Gulf Refining Co. Service Station
1491 Kings Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32209-6254

Unknown, 1926

This is thought to be the only remaining Prairie School gas station in Florida and perhaps in the U.S.

In the mid-1920s the Gulf Refining Co. built a number of stations throughout Jacksonville similar to this one. The rectilinear Prairie-style design with extended cornices, crisp glazed brick insets, and contrasting dark red brick walls made this a distinctive trademark for the company.

The photos below show two other gas stations of this same era (1001 North Myrtle Avenue and Main Street at Third), both now demolished.

The proliferation of automobiles in the first decades of the 20th century created a new genre of buildings—gas stations. Since no one really knew what these service stations were supposed to look like, they took on a variety of formats and styles, which flourished with experimentation. It was only natural that Prairie School concepts would be adapted to this purpose.

Photos courtesy of Wayne W. Wood.

References
• Broward, Robert C.: The Architecture of Henry John Klutho: The Prairie School in Jacksonville. Jacksonville, Florida: The Jacksonville Historical Society, 2003.
• Wood, Wayne W.: Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage: Landmarks for the Future. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida, 1996.

  

 

AlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdaho

IllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMichigan

MinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNew JerseyNew Mexico

NevadaNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOklahomaOhioOregon

PennsylvaniaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexas

UtahWashingtonWisconsin

     

AustraliaCanadaDominican RepublicJapanNetherlandsPuerto Rico

   • • •

FAQContributorsRandom NotesRIPPrairie BookshelfThe Unknowns

Home

  
Google
The Web The Prairie School Traveler

  

All contents copyright 2005-2013 The Prairie School Traveler.