Route 66, often referred to as the “Mother Road,” holds a special place in American history as one of the most iconic highways of the early 20th century. Along its 2,448-mile stretch, the road passed through countless towns and landscapes, each contributing to its unique charm. One such town that played a significant role along the original Route 66 is McLean, Texas.
Located in the heart of the Texas Panhandle, McLean was a bustling stop for travelers seeking adventure and opportunity. As a vital railway junction, it became a crucial crossroads for both freight and passenger traffic. With the arrival of Route 66 in 1926, McLean experienced an economic boom, as the road served as a lifeline connecting small towns across the country.
In McLean, weary travelers found respite in its motels, diners, and service stations, each exuding the spirit of the open road. The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café, with their distinctive Art Deco architecture, stands as a prominent landmark in the town. Its unique design and vibrant colors continue to captivate visitors, offering a glimpse into the golden era of travel.
R&B Body Shop in Pampa has taken on the project of restoring iconic gas pumps at a historic spot of McLean. The gas station was the first licensed Philips 66 filling station in the state of Texas, opening up originally in 1928. Brady Brodgin and his father, Robert, who own and operated R&B Body Shop have a special interest in the project. The duo has refurbished many vintage filling pumps out of pure interest in bringing things back to life.
“I saw this on Facebook one day,” Brady Brogdin said. “I saw a post about them doing work on the station and I reached out and asked if they were going to repair the pumps. He [Gary Daggett] told me they’d planned to if they got the money raised. That’s when I told him all he had to pay for was the material and parts and I’d donate my labor. They got some money raised and we went down and got the pumps taken out and brought back here to be worked on. There are two 50’s era gas pumps that were mounted in the middle of the gas island. My dad has them taken apart and we’re waiting to sandblast them.”
The pumps won’t be functioning but they will look like the day they were first put in back in 1928.
The McLean project came about from the Route 66 Association of Texas. The father-son duo is working with Gary Dagget who is over the association. The station isn’t larger than a corner filling station, the station closed down in 1950 and hasn’t been operable since.
“On the Saturday we were there to take them down, so many people stopped just to look,” Brogdin said. “There are all kinds of groups that travel the original Route 66 so this will give them another thing to see when they drive it.”
The hobby of restoring the old gas pumps is something the two enjoy doing together, showcasing many vintage gas pumps in their garage in Pampa that they’ve refurbished themselves.
R&B Body Shop is located at 224 West Brown Street in Pampa, Texas. Once the project for McLean is complete, the final photos will be in The Pampa News.
Keep an eye out in McLean for the gas pumps once they’re brought back to their original glory!
