First Gas Station
In 1913 the first automobile service station, built by Gulf Refining Company, opened in Pittsburgh at Baum Boulevard and St. Clair Street in East Liberty. It was designed by J. H.Giesey. Prior to the construction of the first Gulf station in Pittsburgh and the countless filling stations that followed throughout the United States, automobile drivers pulled into almost any old general or hardware store, or even blacksmith shops in order to fill up their tanks. Gulf Refining was the first company to professionalize the service. The decision to open the first station along Baum Boulevard in Pittsburgh was no accident. By 1913 when the station was opened, Baum Boulevard had become known as “automobile row” because of the high number of dealerships that were located along the thoroughfare. Gulf executives must have figured that there was no better way to get the public hooked on using filling stations than if they could pull right in and gas up their new car after having just driven it off the lot. In addition to gas, the Gulf station also offered free air and water and it sold the first commercial road maps in the United States. Fortunately, since Gulf was already an industrial giant early in the twentieth century, they were able to take the risk in launching a business venture that ultimately paid off, and would forever change the face of the American landscape. Burgh Man can’t find free air or water for the BurghMobile these days. Air is 50 cents and water is a buck. Just saying 🙂