America’s oldest working gas station began by serving a different kind of horsepower.

 

“Those garages out back were stables for horses and it went from a blacksmith shop to selling gasoline in 1909,” said Tom Martin, owner of Martin Oil.

 

That was before Henry Ford began selling the Model T.  1909 is also very significant because there were gas stations before then, but none are still pumping today.

 

Except for Reighard’s gas station.

 

Named for it’s original owner the station looked much different. Tanks that stored the gas were above ground and the gas was delivered by rail.

 

“At one time there was a 5 gallon glass jar with a pump and they cranked it out of a tank – and then they gravitated it into a customer’s car,” said Martin.

 

Martin’s Oil Company bought Reighard’s in 1978, modernized it, and brought it up to federal environmental standards.

 

One thing that hasn’t changed over the last one hundred years in the full-service treatment.

 

“Of course, we wash every window in your car and check your oil and put in the air for you.”

 

Many of the employees have worked here for decades are are encouraged to get to know the names of all the regular customers.

 

It’s also become a regular tourist attraction.

 

“I think it might be the cutest gas station in America and possibly the tidiest outside,” remarked on visitor. “It’s pretty cute.”