These caches are on some of the rural roads of Macoupin County. Enjoy the less traveled roads and see some unusual, interesting and historic places.
This cache has been placed at the historic Soulsby filling station.
Henry Soulsby along with his son and two daughters built the Soulsby Station in 1926. From the beginning until the end—65 years—they sold only Shell gasoline.
The building at 13x30 feet was smaller than the restrooms in most modern stations. There was barely room for a coal stove, a cash register, a roll top desk, a battery charger and a few supplies. In the mid 1930s the Soulsbys added a 12 x 30 extension to the back of the building but it was still never big enough to accommodate a car. For oil changes and minor repairs, they had a drive-up ramp outside. And although there was a water tap to refresh cars’ radiators, the station never had a sink or a restroom. For those conveniences the Soulsbys always went to their house behind the Station.
An interesting feature of the station is that it had five doors. You never had to turn a corner get in or out of the station.
The station’s drive-up ramp had stopped being used about 30 or so years ago. But when local teens insisted on using it at night to tune up their hotrods, he let a pin oak grow between the ramp’s legs. That oak is now 25 feet tall.
Interstate 55 replaced Route 66 in Illinois starting in the mid 1970s. That spelled the end for most mom-and-pop gas stations but the Soulsby station remained open pumping what gas they could until 1991. Even after that the station stayed open to check oil, sell soda pop and talk with the ever-increasing number of Route 66 tourists and documentary makers. Finally, in 1993, it closed for good.
The historic station contains some interesting displays and memorabilia along with a guest book to sign. The interior is open on a limited basis, but the exterior is always available..
The cache is only available during daylight hours. Do not attempt this cache at night!
The container is a Small Lock and Lock Container that holds only a log sheet.
Bring a writing instrument to sign the log
This placement is adjacent to a street that can be busy at times. Please use stealth in retrieving and replacing the container so that others may enjoy the visit as well.
Parking is available in a gravel parking area within 25 feet of the cache.
CONGRATULATIONS TO adt1982 FOR BEING FIRST TO FIND!
