the place still looks much the same and is still pumping gas.
October 16, 2009 at 6:28 pm |
Hi Brian!
Thanks for doing this kind of work. In a culture where the automobile so completely defines us, this simple question of what is the oldest Service Station in continuous operation, is no small thing. Recently, I passed through Brunswick Missouri on U.S. 24. The route, prior to the National numbering system implemented in 1925, was called the “Lewis and Clark Trail,” U.S. 40 North (as a feeder to the Victory Highway, or, U.S. 40 South) and some other anecdotal names as well. The history of this route is difficult. After reading whatever I could find, I’m still confused. Suffice to say that it was an unimproved feeder to the locally built extentions of the National Route before it got its designation. The Current “Harmon’s Service,” in New Brunswick Missouri, claims to have been in continuous operation since 1921. Without the benefit of proper research, I can’t vouch for this. It is, however, a great building, brick construction with zig-zag deco appointments. Seems it would have been built later though. I can send pictures. Is WordPress the best destination for them?
May 23, 2012 at 12:15 am |
America’s Oldest Gasoline Station is located in Altoona, PA. It has been in operation since 1909, and it still offers a full service rarely seen today. Name of the Gas Station: Reighard’s.
June 6, 2012 at 4:00 pm |
I think Perley Burhill in Lynnfield, MA is the oldest.. it is a cool gas station even looks OLD