Do you remember the old SOHIO Gas Station at the corner of 3rd & Lisbon Streets in Wellsville? SOHIO is an acronym for Standard Oil of Ohio, part of the Standard Oil companies. There were SOHIO gas stations scattered all through the state. Years ago SOHIO was bought up by British Petroleum. They closed some stations and others got demolished and replaced. The station in the mural sat where today's BP Station is now. Artist Gina Hampson took a little liberty with the background but the painting of the building was taken from an old photograph. As it is today the station faced Lisbon Street but there were houses to the left and behind it back then too.
The old SOHIO Station was managed by former Hillcrest resident Virgil Kornbau from 1954 through 1972. The mural was commissioned by Virgil & Jo Ann Kornbau's children, grand-children and great grand-children as a tribute for their 62nd wedding anniversary. The Kornbaus are now residents of Columbiana, Ohio. Their three children are Ken & Dave Kornbau and Jeanne Kornbau Waggoner.
Shown in the painting is Virgil standing next to the gray 1951 Chevy Fleetside with his bride Jo Ann sitting in the driver's seat. The fellow checking under the hood to the left is believed to be long time employee, neighbor and friend Harry Cline. Back in those days gas station employees pumped your gas, cleaned the wind shields and would check the oil & fluid levels for their customers. The customer didn't have to get out of the car if they didn't want to. The price of gas was way below a dollar too!
The next mural coming up is Wellsville Legend and NCAA basketball record holder Bevo Francis. Gina has got it started. The murals are a project of Wellsville's Revitalization Committee.
Happy Belated Anniversary to Mr. & Mrs. Virgil Kornbau...
ole nib
1 comment:
I remember the station from the early 80's. It didn't look quite as picturesque then, but I still miss SOHIO stations...
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