Oldgas.com Home  

Click here for Original Gas Pump Plate auction listings

Home | Help | Events | Auctions | Parts | Pictures | Links | Contact
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#659637 Wed Jun 29 2016 06:24 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 28
Veteran Member
OP Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 28
When I was a kid I would visit my Grandparent's house. They lived in a small town. We would on occasion go to a small store to get a soda or a candy bar. It was a very odd country store. It was not well lit inside, and there were stacks of cardboard and soda crates all over the place. Technically it was Chapin's store, but we all called the place Howdys because Mr. Chapin would always greet us with a loud "Howdy". Later on he seemed to change it to "Howdy Doody". Eventually Mr. Chapin passed away and the store got real run down. I bought my Grandparents house a few years before the store got torn down. Back then I attempted to buy the Chapin's Grocery sign that was mounted on the roof. I was unsuccessful. The store got tore down and the sign was gone forever. Or so I thought. This was around 1999 or 2000.
In 2001 I was at a craft fair in town with my wife. We saw a painting of Chapin's store. I asked the artist about it and she said she lived next door to the store and had known Mr. Chapin well. I told her how my brothers and I had a lot of memories of going in that weird store. She told me Chapin gave her and her husband one of his Coke machines from the store. I asked her if they would sell it to me. They declined.
Fast forward to 2014. I run into the town historian. I asked her if she had any pictures of Chapin's store from the 1950's or 1960's. I also told her about how I had tried to buy the store sign but that the store got knocked down before I could procure it. I was shocked when she told me that the Church across the street that ended up buying the property still had the sign in their possession. I quickly got in touch with the Church leader. It took a year to get the purchase made, but I got my sign last summer. Today I was able to buy the Coke machine that was originally used in the store from the fine folks that live next door to the former store site. I'm happy. I apologize for the long drawn out post. I spent about an hour cleaning and polishing the machine. It's a beauty. The first photo is how the store looked toward the end of it's existence. Then a photo from today in the same spot.

101_6464.JPG 101_6461.JPG
Value Questions and Showcase forums

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.
gasmelincelr #659638 Wed Jun 29 2016 06:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 134
Petro Enthusiast
Offline
Petro Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 134
Cool story, your persistence paid off! Now you have these historic pieces from your childhood!

gasmelincelr #659639 Wed Jun 29 2016 06:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 28
Veteran Member
OP Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 28
I haven't been able to find out if the gas pumps are still in town somewhere. I'll keep looking, same goes for the Mobilgas sign.

DSC00479-002.JPG DSC00480-001.JPG 101_6466.JPG 101_6488.JPG
gasmelincelr #659643 Wed Jun 29 2016 06:45 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 19,334
Likes: 983
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 19,334
Likes: 983
good story with xlnt results- congratulations .. ... cool


RANDY
gasmelincelr #659647 Wed Jun 29 2016 06:59 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 58
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 58
Persistence pays-at least in this case. Looks great and nice to have "heirlooms" from your memories in your possession. There are many a sign or even a picture of the old stores and gas stations of my youth I'd love to have now-just like you've accomplished. Hopefully you'll find the pumps and sign.

Gasman84470 #659650 Wed Jun 29 2016 07:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,188
Likes: 1
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,188
Likes: 1
I really enjoyed your story. Congratulations on getting those two pieces

gasmelincelr #659653 Wed Jun 29 2016 08:15 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 646
Likes: 21
T
Petro Enthusiast
Offline
Petro Enthusiast
T
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 646
Likes: 21
Really nice story , Hope you find the pumps and sign .


Sid


www.trifivechevys.com
www.knifegates.com

Looking to buy Sealed Power Piston rings ITEM's
gasmelincelr #659665 Thu Jun 30 2016 04:56 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 884
E
Petro Enthusiast
Offline
Petro Enthusiast
E
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 884
That's awesome man..great to have a sign from your childhood!


Mainly focused on Oilzum, Jenney, Harris Oil items & original paint gas pumps.
gasmelincelr #659686 Thu Jun 30 2016 08:48 AM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,389
Likes: 40
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,389
Likes: 40
Great story, what road was Chapin's on?


"Remember, history that is forgotten is doomed to repeat itself!"
gasmelincelr #659691 Thu Jun 30 2016 09:23 AM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 48
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 48
Good on you, their now safely protected and appreciated. Enjoyed the story.


Have gas all the time
Done4 #659729 Thu Jun 30 2016 04:13 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 28
Veteran Member
OP Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 28
Thanks for the kind words gentlemen. Rick, the store was on
N Leverett Rd.

gasmelincelr #659739 Thu Jun 30 2016 05:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,522
Likes: 451
R
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
R
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,522
Likes: 451
Thanks for posting. This is whats its all about.


Looking for photos, etc from 60s era Shell-A-Rama gas station and Pal's Diner, Rt. 17 Mahwah, NJ
& US or state highway signs, shields, route markers
gasmelincelr #659995 Mon Jul 04 2016 09:06 PM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 27
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4,293
Likes: 27
Great story!


Braden Splichal

gasmelincelr #736605 Tue Oct 01 2019 07:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 28
Veteran Member
OP Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 28
Sorry for bringing an old thread back to life but I just discovered a super quality photo of Chapin’s Grocery and had to share it. Photo is from 1975.

96407C79-A987-4BF7-9C63-41ACD92202B3.jpeg
gasmelincelr #736662 Wed Oct 02 2019 03:22 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,389
Likes: 40
Veteran Member
Offline
Veteran Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,389
Likes: 40
Great photo, congrats


"Remember, history that is forgotten is doomed to repeat itself!"
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Oldgas, Ryan Underthun 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Click here for Gas Pump auction listings

Copyright © 2023 Primarily Petroliana Interactive, All Rights Reserved

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5