Memories: Visit Stan's Station

"Hot August Nights" are at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, 1477 Highway 395, Gardnerville.

Do you remember, or did you even know that gasoline was once 28 cents a gallon? Well a visit to Stan's Station exhibit in the main gallery will bring back those "Happy Days" again for all you nostalgia lovers. The exhibit consists of the original gas pumps, oil rack, white-wall tires, and several other items including the original signs - plus lots of other memorabilia and products from the good ol' days.

The S&W Service Station was the first service station in Minden. It opened in October 1940. Built and owned by Stanley Springmeyer and Walter Wennhold, the name S&W came from their initials. The station was operated by Springmeyer. They handled Standard Oil products (later called Chevron). After a time, Springmeyer became the sole owner and changed the name to Stan's Station.

Springmeyer sold to Lew Moxon in 1947, he in turn sold to Frank Riley in 1948. Ed Jones managed the station for two years for Riley. The station had a variety of owners over the years. Bill Godecke purchased the station in 1950, and operated it until he became the Minden postmaster. Later owners were John Summers, Henry "Bud" Berrum Jr., Steve Hollister and Paul Simpson. Dave Mills purchased the station in 1970 and recently sold to new owners.

The Stan's Station exhibit was made possible by Tom Springmeyer, the owner of Gasoline Alley. Springmeyer is well known to nostalgia collectors in the area and does a booming business this time of year. In the past, Springmeyer provided exhibits for the National Automobile Museum in Reno for Hot August Nights. Many of the items in this exhibit are from his personal collection. We feel very fortunate to have this exhibit during Hot August Nights, plus it also ties into the Town of Minden exhibit in the changing gallery.

Visit both Douglas County Historical Society museums, the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville and the Genoa Courthouse Museum in Genoa.