Spur Gasoline Station, Cynthiana Kentucky

Date added: September 02, 2024

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During the 1920s when this building was constructed, the future of the automobile was promising; but the American public had not yet said a final farewell to the horse. Major problems had to be solved before the automobile (consequently the filling station) was to become a permanent fixture on the American landscape. Early 20^th century roads were quite primitive. Construction and maintenance was not yet a federal responsibility; the Kentucky State Highway Department was not even established until 1912. According to the Good Roads Yearbook all of the state's roads outside the cities were macadamized (gravel), with the exception of 59 miles of bitumen-covered gravel and three miles concrete, circa 1915. City streets were surfaced and maintained more efficiently; therefore, it was within the cities that the first filling stations appeared.

The filling station of the 20s was not constructed with a canopy to shelter attendant or driver. This was not a consideration because the automobile itself was not suitable during inclement periods.

With the automobile not yet firmly rooted in the American culture, the petroleum companies progressed cautiously. They realized the prime location for their businesses would be a corner site with accessibility from two streets. This invariably required demolition of an earlier structure, which, consequently, often began their relationship with a neighborhood on uneasy footing. To compensate they provided their service in a building with appropriate aesthetics for the neighborhood. To facilitate this, the companies employed an architect who offered a selection of styles, most were modular structures which could be quickly, therefore economically, assembled. The most frequently used form was called the "English Cottage style," complete with steep gables, tile roof, white stucco, and flower boxes. Cynthiana has two of this type remaining. The neo-classical Harrison County building is typical of this short period in its structure and its philosophy. However, it falls into a category of more unique designs.

The philosophies of the petroleum companies can be determined by studying their primary trade journal, The National Petroleum News which began publication in 1909. According to this publication, good design became a priority in the decade of the 20s. We have many remaining examples of aesthetically successful, well-constructed deco and international style buildings. In subsequent years when petroleum companies had begun to emphasize maximum marketability of their products, quality design of their architecture became a secondary goal.

Building Description

The Spur Gasoline Station is a small, square, one-story prefabricated building of neo-classical design. It is strategically located at the edge of the Cynthiana commercial district, one block from a major transportation artery (U.S. 27), and adjacent to the main railroad line through Cynthiana. Cynthiana is the county seat and largest city in Harrison County, which is located at the northern edge of the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Cynthiana is located 28 miles north of Lexington and 52 miles south of Cincinnati.

The Spur Station is a square building measuring 13 feet one inch on each side. It is eight feet in height at the eaves. Each side is divided into three bays. The front has a central door with windows on either side, the right side a door in the bay on the right, and the left side has three window units. The rear of the original building is covered with a small shed addition. All of the window bays utilize a prefabricated metal base with a nine-over-nine metal sash above. Structural support is provided by four metal Doric columns set at each corner. A concave metal panel allows the columns to be inset at each corner.

The columns support a partial entablature with frieze and cornice and a pyramidal-shaped roof of terra cotta tile. The roof is pierced once by a small chimney tile which is located toward the right, rear of the building. The station has a poured concrete floor separate from the thicker concrete slabs which support the columns. A three-foot wide area adjacent to the building on all sides is delineated by a concrete block border. This area, which apparently contained plantings at one time, separates the filling station from the gravel parking lot.

A few changes have been made to the building over the years. A corrugated metal storage shed was added across the rear of the station in the late 30s or early 40s, a replacement door has been added in the front, and the central bay on the left has been slightly modified to allow for the insertion of an air conditioner. Gasoline pumps associated with the original purpose of the building have been removed but a free-standing glass and metal display case which was originally used to display various products remains on site. It is located eight feet to the west of the station and is aligned with its original rear wall. The current use of the station and lot as a used car dealership is the ideal adaptive use.