Mural #29
The Standards Station At First & Main

This Standard Station in Barstow began as a Chevrolet dealership in the late 1920’s owned by Ed Baur and Slim Slanton.

Around 1937 the Dealership was converted to a gas station. By taking out the display window and modifying the walls, paving the floors and installing pumps inside the building. There were twelve pumps in the station, ensuring that customers would not have to get out in the summer heat while attendants pumped gas and took care of their cars. A special feature of the garage was a mural along one wall: A Map of Route 66.

The corner where the station was located, Main Street (Route 66) and 1st Avenue (Highway 91), was one of the busiest in the USA. In the 1940’s this station was the busiest in the whole standard oil chain, even though it shared the intersection with five different stations! It was the largest covered gas station in California.

The Station was torn down in 1971, later this doughnut shop was built on the very spot.

Master Artist ~ Kathy Fierro

Artists: Juliette Tison ~ Ray Valles ~ Rhonda Kamel ~ Karen White

Historian: Steve Smith July 2019