The Steele County Historical Society is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for Gus' Station Thursday at 10:45 at the Village of Yesteryear. The public is invited.

The restoration of the Station was a project of the Ellendale Area Heritage Society who financed the moving and restoration of the building and gifted it to the Steele County Historical Society. It is the newest addition to the Village of Yesteryear.Gus' Station is located just across the parking lot from the Dunnell House, next to the Oz Press.

Interview with Lloyd Kaplan:

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Gus’ Station, as it was later to become generally known, was built by Hember C. & Ruth Steele in 1931 on the corner of 8th Ave. & School Street in Ellendale, MN, about 16 miles southeast of  Owatonna, along State Highway 30, across from the Ellendale Creamery and a half-block from the Ellendale school. The first 10 years the operators were Hember Steele, Franklin Dahl and Neil Johnson. During those years, it was a Phillips 66 franchise, a pick-up spot for Johnson Laundry, a Jefferson Bus Stop, and appointment office for Ellendale Rendering Service. During the war years, it was used as a home for Norman & Iris Kuntz in 1941, and home for Adolph & Martha Anderson and their son Duane in 1942. For a short time in 1946, Beverly Fynbo was operator. Then for the next 30 years, 1946-1976, Gus & Hilda Jacobson operated it, Gus adding a service garage with car hoist that replaced an outdoor pit previously used for changing oil. Despite Highway 30 changing its route in 1953, Gus continued to do well servicing vehicles, selling gas, cigarettes, candy, gum and pop until he closed the business. Roger & Luann Sommer took over from 1976 to 1984, using the building as a sales lot office, but continuing to sell pop and candy. Following the Sommers’ use, Ray Winter used it to fix tires and change oil before the building ended up as a storage shed.

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“We are very grateful to the Ellendale Area Heritage Society for their efforts to restore this iconic piece of our local history. Gus’ is a wonderful look at our early automotive history, and was a much loved and visited site for many years for students in Ellendale who frequented the store for pop and candy, as well as being a local gathering spot. They have done a wonderful job restoring the building and are 4 years ahead of their projected timeline. There are some finishing touches yet to be done, but fair-goers are in for a real treat this year as the building will make its debut during the Steele County Fair.” said SCHS Director, Laura Resler.

For more information about the Steele County Historical Society, please visit our website at www.steelehistorymuseum.org, or visit us on Facebook. To reach our office, please call 451-1420.

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For more information about the Steele County Historical Society, please visit our website at www.steelehistorymuseum.org, or visit us on Facebook. To reach our office, please call 451-1420.

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