The Golden Years
Doing Business on “Main Street”
Highway traffic was lifeblood for family businesses on “America’s Main Street.” Route 66 linked farm towns like Williamsville with the nation and brought travelers seeking food and fuel. In good times, Americans took jaunts for “kicks.” During World War II and the Great Depression, it was driven by troops and job seekers. Business on Route 66 was always good.
Before 1941, Route 66 ran through the heart of Williamsville. Cafes and service stations opened to serve travelers. The Turner Garage and Gas Station was located across the street where the community center is today. The road curved here, a hazard to speeding motorists. A 1941 newspaper account of a car crashing into the garage (above) reported “15 accidents here in the past three and a half years.”
Bypassing Main Street
To be faster and safer, Route 66 was enlarged to four lanes, bypassed towns, and in 1977 was replaced by I-55. With each change, businesses moved or died. Today, only a few franchise service stations survive at access ramps.
Service Stations
Service stations lived up to their name diring the heyday of Route 66. Station owners, like Bill Fawns, wore their uniforms with pride! Fawn’s Service Station and Route 66 Café, located on the bypass, served travelers during the 1950s and 60s.
Highway traffic was lifeblood for family businesses on “America’s Main Street.” Route 66 linked farm towns like Williamsville with the nation and brought travelers seeking food and fuel. In good times, Americans took jaunts for “kicks.” During World War II and the Great Depression, it was driven by troops and job seekers. Business on Route 66 was always good.
Before 1941, Route 66 ran through the heart of Williamsville. Cafes and service stations opened to serve travelers. The Turner Garage and Gas Station was located across the street where the community center is today. The road curved here, a hazard to speeding motorists. A 1941 newspaper account of a car crashing into the garage (above) reported “15 accidents here in the past three and a half years.”
Bypassing Main Street
To be faster and safer, Route 66 was enlarged to four lanes, bypassed towns, and in 1977 was replaced by I-55. With each change, businesses moved or died. Today, only a few franchise service stations survive at access ramps.
Service Stations
Service stations lived up to their name diring the heyday of Route 66. Station owners, like Bill Fawns, wore their uniforms with pride! Fawn’s Service Station and Route 66 Café, located on the bypass, served travelers during the 1950s and 60s.
