Restored Former Gas Station in AR

Magnolia Company Filling Station, Fayetteville Arkansas

Date added: August 31, 2024

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The Magnolia Company Gas Station building is one of the earliest and best-maintained examples of the drive-in station type form. Built in 1925, it is the first of its kind to be built of fireproof material, costing little over $3,600 at the time. Research indicates it is the only remaining structure of this defunct company in the area, one of the few contracted by the well-known Mr. Earl Bird of Fayetteville.

The greatest significance of the Magnolia Company building lies in the fact that it has maintained the scale and grain of Lafayette Street's fine homes, providing a fit terminus to the axis of Lafayette and West Streets. The restoration has been done sensitively and the owner, Mr. Lloyd, has incorporated a new use in an unpresumptuous manner.

Building Description

The building is a single story, hipped roof structure of smooth white brick. Square in plan, it is oriented diagonally southwest to the corner of Lafayette and West streets. The rear half is the station proper; the front half is a drive-through open portico. The front corners are supported by two square brick columns that corbel out at the capitals. Between the columns lie the pump island on which stand two restored and workable hand pumps of vintage style.

Originally made of cream colored brick laid in a stretcher bond, the building has been painted white throughout. The wood portions have been painted green, including the door, window frames, beams and the exposed rafter ends of the eaves. The roof is covered in weathered shakes; originally, the roof was of composition shingle.

The enclosed station proper is a single space, though originally it had been partitioned into two smaller ones. At front center is the door, to the right of which is a window of equal size, originally another door. To the left is a large fixed picture window, along the top of which runs a transom of eight panes. The two end walls contain two operable windows each. The back northeast wall is blank. A triangular skylight has been installed in the hip roof at the back, but is not visible from the street.

The site itself has remained unaltered since its original concrete surface was poured.