This gas station is a relic of the 1920s and Bankhead highway in Roscoe. I was probably owned by a man named Kirkland, since we are not aware of a gasoline company by that name.
So we got curious, and started digging. A mention in the Sweetwater news led us to a name, Mrs. W. W. Kirkland, which led us to this: (
visit link)
"WILLIAM ELIJAH KIRKLAND FAMILY
William Elijah Kirkland
b. 20 Mar 1898 in Mist, Ashley Co., Arkansas
d. 1966, Roscoe, TX,
buried: Sweetwater Cemetery, Sec II, block 3
m. Margaret Elizabeth Atkins about 1922
b.1900 Arkansas
d.15 Nov 1993
her father: Charles E. Atkins
her mother: unknown
his father- William Warren Kirkland
his mother - Margaret "Maggie" Kirkland (The lady we found on the paper)
1920 - US Census, Arkansas, Ashley Co., Prairie Township
Robert E. listed here is the son of Warren:
Robert E. Kirkland, head, Male, White, age 24, married, born AR, father born AL, mother born SC, working as a Teamster - Hauling Logs
Myrtle, wife, female, age 20, married, born AR, father born AR, mother born AR
Robert E Jr., so, male, age 1/11, born AR, father born AR, mother born AR
William E, brother, male, age 22, single, born AR, Father born AR, mother born SC, working as mail delivery, rural route
biographical note: 1920's - William Kirkland was the first to move to Roscoe, Texas sometimes in the 1920's. William Kirkland moves down where he set up and ran a garage and filling station next to the house in which William and Maggie lived. Billie Kurtz states, "He was the first to move to Roscoe and established the filling station there. He let it be in Grandpa Kirkland's name and had ‘Kirkland and Son’ put in stone on the front of the station, but it was definitely Daddy's station. He brought his parents out to take care of them. Then one by one he moved the rest of the children except Uncle Forrest. Robert was an alcoholic, trying to make a living fishing and gigging frogs. Needless to say, they were in real trouble. Daddy moved them to Roscoe and put Uncle Rob to work in the station." [Billie Kurtz email 8/15/08]
1930 - US Census, Roscoe, Nolan Co., Texas ED 177-9, sheet 10a (Warren and William E. are living next to each other in Roscoe, Texas. They are operating a filling station together)
Kirkland, William W., head, owns property worth $3500, male, white, married, age 63, married at age 26 years, born AL, father born AL, mother born AL, working as asst mgr filling station
Maggie, wife, female, born AR, father born AL, mother born SC
Kirkland, William E, head, renting, male, white, age 20, married at ahe 24, born AR, father born AL, mother born AR, working as manager filling station
Margarite, wife, female, age 27, married at age 22, born AR, father born AR, mother born
Atkins, Charles E., father-in-law, make, white, age 59, widowed, married at age 32, born AR, father born AL, mother born AR, working as helper in filling station"
It looks to us like this old gas station has not been a gas station in many MANY decades.