Lincoln Highway--Webb's Service Station-- Van Wert, Ohio

There was a very interesting article in the December 26, 2007 Van Wert Times Bulletin titled "Webb's Service Station, restaurant and tourist cabins a popular spot in the mid-1900s" by Jim Cox.

It was at the corner of the Lincoln Highway and Convoy-Heller Road north of Convoy. Webb's Hi-Speed Service Station, Restaurant and Tourist Cabins operated from 1946 to 1966.

Jim Cox interviewed Larry Webb for the story. He said his parents and grandparents owned and operated the place. The tourist cabins and gas pumps are long gone, but the restaurant is still there as a private residence. The garage remains as well.

The business was built in 1931 by Noah Poling. His parents, Myron and Jenny Webb and grandparents Harry and Ola Wherry bought it in 1946. All four as well as his sister Becky and he lived behind the restaurant.

Larry Webb said the place was a big attraction in its day. For 15 cents, you'd get a huge slice of pie that was baked fresh every day by his mother and grandmother. They usually made 13 pies a day. Customers had a fit when the price was raised to 25 cents. Some customers would call in advance and order a pie. Truckers often came in, but their best customers were the local farmers.

The restaurant had four tables and five bar stools along the counter. Larry still has the bar and stools at his house.

They first sold Hi-Speed Gasoline, then Pure, and later Sohio. Gas fluctuated from 27 to 30 cents a gallon (Don't we wish).

They were open 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, except the cabins which were closed during the winter. They had electric and water hookups for campers and the cabins rented for $4 single and $7 double.

They were on a little more than an acre of land and one of Larry's chores was to cut the grass with an old reel-type push mower. After Larry moved away, his dad bought a riding mower. When Larry asked him why he hadn't done it sooner, his dad replied, "I didn't have to--I had you." (I liked this one.)

In the 1950s there were lots of family owned and operated businesses. Larry Webb said there were 7 gas stations between their place and the Indiana line. Interstates have ended it.

Keep on Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog