Whiting Brothers Gas Station - Moriarity, New Mexico

One of the more common sites along the western half of 66 was the red and yellow Whiting Brother's logo. Whether it was fuel, service, food, or lodging - you could find them from California to Texas. The family-owned chain started when the four sons of a lumberman opened a gas station in St. John's, Arizona in 1917. The brothers incorporated the company in 1926 - the same year the US Highway system and 66 were created - and moved their headquarters north to Holbrook, where Route 66 would soon run through.

Whiting Brothers would rise and fall with US 66. At its peak, there were nearly 40 Whiting Brothers Stations along 66 from Lenwood, CA to Shamrock, Texas. Over time, the company built truck stops and motels. Many of the Whiting Brothers Motels were built next to an existing gas or service station. When much of Interstate 40 replaced US 66 in the 1970s, many Whiting Brothers stations began to close.

Whiting Brothers were known to have "Most of the Best for Least." They typically had a low-frills gas station made of inexpensive materials. They also had discount cards - offering motorists a few pennies of a gallon. They were also known for their lengthy yellow and red billboards that were more like fences. IT wasn't hard to miss that a Whiting Brother's station was in the next town.

In Moriarity, New Mexico - the lone-Whiting Brother's station survives. Though it no longer sells gas, tire repairs, batteries, and simple vehicle repairs and maintenance are still performed here. The station is owned by Sal Lucero. A former employee of Whiting Brothers, he purchased the station from the chain in 1985. Much of the original signage and pumps from the station - built in 1954 - remain. In December 2014, a restored Whiting Brothers sign once again shone brightly in Moriarity. The sign restoration was made possible by a Route 66 Corridor Preservation Grant from the National Park Service.

All photos taken by post author - April 19, 2010.

Site Navigation:

Sources & Links:

Whiting Brothers & Route 66 ---TheRoute-66.com
Whiting Brothers on the Mother Road ---Legends of America
Whiting Brothers Gasoline Stations ---Philip Gordon

How To Get There:

Comments

Former US Route 101 through Sargent

Sargent is a ghost town and siding of the Southern Pacific Railroad located in southern Santa Clara County. The original alignment of US Route 101 was aligned through Sargent via what is now known as Old Monterey Road. Sargent was bypassed gradually due to shifts of the alignment of US Route 101 which occurred during 1941 and 1950. Pictured as the blog cover is a view on Old Monterey Road which is now no longer accessible to the general public. Below is a scan of the 1935 Division of Highways Map of Santa Clara County which depicts the original alignment US Route 101 through Sargent. Part 1; the history of US Route 101 in Sargent Sargent lies on land which was once part of Rancho Juristac. During 1856 James P. Sargent purchased Rancho Juristac and plotted what was known as Sargent Ranch. By 1869 the Southern Pacific Railroad coast line reached the relocated town site of Gilroy. The Southern Pacific Railroad coast line would be constructed through Chittenden Pass by 1871 whic

Tulare Lake returns

During the winter of 2023 California experienced one of the wettest seasons in recent decades. Enough snow and water were deposited into the Sierra Nevada Mountains that the runoff was enough to partially reform Tulare Lake within San Joaquin Valley. Tulare Lake was once the largest lake west of the Mississippi River by surface area. Tulare Lake has been largely dried for the past century due to irrigation divisions and upstream impoundments. This blog will examine the history of Tulare Lake and its recent return. Pictured as the blog cover is Tulare Lake from 19th Avenue in Kings County during early May 2023. Tulare Lake can be seen near its maximum extent below on the 1876 P.Y. Baker Map of Tulare County . Part 1; the history of Tulare Lake Tulare Lake is the largest remnant of Lake Corcoran. Lake Corcoran once covered much of the entire Central Valley due to being it being located at a in natural low point from where mountain run-off would accumulate. Lake Corcoran is thou

US Route 95 in California

US Route 95 within California exists within San Bernardino County and Riverside County. US Route 95 within California is approximately 130 miles factoring multiplexes along Interstate 10 and Interstate 40. US Route 95 in California begins at the Arizona state line along the Colorado River near Blythe in Riverside County. US Route 95 follows the general course of the Colorado River north through the Sonoran Desert to the Mojave Desert towards Needles of San Bernadino County. US Route 95 enters Nevada north of Interstate 40 and the historic alignment of US Route 66. US Route 95 was extended to Blythe, California during July 1939. Upon US Route 95 entering California during 1939 it overlapped and deleted much of the original California State Route 195. US Route 95 was extended from Blythe into Arizona during June 1960. Part 1; the history of US Route 95 in California The corridor of modern-day US Route 95 in California first came to prominence during the run-up to the creation of

Gribblenation

Search This Blog