History Club at Night explores service stations of the past

WASHINGTON >> The Gunn Historical Museum’s Washington History Club at Night will meet in the Wykeham Room of the Gunn Library on Tuesday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. for the final meeting of the season before the summer break.

The topic of discussion will be service stations, garages, gas pumps, car dealers, and mechanics then and now.

Many local garages began as carriage shops operated by blacksmiths and switched to auto repair as the mode of transportation transitioned from horsedrawn carriages to the automobile. Washington garages and service stations have included Woodruff’s Garage, Gunnarson’s Garage, Hanning’s Garage, Mike’s Garage, Peterson’s Garage, Belfanti’s Esso Station, Vinnie’s Texaco, Titus Park Garage, Washington Supply Co., Dowler Garage, Norman W. Couch, Inc., Wright’s Place, Dave Zinick’s, Millers’ in Marbledale, Knickerbocker’s, Woodville Cabin Service Station, and more.

Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite stories and memories, photos and objects to share about interesting past and present service stations in Washington, the people who worked there, and the folks who frequented them.

The Washington History Club at Night is a program of the Gunn Historical Museum and meets the third Tuesday of the months of November, February and May at 6:30 p.m. in the Wykeham Room of the Gunn Library to discuss the history of Washington, Washington Depot, Marbledale, New Preston and Woodville. Share your stories with the group or just come and listen to the fascinating conversation about the town’s past.

Everyone is invited to attend this free program. The Gunn Library & Museum is located at 5 Wykeham Road in Washington.

Call the Gunn Museum at 860-868-7756 or view www.gunnmuseum.org for more information.

PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE GUNN HISTORICAL MUSEUM Stanley and Elmer Gunnarson stand at the gas pumps in front of Gunnarson’s Garage on School Street in Washington Depot, circa 1932.