For anyone following the story of the city moving the 100-year old Gulf gas station to our park system: here it was at 20th near Arch Street on the afternoon of March 20, our first day of spring. I would love to have seen how they gingerly extracted it from its seemingly concrete bindings.
Here are links to black and white pictures of the gas station in 1970. They are oldest pictures I could find of the Gulf Station on PhillyHistory.org :
https://shar.es/afEdkM [a black and white picture of the gas station in service]
https://shar.es/afEdyZ [a black and white picture of the area with the Gulf gas station sign]
And what do you know? Somebody has been in the area cleaning up the litter around the place. Rumor has it that it will be 45-60 days before a groundbreaking begins. Philadelphia permits granted, fines paid, and fence extension are all needed before the former gas station is placed in the ground near its new Sedgley Porter House Home. After my litter cleanup, I would like to think the red deadnettle growing behind the litter bin and all over the bucolic wooden fenced area can thrive a little bit easier this spring.
I missed the groundbreaking. I suspect it happened late August. Here is the former Gulf Station on September 1, 2023.
Another shot on September 1, 2023 of the former Philadelphia Gulf Station
Here is the Gulf Station on October 1, 2023. It is firmly planted in the ground undergoing repairs.
To be continued as progress is made and I have time to walk on by… 🙂 Bye for now!