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John Osterman’s Gas Station. John was a Swedish sailor who ended up in Peach Springs, #Arizona, where he decided to open a gas station in the early 1920s. His name is forever affiliated with this now abandoned gas station that sits on Historic #Route66. Its importance was respected and it was added to the National Registry of Historical Places. In 1925, John sold the gas station to his brother Oscar who then built a larger garage and living quarters. The station closed some time during the 1990s, but it’s all but forgotten, as renovation talks continue to be in the works. Memories of this particular gas station are prominent amongst the Hualapai Tribe members as the gas station actually sits on their reservation. I read an account of a memory from one tribe member, who recalls similar memories that I had with my local gas station, of going in as a child and getting to pick out some candy and soda; these are childhood memories of happiness. Memories of happiness may play a role in why we tend to look at abandoned gas stations so fondly. Gas stations were commonly seen as a community gathering spot. Even the treatment you received during the days of full-service gas stations, where an attendant would pump the gas for you and clean your windshields, would have made anyone feel like they were getting the royal treatment. You can say that these gas stations are an important part of American culture and remain nostalgic. And, when you’re on the verge of running out of gas and see a station nearby, the relief is undeniable! The other question I tend to ask myself is “Why are there so many abandoned gas stations?” The simplest answer I can offer is that the upkeep of gas stations is costly, and those with older technology are better left behind, as fixing them can be an environmental nightmare. Thankfully, some, like John’s Osterman’s gas station, are catching the eye of those who find them important to historically preserve.