Gus’ Station Car/Care Cruise is Saturday

The annual Gus' Station Car Cruise is Saturday, September 19 and will take a trip through Steele County, swinging by each care community in Blooming Prairie, Ellendale, Owatonna and Medford. The registration fee for each vehicle will go toward building a service bay next to the building on the Village of Yesteryear grounds at the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna.

A press release from the Steele County Historical Society states, "This building (the service bay) is proposed to house the Alexander truck, Meixner 1919 Dodge and other Owatonna Tool Company artifacts relating to the automotive industry. The addition will provide additional storage as well as a work area."

Registration begins at 8 am Saturday morning at $10 per vehicle. Use the parking lot west of the Steele County History Center. The cruise leaves at 9 am for the approximately 70-mile event.

"Drivers are asked to remain in their vehicles once arriving at the parking lot. Volunteers will direct vehicles for social distancing. Event volunteers wearing face coverings will pick up registration information from parked vehicles."

Gus' Station operated in Ellendale from 1931 through 1980. "This station was a favorite destination for area children to buy candy after school," the news release contends. "The efforts to preserve this building were completed by the Ellendale Historic League in August 2014. The station showcases its historic renovation along with items sold in the early days. It is the most recent building added to the Village of Yesteryear."

This is also the weekend for the historical society's redesigned Extravaganza drive-thru activity. From 12 pm to 2 pm on Sunday, September 20. Visitors can purchase Bohemian Buchti or kolachy, Norwegian flatbrod, Scandinavian lefsa, and American kettle corn. Musical entertainment will be played.