Snapshots of History

By Editor | April 9, 2025 |

1932 Standard Oil road map.

By Mike Avitt
This week’s picture is a scan of an old 1932 Standard Oil road map and focuses on Ringgold County.
The map indicates the locations of Standard Oil service stations with a blue, circled “S” and I count eight in Ringgold County.
I got asked about one of these stations so this week we’ll look at rural filling stations in Ringgold County.
Alan Culbertson called me seeking a photo of the old Zercher Station. I don’t have a photo, but I have some interesting info.
In 1930, J. J. Griffith, of Redding, built a filling station two and one half miles east of Redding on U. S. 169. This was at the corner where, if you turn north, it takes you to Delphos. The level spot where the station sat is still visible on the south side of the highway. It wasn’t just a service station as Mr. Griffith also built at least two tourist cabins.
Now, this is a risky business venture considering the 1929 Stock Market Crash was only one year in the past. But, let’s consider that Primary No. 16 was re-designated as U. S. 169 in the summer of 1930, making this road more appealing to motorists.
Tourist cabins were forerunners to motels. In the 1920s, tourist parks sprang up along major traveling routes and they were followed by auto courts and tourist cabins. These cabins built by Griffith would have been without water and electricity, but probably had a cot and an outhouse.
Opening day was January 10, 1931 featuring Red Crown gasoline and free treats for customers.
It seems Mr. Griffith’s son James was the primary operator of the station. The newspaper reports Griffith was improving the cabins in November 1934.
In 1935, Harve Maudlin was in charge of the station and he was followed by Coin Jackson in 1936. I found very little info after this until 1952.
In the winter of 1951-52, Fred Zercher, his wife, and children were living in one of the tourist cabins while managing the Standard Station. Fire destroyed the cabin they were living in but they stayed on as operators.
Mrs. Zercher was a sister to Mrs. Jack Todd, of Redding. Mrs. Zercher was the telephone operator at Redding in 1949, so the Zerchers probably took over the station about 1950.
In August 1957, Mr. and Mrs. Zercher sold the station but I don’t know who bought it. In June 1959, Bill Sterner quit working at the old Griffith Station. A little research shows that Sterner and Tim Staats leased a gas station in Des Moines in July 1959. And, as far as I know, that was the end of the J. J. Griffith Standard Station. I have some space left so let’s look at another rural service station.
This one was located on Highway 2 halfway between both junctions of Highway 2 and 25, right on the Taylor County line. The station sat on the east side of the road and I first find it in 1935 when Johnny Warin took over the station from Guy Ogle.
The Ogle name was associated with Blockton.
In 1939, Roscoe Wertz leaves employment at the station after serving one year. He is replaced by Mr. and Mrs. Merritt South. The newspaper says they “moved to the station” so there must have been living quarters there.
Mr. and Mrs. South stayed one year and Warren Miller came on as operator in 1940.
In 1949, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Parks were managing the filling station. In December 1954, W. R. Hobbs was holding a closing out sale at the old Warin Station. In 1956, a Mr. Scott was the operator.
That’s the last information I have on that service station.
At some point we’ll look at some other filling stations that were either rural or in unincorporated towns.
I have a little information on some other tourists cabins in Ringgold County.