Additions made to Gus’ Station
SPECIAL GUESTS - Visitors of Gus’ Station on Friday, Oct. 26 are pictured above from left to right: Anna Nicholson, Andrew Schuur, April Schuur, Grant, Andrew, Barbara Mrotz, Lloyd Kaplan, behind him, Terry Prokopec, Jean Kjos, Ron Kjos, Shelley Dale, and James Lindgren. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
If you’ve been to the Village of Yesteryear at the Steele County Fairgrounds, you know the Steele County Historical Society has one of the best exhibits of the past that can be found. They celebrate, display and work at keeping it a valuable asset to anyone who appreciates what once was.
One of the ambitious displays is Gus’ Station. The Ellendale Area Historical Society has worked long and hard on this project and though it almost looks modern compared to the log cabin in the village, it has a surprising history.
Built by Hember C. and Ruth Steele in 1931 on the corner of what would later be called 8th Ave. and School St., across from the Ellendale Creamery and a half block from the Ellendale School, Gus’ Station has attracted many special visitors over the years.
Some of you may wonder, what is historic about an old gas station? It was located on what was then Highway 30 and is believed to be the first gas station in Ellendale.
Members of the EAHS took on the challenge to move this landmark from Ellendale to the Village of Yesteryear in Owatonna. And over the years EAHS volunteers have been busy restoring and outfitting the station so that others can learn and see first hand the history this great building holds.
In October, the EAHS gathered a group to thank them officially for the donations they made to Gus’ Station last summer.
Included were April Shuur and family, husband Andrew and sons Andrew and Grant, from Blooming Prairie, and Anna Nicholson of Owatonna, all members of the Marvin Vasey family. They were there to meet Terry Prokopec and Lloyd Kaplan, who were instrumental in organizing the addition and erection of the Standard sign next to Gus’ Station, as well as Barbara Mrotz, president of the EAHS.
Prokopec remembered he saw a pole outside the business that Vasey had in Blooming Prairie and felt it could be used to hold a sign by Gus’ Station. After Vasey died, Prokopec asked Vasey’s family, including April Schurr, Amy Vasey, Anna Nicholson, Charles Nicholson and Theodore Nicholson, if they would be willing to donate the pole to the SCHS. They said yes. The pole was reworked so it could be used to hold a Standard sign created and later erected on the north side of Gus’ Station this past summer.
Many hands worked hard to bring the project to fruition. Jace Nelson sandblasted the pole, Allan Severson rebuilt the base, Extreme Custom Powder Coating gave the pole a new powder coating, Northland Farm Systems dug the hole for the footings, CEI donated wire and re-rod needed for the footings, Cemstone Products donated concrete, KSW Roofing donated the materials, Sign Pro did the sign graphics, and Steele Waseca Cooperative Electric donated the boom service. Many other volunteers gave of their time and talents to get the sign erected.
Shelley Dale of Venice, Fla., her sister, Jean Kjos and husband Ron of Faribault were also at Gus’ Station as they were part of a group who helped get an additional gas pump erected in front of the station.
Shelley and her husband Dennis lived in our area years ago. Dennis liked to collect antique items and found an old gas pump and purchased it. Later when they moved to Florida they decided to take the old gas pump with them. They carefully loaded the pump portion for transport, and Shelley held the glass cylinder and globe that had been on the top of the pump in her lap for the trip to Florida.
After Dennis passed, Shelley learned through Kaplan about the addition of Gus’ Station to the Village of Yesteryear and decided she would like to bring the old gas pump back to Steele County and donate it.
This project was no easy task, but Shelley was pleased to find someone in our area, Dan Seykora, who winters near them in Venice, who was willing to bring the old gas pump back to Minnesota. Once again the pump was dismantled for the trip. Shelley was a bit concerned about how they were going to get the glass cylinder and globe safely back to Minnesota. They packed the glass cylinder and globe, along with a few other items from the pump, in shipping boxes and sent them via UPS.
Later it was thought that the project was not complete. Some people felt the area should have some extra light to help display it, so once again people got busy. Prokopec and Kaplan got estimates and learned it would cost about $700. They wondered where they would get the funds.
Shelley decided she would donate half the cost. And after working with the EAHS and realizing what had already been completed on the project, R & K Electric of Owatonna decided to donate their services for the second half.
Prokopek, Kaplan and Jerry Lewison dug the trench for the electrical lines. It didn’t take long before Troy Sommers, who graduated from Ellendale-Geneva in 1990 and now works for R & K Electric, got the electrical service ready so the lights could be turned on.
The project also received a $100 donation that helped pay for a timing switch for the light.
Lloyd said it was interesting that two young men from the Ellendale-Geneva area have been coming every year to the Village of Yesteryear to visit Gus’ Station so they can hear more stories about this little station that was part of Ellendale for many years.
The EAHS hopes that more people will stop by to visit Gus’ Station and enjoy memories of the times they spent there as they were growing up. The SCHS hopes to add a service bay in the area. It could not be attached to the station like it once was as that is the side of the station where the handicap ramp is now located. There has also been some thought that they may even plant a weeping willow tree on the east side of the station, just like it once was in Ellendale.
Kaplan said that after the lighting project was completed, somebody driving past Gus’ Station noticed and stopped to enjoy what he was seeing. Shortly after that another person driving by also saw the light and turned around and came back as well. Kaplan said he hopes that others will take a little bit of time to drive by Gus’ Station and observe these great additions.