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"Service station, First Street and Maryland Avenue." Spectacularly detailed view of the Capital Gasoline Station in Washington, D.C., in 1922. View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View even larger.
Why is there a ladder leading straight up (to nowhere) on the top of the building on the left?
Is that a ladder to nowhere or a "Stairway to Heaven"?
This is the Capitol Gasoline Station,"The Home of Filtered Gas," at First and Maryland Southwest; Arther Seagren, proprietor. It appears to have opened in 1919 and survived until at least 1930. Now the location of the U.S. Botanic Garden.
Free adjustments and advice will be given on all cars. Consult me if your car is not running right. Ladies driving their own cars will find us always ready to make any adjustments on their tires, radiator or batteries.
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No waiting; large cement driveways. Ten visible oil and gasoline pumps which show you the amount and quality of the gas you buy.
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Air boys who will fill your tires and batteries free of charge. No charge for changing oils in motors. Transmissions and rear axles filled while you wait.
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Alemite Service - we are now equipped to alemite any make of car. Having recently installed the very latest alemite equipment and three large alemite stands, we can alemite your car in a very few minutes and day until 6:30 p.m.
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Open every evening until 11 o'clock
Amazingly detailed photo. The mechanic conferring with someone, possibly owner. Another man getting what looks to be a sip of water. And its location at 1st and Maryland placed it right across the street from the Capitol, near or on the spot of the Supreme Court building (cornerstone laid 1932, completed 1935).
[Not quite. This was at First and Maryland SW, not NE. Thanks to PER for the nifty 1923 map. - Dave]
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