The Front Street Garage, Route 66 in Galena, Kansas During the Model A Era Model A

[31 Model A]

Originally Posted by 1930artdeco

Way to go 66! Another historic building does not bite the dust-thank you. One of my goals is to take a month off and tour Route 66 in my A.

Mike

I too....maybe we can meet up and drive a golden spike somewhere middle ways......

[EAK69]

Originally Posted by rileyracing

That is really awesome!

Way to keep the torch burning... do you have a gofundme page or someplace where people can send contributions to help? I don't have much, but every little bit helps, right?

Thanks!

jk

Actually - every penny is coming from my pocket (for now). I will most likely create Front Street Garage merchandise to help fund the restoration - I have Tshirts now that I DO NOT sell as I give them to folks on the route (or roadies as we call each other) who do things to help the route grow and prosper. I am designing a second set of shirts shortly and those would be for sale.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Ed, have you posted your building restoration over onto the Garage Journal site for those guys to follow too??

[EAK69]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

Ed, have you posted your building restoration over onto the Garage Journal site for those guys to follow too??

Do you have a link to it?

[ian Simpson]

Originally Posted by Doug in NJ

You know, I was recently wondering if they still sold anything (hams? sardines?) in those cans that had the little key attached to the lid.
Sadly, I couldn't find anything in the local supermarket.
Another bit of technology is no longer with us...

Doug

I buy cans of Hereford corned beef (from Brazil) and Swift (Canadian) ham that still have the keys. I buy them at Costco.

[Y-Blockhead]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by EAK69

Do you have a link to it?

The Links to all Atomic Industries is at the bottom of this page.

[EAK69]

I have been to the site before and quickly browsed thru it but it seems to focus more on personal garages than actual garages - I will spend a little more time this weekend on it. Thanks!

[Terry, NJ]

We just returned from our annual trip west. Rather than treat it as "Flyover" country, we drive through it. Our one daughter and her husband have a new house in lake Conroe, north of Houston. From there we drove to Denver and on the way we saw many of these little towns on life support. Not only in Texas, but many of the states we went through. In fact, we stayed in one, Memphis, Texas. A quick exploratory ride through the town revealed the economic devastation . All the consumer support industries were gone leaving good commercial buildings to be worn away by the west Texas winds. It was sad! It was Tragic! Banks, appliance stores, gift shops, garages, laundramats. That this was where people had made a living not so long ago was left with the barest minimum of services. I think you could have a decent size store for the taxes on it. A sad commentary on the state of affairs.
Terry

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by EAK69

I have been to the site before and quickly browsed thru it but it seems to focus more on personal garages than actual garages - I will spend a little more time this weekend on it. Thanks!

Did you actually go to this section: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7

There are guys that have restored gas stations and old mechanic's shops who have posted their rebuild or restoration. Presently I have my building renovation/restoration posted on Facebook until I get finished and then I will post it on there too.

[EAK69]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

There are guys that have restored gas stations and old mechanic's shops who have posted their rebuild or restoration. Presently I have my building renovation/restoration posted on Facebook until I get finished and then I will post it on there too.

I have spent an hour or two on the site and almost all are personal home garages - although I did see one 'commercial' type garage being redone to a workshop.

I will keep looking as I have time.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by EAK69

I have spent an hour or two on the site and almost all are personal home garages - although I did see one 'commercial' type garage being redone to a workshop.

I will keep looking as I have time.

From where I am I cannot see the pictures but based just on the title alone see if this fits your project.

Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[EAK69]

I have seen this one - pretty neat job what they did to it!

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by EAK69

I have seen this one - pretty neat job what they did to it!

As I said I only went by the title, not seeing the actual pictures, sorry it was not what I thought it was now that I see the pictures.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by EAK69

I have spent an hour or two on the site and almost all are personal home garages - although I did see one 'commercial' type garage being redone to a workshop.

I will keep looking as I have time.

Not to be controversial, but exactly what are you wanting to see? IMHO, anything you want to see regarding old building restoration or renovation is there for you to read about. Matter of fact, very much like you, I am trying to complete renovation on an old 30,000 sq ft industrial facility. There are MANY ideas that I first saw there on GJ of smaller shops and buildings that I just adapted for use on my place.

And, when you consider the odds, there is probably only one person like me or you to every thousand guys that would ever embark on such a project like you have taken on. That is a nutshell is why I think you must comb thru 1,000 different people's posts to find just one old dealership building renovation that someone has posted there, ...but I promise you there are a couple on Garage Journal.

Below are some pix of what I started with and some of where we are 9 months later. I will post a complete build on GJ one of these days when we complete everything, and I would encourage you to do the same there too. I look forward to seeing it there!!

.
.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Here are a couple to get you started...

Buick Garage

Craftsman's Garage

Dream Car Garage

Repurposed Machine Shop

Building New 'Old' Service Station

12,000 Sq Ft Toybox

Ford Dealership - Bowen Garage

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

....and the one that will keep you busy for hours looking for hours!! Click HERE:

[EAK69]

Originally Posted by BRENT in 10-uh-C

And, when you consider the odds, there is probably only one person like me or you to every thousand guys that would ever embark on such a project like you have taken on.

You are a man after my own heart with all those Model A's!! AND you and I probably will end up sharing the same padded cell after everything is said and done with our buildings.

Your's seems to be more modern (by a half a century or so) compared to mine and I have so much work ahead of me it is mind blowing BUT, knowing I can save a 120 year old building which will attract folks driving Route 66 in Kansas AND helping a little town - it almost makes it all worthwhile....

Once I get all of the dimensions and measurements of the interior, I will start mocking up renderings to show what it will look like. I have done 2 plus years of research and have a pretty decent idea of what it will turn out to be.

Thanks for the links - I will check them out.

[EAK69]

Update to the work on the garage.

I had a VERY talented lady colorize the original May 1947 photo and include ALL the exact colors on the items on and in the building. I would say this is about 95% accurate. If you see something I might be missing, PLEASE feel free to chime in.


As I am ramping up trips to the garage in 2017, I still have a bit of structural work to do BUT this will be the first year where some of the original facade is exposed / brought back. This year and next year should show real progress which will take place on the facade of the building.

I also have a Facebook page set up for all to follow more detailed progress: https://www.facebook.com/frontstreetgarage/ - head over and LIKE the page.

I will post more as we get more work completed. Again, thank you for all the info, I have used some of your posts to help getting this thing to look as authentic as possible.

[31 Model A]

MO 54 is almost at my front door and it goes all the way across MO to Ft Scott. From Ft Scott south through Alma and Pittsburg to Galena...right?? I might visit with you this year some time. I'll bring something from my garage to donate to your garage. I've been wanting to take Sarah out for a looooong drive.

[California Travieso]

EAK69,

What a great restoration. All you need now is diner so you can get Guy Fieri of Diners, drive-in's and Dives to give you a plug.

Before he died, Huell House had a program on PBS called California's Gold, where visited a lot of the old towns with historic buildings that have been preserved or restored here in California. They run his shows on our local PBS station. He may also be on YouTube.

The Early Ford Store in San Dimas, CA , and C. W. Moss in Orange, CA. are in old buildings like your building.

I'll buy a t-shirt when you have them ready. You should also sell hats too.

Thanks and keep us posted.

David Serrano