For nearly a century, this intersection and building has served as the entryway to the Village of Port Barrington. Now operated as Rogers Automotive, it was originally established as Syder's Service Station by Michael Blazincic in the 1950s. Fire Marshal records indicate the Blazincic family acquired the property in 1968, but the date is questionable as community stories date the business far earlier. The station was operated as a Mobil station for many years, and featured a single service bay. The land was annexed into Port Barrington in 2007.
Adjacent to the service station was a beautiful stone building that stood until the early 2000's, which is rumored to have been the home for village founder Tyra Nielsen for many years. Tyra built the village, with the main road the station stands on serving as the only entrance for decades. As Michael aged, his son-in-law Michael Stanchuck joined in operations. The family lived across Roberts Road, and were a staple of the community, providing a first job and great hangout for many neighborhood boys.
While the station closed in the early 2000's, it has found new life. In 2013, the then vacant, vintage service station was featured in ABC's TV drama "Betrayal." While filming only occurred in one day, several days of film crews and police presence stirred up quite the buzz in this small, rural community.
Shortly thereafter, Snyders was sold to the Rogers family, and became Rogers Automotive. New owners Geoff and Jessica continue the vintage vibe of the service station, focusing on classic car restoration and maintenance. A new service bay was added to the building in 2019, tripling capacity.
The Roger's passion for everything vintage is reflected in not just their customers' vehicles, but the decor and pinup photography that continues to support Port Barrington's motor-sports and community focused culture. As you approach this cache, the time of year will greatly change your experience. In summer, you'll hear the engines of boats from the nearby Fox River, and find classic cars traversing the streets for the many nearby car shows. In colder weather, snowmobiles and vintage snowmobile shows are frequent fixtures.
The village was established in 1927 as Fox River Valley Gardens, and was incorporated in 1969. It adopted the name Port Barrington in 2003. This series honors the 50th anniversary of Port Barrington, celebrating its motto of Friendly by Nature, reflecting its commitment to the environment and small town community.
Please park in customer parking so as not to block the service bays. No need to fuss with the vintage decor to discover this cache. The cache is readily accessible without use of force or the need to open or access any secured spaces. The key is to search with your eyes first, interrogate with your hands once you have confidence in your find.
Permission for placement granted by Geoff & Jessica Rogers. Enjoy the sights!
Caches in this series:
Also.... track the journey of our Travel Bug: Port Barrington 50th Anniversary Travel Bug