Wadhams Gas Station

In 1916, Wadhams Oil & Grease Company recognized the market potential of serving early automobile owners, many of whom bought gasoline in buckets for storage at home, and introduced an off-street gasoline distribution center known as a gas station. Wadhams Gas Stations became a prominent regional chain in the Midwest, though only a few still stand. Milwaukee architect Alexander Eschweiler created an iconic design that combined a steel-frame, glass-walled, box-like station with a swooping roofline, producing a building that was functional, efficient, and visually striking. The design used color and a bold silhouette to set the building apart from the clutter of a typical roadside strip, and its flamboyant roof became the centerpiece of the company's market image. This Wadhams Gas Station remains on its original site and was restored in 2000 to its 1950s appearance with support from the West Allis Historical Commission. In 2004, it was designated a local landmark and listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Owned and maintained by the City of West Allis, it contains historical displays of petroleum products once sold there and equipment used by former owner Frank Seneca, who owned and operated the station from 1954 to 1978.

West Allis, Wisconsin · United States