#723777
Sat Jan 26 2019 09:54 AM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25
Petro Enthusiast
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OP
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25 |
My parents purchased a Union 76 service station in Sumas WA in 1965. It was originally Carl's OK Garage and later changed to Slim's Union from which my parents purchased from Slim's widow. Instantly Sumas had 5 new people in town, population 629. Maybe 634 now that we were in town!! Young's Union Service was born. Later when we added tow trucks, Young's Union Service and Towing. I only had pictures of our station taken in the 40's, none from the 60's when my parents purchased and remodeled it. Our main story was missing. 6 months ago when my sister was cleaning out my parents house, she found the missing picture album that would tell our story. As is my sisters style, she did not just hand me the book and say "here you go". No she carefully took out all the pictures and scanned them and then with her scrapbooking talents created me a new picture album, the history of Young's Union. She gave it to me as a birthday present.
Ok, so my parents got busy and remodeled the back shop first adding on a few feet to the front of it. Next was demolition day. Lots of history going to the dump that day. 2 UNION OIL DEALER signs still attached to the canopy. The 7 foot UNION sign was taken off the old canopy and can be seen laying up against the new building. Guessing my Grandpa as owner of the UNION 76 bulk plant in neighboring town must have taken it home as 50 years later I found it in the old warehouse and was able to purchase from the current owner.
These were the "Good old days!" I was in the 6th grade when we moved and eager to work at the service station. My parents got my brother and I both white work shirts with the old style Minuteman patch on them. We would work after school cleaning and restocking. We had the same rules as the rest of the employees, punch in and turn in your card every 2 weeks for pay. My dad had one rule that applied to everyone. The purple grease rags that we had were not to be carried hanging out of your rear pockets. "We are NOT playing flag football at this service station!"
It was great having a drive on car lift, as I could raise up my bicycle for any needed repairs. Bikes turned to mini-bikes, then go karts and finally at 14 I started building my first car. During my high school days I build a new car just about every year. The rest is history. I still have the love for old cars and especially anything UNION 76!
Collect UNION 76 items only. Contact me if you have any interesting items for sale.
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Please - NO offers to Buy or Sell in this forum category
Statements such as, "I'm thinking about selling this." are considered an offer to sell.
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25
Petro Enthusiast
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OP
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25 |
Collect UNION 76 items only. Contact me if you have any interesting items for sale.
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25
Petro Enthusiast
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OP
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25 |
Collect UNION 76 items only. Contact me if you have any interesting items for sale.
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25
Petro Enthusiast
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OP
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25 |
Collect UNION 76 items only. Contact me if you have any interesting items for sale.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 19,463 Likes: 1016
Veteran Member
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Veteran Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 19,463 Likes: 1016 |
good history post, which one is you in the picture? .. ...
RANDY
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 628 Likes: 155
Petro Enthusiast
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Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 628 Likes: 155 |
What a great story and pictures . Thanks for sharing Jim .
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,763 Likes: 88
Veteran Member
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Veteran Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,763 Likes: 88 |
Thank you for sharing your family photos and history. It is like a trip back in time to see these pictures.
Regards, Jim
I collect gas pump salt and pepper shakers and the plastic coin banks made by AVSCO.
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25
Petro Enthusiast
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OP
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25 |
Here is the album from my sister. Thank you Joan for all your time and effort!
Collect UNION 76 items only. Contact me if you have any interesting items for sale.
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25
Petro Enthusiast
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OP
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25 |
Randy- I am in this picture
Collect UNION 76 items only. Contact me if you have any interesting items for sale.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,980 Likes: 24
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Veteran Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,980 Likes: 24 |
Those were the days that other business, banks, and city leaders welcomed new businesses or new people. Now just the tax man is standing there or other government officials looking to get money or give you new regulations.
Craig
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 873 Likes: 25 |
Randy. If you look close I am in one picture. I am the one on the bike with newspaper bags on it. I delivered the Bellingham Herald in town when I was not working at the station. 2 jobs at age 12 or 13, that would be criminal today!!!
Collect UNION 76 items only. Contact me if you have any interesting items for sale.
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,004 Likes: 58
Veteran Member
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Veteran Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,004 Likes: 58 |
Nice story. Must have driven by the old station a few times going across the border to and from Abbotsford BC. Best place to cross and avoid the I-5 congestion at the border west of there.
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 11
Member
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Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 11 |
Jim, These are awesome photo's and I love the History! Did your family station ever have the Round rotating Union 76 ball?
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 646 Likes: 21
Petro Enthusiast
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Petro Enthusiast
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 646 Likes: 21 |
Great Stuff ,
Thanks for sharing Brings back tons of memories
Sid
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,995 Likes: 109
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Veteran Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,995 Likes: 109 |
Great story and great pics. I was trying to see if that Goodyear popped off the wall and went down in the brick pile (picture #4 and the pics that follow) or if that was one that got saved back in the day.
Thanks for sharing, Steve
-Steve B. (WTB: 48" Flying A button, 48" black/org Phillips 66, White Star, and Chevrolet Signs. Also looking for a Wayne 866. Send a PM. Thanks.)
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