#332 Bridgeport Shell #332
by William Lum
Title
#332 Bridgeport Shell #332
Artist
William Lum
Medium
Painting - Watercolor
Description
On a “plein air” painting trip to the South Yuba River State Park, I saw the historic gas station building near the park headquarters and took a reference photo. Alfred Kneebone built the gas station and store to attract and support visitors to the Pleasure Resort. Opening Day was May 12, 1927. The Shell gas station operated from 1927 to 1944. It served travelers transiting the Turnpike or visiting the Kneebone Beach Resort upriver. Gasoline was 12 cents per gallon in 1927. The gas station featured a portico to cover the refueling area, a gravity-fed “Visible” gas pump,
Attached at the back of the gas station are the remains of the meat dressing room and ice-box. Meat-producing animals raised on the ranch were hung and dressed here using running water in a trough in the room.
The South Yuba River Park Association restored the gas station to its circa 1927. A vintage “Visible” gas pump was obtained, restored, and placed with the gas station. Around the gas station are mulberry trees, planted by Mary Ann Thompson Cole (1831-1900), widow of William Thompson and wife of Charles Cole. Mrs. Cole tried to raise silkworms, which thrive on mulberry leaves. She hoped to profit from the popularity of silk fabrics in the nineteenth century. Her venture was unsuccessful.
Back at home from the trip, I was wondering what that gas station looked like back when it was open. I regret not taking photos of informational signs and details of the displays inside the station. I did some research to find out what the gas station windows probably looked like and found a black and white photo of car that could have been there when it was open. The car is a 1941 Plymouth model B12 and I picked a color similar to colors offered in that year. This watercolor painting was my recreation of what it could have been like.
This 15” X 22” watercolor painting was done on Bee, 140 lb, cold press, watercolor paper.
Uploaded
September 16th, 2018
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