Former Al's Garage

Al's Garage moved this building in 1926 from its former location on Beaufort St. When it opened here the garage sold Texaco Gas & Oil, Firestone and Oldfield Tires. They also offered towing and vehicle storage services. Later they sold Willard Batteries and Corduroy "Factory Fresh" 15 month tires. The building, business and house next door were put up for sale in late 1937, reportedly for health reasons. Apparently the business didn't sell and the equipment was sold at auction May of 1938.

Royal Crown Cola moved a bottling operation into the building in 1938 and moved out in the early 1940s. In 1951 the building was occupied by the Turley Farm Equipment Company, they went out of business in 1956 and the building was put up for sale. Next up was the Gibs Craft boat factory in early 1957, they had moved on by the fall of 1958 and the building was again put up for sale or lease.

From early 1959 to late 1966 the building was occupied by a series of Allis Chalmers equipment dealers except for 1959/60. They were followed by a tile company that stayed until 1975. They were quickly followed by a janitorial service which stayed until 1983/4.

That pretty much takes to the end of the original Route 66 era.

As for the building itself, the gable roof on the main building and the pyramid roof on the canopy have been added sometime after 1994. The original windows on the front have been replaced with larger units. The building is a block or so west of the Sprague Super Station.

GPS: 40.517771, -88.981484

Photo(s): 2016