This 1928 photograph shows the White Eagle gas station located at 301 Missouri Street in Alma, Kansas. Seen here are Ronald Faulke (left), operator of the station and Elmer Ringel, station employee. The station was owned by the Degenhardt family for a half-century. Photo courtesy Dr. and Mrs. Larry Ringel.

Before the development of the convenience store and the concept of self-service gasoline pumps, there were thousands of small gas stations across Kansas that pumped fuel, washed the customer’s windows, checked the oil, repaired tires, sold sandwiches and soda pop, and provided a venue for local men to loaf.

Architecturally, the stations were often tiny with large canopies which extended over the gas pumps. Often there would be an attached garage or bay which allowed a mechanic to work on vehicles.

Also known as filling stations, historically gas stations were either “company brands” which were either owned by a national company and their franchisees, or “independents” which sold a cheaper, “no-name” brand of fuel.

Jack Ginder built this gas station located three miles north of Alma on old Highway 40 in the late 1940s. Ginder owned numerous Quality Oil stations across Kansas. This station was razed when Interstate 70 was constructed, and a new Quality Oil station was built a quarter of a mile south on Kansas Highway 99. Jim Lewis operated both stations for over 30 years. Photo courtesy Linda Coon.

From the 1920s through the 1960s gas stations thrived along the state roads and in town. It was not unusual for even small towns to have two or even three operating gas stations.  Like the small-town grocer, small rural gas station operators faced higher fuel costs than those in the city because of higher transportation costs. As small town residents began to commute to the city to work, many began purchasing their fuel in the city, taking advantage of the lower prices.

While there was a time when the gas station was the most common business in small-town America, now they have virtually disappeared.

Click on any of the images below to view all photos in a gallery format.

This 1928 photograph shows the White Eagle gas station located at 301 Missouri Street in Alma, Kansas. Seen here are Ronald Faulke (left), operator of the station and Elmer Ringel, station employee. The station was owned by the Degenhardt family for a half-century. Photo courtesy Dr. and Mrs. Larry Ringel.

Degenhardt’s Conoco Station was located at 301 Missouri Street in Alma for sixty years. This view is from about 1980. Photo courtesy Michael Stubbs.

Carl and Margaret Daniel’s station and store was located at the intersection f Southwest Glick Road and K-4 Highway, at the eastern-most point of the Native Stone Scenic Byway. The couple purchased the station after World War II and operated it until 1974. The station was demolished that year. Photo courtesy Margaret Daniel.

Henry and Emma Egert stand beside their service station, located five miles north of Eskridge on the corner of K-4 Highway and North Branch Road. Photo courtesy Emmett and Carolyn Burleson.

Emma Egert, seen here, operated this station and store, located five miles north of Eskridge, with her husband, Henry, during the 1930s. Photo courtesy Emmett and Carolyn Burleson.

Harold Patterson stands at the gas pump at R.L. Hayes’ station and store located on Southwest 21st Street, just east of Auburn Road. Kansas K-4 Highway ran down SW 21st Street as it exited west Topeka. Photo courtesy Dorothy Tholen.

R.L. Hayes stands next to his store and station located on Southwest 21st Street, just east of Auburn Road. Photo courtesy Dorothy Tholen.

Dale and Hazel Kemp owned and operated this station located at 107 N. Main Street in Eskridge for 55 years. Elreco was a brand owned by Eldorado Refinery Corporation, which was purchased by Fina Petroleum in the mid-1950s. This view was taken in 1955. Photo courtesy Bob and Carol Kraus.

Cloice Meeker stands in front of his Sinclair station located at 122 S. Main Street in Eskridge, Kansas in this view, circa 1925.

In this photograph dated October 30, 1955 Ross Brown, left and Marie and Paul Brown are seen fueling and servicing cars at their service station in Harveyville. Ross Brown opened the station on October 25, 1941.

This Sinclair station was located at the northwest corner of K4 Highway and Southwest Douglas Road in Dover, Kansas. Built by Arthur Bowker in 1928, the station was being operated by Marvin Gurtler when this photograph was taken in he 1930s. Photo courtesy Wayne Gurtler.

Ralph and Wanda Eberwein operated this Fina Station at 200 Missouri Street in Alma, Kansas when this photo was taken in the early 1980s. Photo courtesy Michael Stubbs.

Longtime Paxico, Kansas businessman, Eddie Meinhardt is seen here in front of his service station located at Newbury and Main Streets in Paxico. Photo courtesy the Eddie Meinhardt family.

Wabaunsee County native Eddie Meinhardt is seen pumping gas at his first filling station in Paxico, Kansas in this view dated 1956. Meinhardt spent nearly a half a century as a leading businessman in Paxico, operating his gas stations, antique stores and a campground. The Paxico Rock Island depot is visible in the background. Photo courtesy the Eddie Meinhardt family.

Clem Muckenthaler operated this Sunflower Oil Co. gas station in Paxico in the 1920s. The station was located on Main Street, just east of Muckenthaler’s Lumber Co. This view looks south. Photo courtesy Kansas State Historical Society, Kansasmemory.org.

John Senne, left, his son, Paul Senne and Rex, the dog, pose for this photo at Senne’s garage in McFarland, Kansas in the summer of 1930. A customer had brought a new 1930 Model AFord into the shop to put it on the lift to look underneath the car. Photo courtesy Paul Senne.

Jack Ginder built this gas station located three miles north of Alma on old Highway 40 in the late 1940s. Ginder owned numerous Quality Oil stations across Kansas. This station was razed when Interstate 70 was constructed, and a new Quality Oil station was built a quarter of a mile south on Kansas Highway 99. Jim Lewis operated both stations for over 30 years. Photo courtesy Linda Coon.