CEDC grant helps save historic 66 station

A historic Phillips 66 station has been saved thanks to the interest of a local businessman and a grant from the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation.

Chuck Robertson received the first Historic Façade Grant awarded by the CEDC, which provided a total of $4,200 for the $24,000 project.

The Phillips station located near the Donley County Courthouse at Third and Jefferson was constructed on the site of the former A.M. Beville home in 1930. Construction by contractor Joe Humphrey, Jr., started on the Type B Phillips station in April 1930, and the business opened in May of that year under the direction of local Phillips distributor Henry D. Tomb. The Donley County Leader reported that during the opening day, 3,400 gallons of gasoline were sold and 505 cars were serviced.

As highway traffic moved from what is now Third Street to its present location on Second Street, the Phillips station eventually closed and little is known about the building’s history until about 40 years ago when Robertson’s family acquired the property. His mother, Edie Robertson, taught music lessons there in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he said.

Since then, the station has been vacant and the target of vandals. He also said the roof had started to leak.
With the help of the Historic Façade Grant, Robertson contracted with HH&R Services to complete the first phase of bringing the building back to a useful life, focusing on the exterior.

The station received a new roof, and new insulated windows were installed that closely match the originals. Part of the original gutter system was salvaged and incorporated into the new gutters. A replica “P” was installed on the chimney, and a new front door was custom-made to replicate the original, which was too rotted to salvage.

Robertson said Keith Floyd is restoring an original gas pump from the property and also working on a similar vintage pump to go with it. Also, Robertson has plans to install period lighting on the outside of the building and put up a replica Phillips sign on the original signpost as soon as it can be stabilized.

“The grant program was a huge help to being able to revitalize this local landmark,” Robertson said. “The availability of the grant prompted me to get this work done, and it helped immensely.”

Robertson also said his wife, Amanda, deserves a lot of credit for her help in making the project happen.
In addition to replica Phillips signs on windows in the gable of the building, Robertson added one personal touch – an “Edie’s Music Box” sign of the same design his mother used on the front of the building.

Robertson says he will now turn his focus to electrical and plumbing work on the interior of the building so that it can eventually be used for a small office or retails space.

The CEDC’s Historic Façade Grant Program awards grants of up to 80 percent of the actual, eligible costs up to a maximum amount of $400 per linear foot of the storefront (i.e. $10,000 for a 25-foot storefront or $20,000 for a 50-foot storefront). The program’s focus is to preserve and cultivate the historic character of buildings in the Central Business District and along the US 287 corridor.

Each applicant must meet certain criteria and submit detailed plans for their project for the CEDC board’s approval. To learn more, visit ClarendonTX.com/CEDC.