|
a .
<br /> a
<br /> Topped out at Wilson and Main?
<br /> co _-
<br /> Yestesyeae..customs,CannotSlosepiclured herein lie early 1930fet the Tap Today the Top Filling Station.Paula Shell photo.
<br /> Filling Station an S.Wilson Way.Photo courlery of the Top Filling Station,
<br /> By Paula Shell contamination. They invited who's who of Stockton: police,used to sit right these," himself a regular,"Oh,yeah,I
<br /> Doruntoron Focus additional responsible parties DeYoung, Barketq Butorac, Bymepoints town empty chair. mine in hem about 20 years."
<br /> to the table which include past Hakeem. DeRousi, Bouini, 'Even after he retired they -7hi3 place here's,l think,the
<br /> For the Top pilling Station, and present property owners Spingolo, Delucchi, Bonomo, couldn't get rid of him." best place in town.The service
<br /> the glory has faded. of the surrounding lob. Guiliani,Slagnero. Inside the small, cramped is excellent and the people he
<br /> Subterranean clean up may Top Pilling Station is'are of Araokiecop,)ack Syme,was office,any number of old timers has around here are very
<br /> wipe out the legendary busi- the four quadrants involved in sent to Top Filling Station to drop by to share news and friendly.i wouldn't go to self
<br /> was,even when big self-serve evaluating their obligation to clean up suspected book- repeat stories for anyone with serve if they gave me free gas.
<br /> gas franchises could not participate N underground making.Refired from Stockton the time to listen,but things Better to pay a little mom for
<br /> Wilson Way, the original cent°nu^ationdean•up:state Police Department Syme,now, have changed. the ges,the service can .its
<br /> Highway W just a generation MlkeHakeem,legalcowwilfor 77,hangs out still. A loaded candy counter and Your car last longer."
<br /> ago, was the eastern edge of Endiches. -fhat'ahowlgothangmgout cigarettes sales used to entice The old glass pumps sold
<br /> Stockton, with nothing but 7be guys can't update as fast here:hemmbtisces.'Thisused customers,but no mom."Kids Hancock, Union 76, Shell,
<br /> farms and ranches spreading as regulations are changing," to be a wideropen town before would break in.steal it all.We Gilmore,Poly gas.Top Filling
<br /> east.At the comer of Wilson says Hakeem.`They have out- World War 11. We had had a soda machine outside. pumps Texaco now,priced at r
<br /> Way and Main Street,four gas Eyed their welcome E theyhad proatitutim,galore,houses of They'd Eft the Ed,pop thecaps, 5136 and$1.50.Theself-serves
<br /> stations competed wildly.The retired,the problem would be ill-repute, Chinese gambling insert a anew and drink the beat that easily."All the four-
<br /> Top Filling Station remains somebodyelsa.Theatimeguya howissandsampantbetlingon soda right out of the machine. bit and dollar customers come
<br /> today,challenged by an Arco who still clean your windows anything that moved. The Can you beat that?"growl,Ed. in here for all the service in the
<br /> AM-PM at the entrance of the with newspaperl" Kefauver congressional task Despite the big franchises world and then shoot across the
<br /> Crosstown Freeway. praying just who is respon- force set out to clean up with self-servegas an igrocery street to fill their tanks,'says
<br /> Marco Endich, son of an sible will be tough because the America.The chief of police at .mart combined,a huge follow- Ed.'They sell gas for leas than
<br /> Austrian immigmn6sbrled the area in question was the site of the time was Rex Parker.Rex ing stills gasses up at Top. we can buy it'
<br /> station N 1975.His sons.Eddie a big foundry in the 20s and Parkeedosed thetown and Jack While the gas is pumped,the Station boom are 7 am to 5
<br /> and Kerry,worked with him later.apahntshup.On the Iot to O'Keefe kept the Rd on it,' customer gem the windows pm in the winter,6 pm in the
<br /> even when they were too short the east of Eccles property "We knocked over 15 beak- washed,the oil and other vital srmnmen.
<br /> toreach the crank,that pumped there's a big rig mpa4 outfit makers that day.My partner fluids checked,and air in the -The phrase...Chicken on
<br /> the gas into the glass bowls. ^We'vealresdy5pent315A00 came here.He said they aren't Rhes. Sunday,feathers the eat of the
<br /> The kids solved that problem in legal fees and haven't even making book Ilse guys ss-ere "Nowadays,we sell oil and week-applies here,"laughs Ed.
<br /> by sharing the duty,one stood luted the ground yet: cam- making out their own firm. gas,a lot of buil and a lot of Customers, heavy in the
<br /> on a crate to reach the crank. plained Ed. "It's all about Somebody would buy $15 service,"Ed gm,"This is the morning, are sparse in the
<br /> the other filled the mstomer's neighborhood and it's just eat worth of gas and they'd yell. onlyplaceym getservice.You afternoon. There's little to
<br /> tank the same anymore.' 15,1-5,first hone in the frith get cherries in the springtime, interrupt the flow of conver-
<br /> Ed,now 82,and Ken,81,will pace the hone track at the race! persimmons in the fall." satim about the good limn
<br /> celebrate seventy years of gas San Joaquin County Fair- 'Bookmaking is people A 1966 green Chevy pick up Between the brothers and their
<br /> pumping,hlmdiy service,and grounds pulled in their friends calling in and making bets The truck pulled up to the pumps. sidekicks,the last of the Gang.
<br /> plain hanging out in March of to check themcing formes and bookie don't even go to the Haven Harriott proclaims
<br /> 1995, if test drilling on their getany hot tips.Everybodybec track.These guys bet homes,
<br /> mmerforwaterearlamination Top Filling Slationwasrelerred but they weren't bookies."
<br /> doesn't put them out of to as the"atuting gale.' "They'd all mine here,check //��,
<br /> business first.Drilling tests start The Enriches speak proudly the forum m and then go the GARDENWORKS �V�F
<br /> December 19th. of theircollectionofhiends that ram.No rough stuff and no
<br /> Rcek Brothers has under- even boasted a lady,Mayme smokingandnolemaleseither, Fme gift.for Garden and Horse
<br /> ground petroleum mntamina- Damon,an avid horsewoman except Mayme Dotson. She
<br /> tion on their property, the herself.-She was the only girl owned)am Stables.Everyday Gamlen Bouquets
<br /> Carden Furnishings&Accessories
<br /> empty lot directly across the allowed though,'mudons Ken. she'd walk from her office on
<br /> ardens
<br /> street at 102 S. Wilson Way. Mainand Auronm
<br /> jususithere Container G
<br /> The thirty-five Top Filling Special They've been mandated by the Gang members were young, and play the horse,make sure a � Ever •$ilo/Renrala•Design and Consulrariou i
<br /> Stale Water Resources Control goad-(members were young,ed boys 'the got hH bet down: aaa N.Et OMdo Striae.Stocktan.G 95202 464-9002
<br /> Board to evaluate and clean up with names that mad like a ')ark O'Keefe, the chief of
<br />
|