Shell Station

Originally, Fish’s Livery was located here and rented out wagons. A laundry was housed in the back of the building with a blacksmith shop in the front run by Tim Hyland. Featured as this year’s shelf sitter, there have been many reiterations of gas stations and garages at this location. It has also been referred to by other name brands depending on what oil company was supplying the gas. Dusty Lincoln owned the then Gulf Station from 1955 to 1961 and leased it to Earl and Loy Larson. In 1961 Lincoln leased the station to Robert A Perry and about two years later Campbell Oil, out of Olean NY ended up being the first oil company to buy the property after leasing it from the Lincolns with Robert A Perry as operator. However, Robert A Perry was called back into the Army and his father, Robert Milton Perry ran the then Sunoco Station until his son was released from service. In 1982, after 22 years, Robert A Perry closed the station’s doors. Further auction details are recounted in the March 2025 Booster News article, “Booster Merch.” Campbell Oil leased the station from 1982 to 1985 to John Burgess from Pennsylvania with Ray and Bill Brown from Brown Brothers Sunoco managing. Jerry Robbins then leased the building from 1985 to 1989 during which time Campbell Oil was bought by Griffith Oil. Calling his business Robbins Auto Center, he completed major building renovations and at one point employed five people for repair work and pumping gas! Griffith Oil recognized Robbins for being the highest volume station in 1988. Mike Trivisondoli leased the business from Griffith Oil from 1989 to 1996 offering full auto service and repair under the name West Main Auto Service. Joseph M Hughes came to lease the business in 1996 as Hughes Sunoco. Once Hughes left, Griffith Oil ran the business solely as a gas station with no repair work until 2001 when it completely closed. The building lay vacant until it was demolished in 2003. It now serves as an overflow parking area for the American House and Hotel across the street.