Pagoda Gas Station - Wadhams Gas Station - West Allis, WI
N 43° 00.715 W 088° 00.446
16T E 417901 N 4762630
Quick Description: This Wadhams Oil & Grease station was built April 20, 1927 in West Allis, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee. It is located at 1647 S. 76th St.
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 12/30/2008 5:47:17 PM
Waymark Code: WM5F5A
Views: 6
Long Description:The marker at the site reads:
"Wadhams Gas Station
Established April 20, 1927
In 1916 Wadhams Oil & Grease Company saw the market
potential of serving early auto owners, many of whom purchased
gasoline in buckets to be stored at home. The solution was an
off-street gasoline distribution center to be known as a gas
station. Wadhams Gas Stations went on to become a prominent
regional chain in the Midwest only a few of which remain standing
today.
Famous Milwaukee architect Alexander Eschweiler's Wadhams Gas
Station design is considered to be iconic. His ingenious design
married a typical steel-framed, glass-walled, box-like gas station
to a swooping roofline, creating a building that was functional and
efficient as well as eye grabbing. The idea behind the design was
to use color and a striking silhouette to distinguish the building
from the visual clutter of a typical roadside strip. Its flamboyant
roof was instantly recognizable, making the building the
centerpiece of Wadhams Oil & Grease Company's market image.
This Wadhams Gas Station remains in its original location and in
2000 was restored to its 1950's state with the support of the West
Allis Historical Commission. In 2004 the building was designated as
a local landmark as well as being listed on the on the State and
National Register of Historic Places. This landmark is owned and
maintained by the City of West Allis. It contains historical
historical displays of petroleum products once sold and equipment
used by previous owner Frank Seneca who owned and operated the gas
station from 1954 to 1978.
Presented by the West Allis Historical Commission 2006."