Before the Phillips 66 Station was restored, it had lost a lot of its eye appeal.
The old garage bays were not the attractive site that they are today.
The restored station is now an attractive additon to the community.
The murals on the garage bays now draw many travelers to take photographs.
The old 1930s Phillips 66 station has a long history in Cuba. Built by Paul T. Carr, it had been a Phillips 66 station serving the needs of Route 66 travelers. When Carr expanded the operation, it became a Pontiac dealership as well.
When Carr sold it, it went through various owners and brands of stations until the Bill and Lynn Wallis bought it in 1968. It became their first Mobll station and “office” of the fledgling Wallis Oil business. From that modest beginning, Wallis Companies has expanded and grown to the point where it has over 600 employees in Missouri. The home office is still in Cuba, but it is in the modern brick building across the street.
Lynn and Bill Wallis always retained an appreciation for the small building where they got their start, but they didn’t quite know what to do with it. A fast food franchise wanted to buy it, but they knew it would be torn down, so they refused. Then after Bill died of cancer in 2001, Lynn Wallis began a project that would honor both Bill and the station’s history.
Working with Viva Cuba, a Route 66 Preservation grant, the Phillips 66 organzaiton, and others, the Wallis family restored the station to how it would have looked in the 1930s.
Viva Cuba hired Missouri artist Ray Harvey to paint the vintage scenes on the garage bays to commemorate the memory of Bill Wallis and the history of the station.
Now, Lynn Wallis and her children who help run the business can view the little station with pride.
Travelers can stop and see a part of Americana along Route 66.
And the town of Cuba, Missouri can be grateful that a part of its history has been preserved in an attractive way.
Visit the homepage for all things Viva Cuba.
[…] another example of before and after in Cuba, MO…“Before and after images tell the tale of restoration in Cuba, MO.” This article deals with the transformation of the Phillips 66 Gas Station across the street from […]
Paul T. Carr was my great grandfather. I am so thankful for the restoration efforts to preserve his gas station and the memories there.
Thanks for commenting. We would be glad to hear of any family remembrances of your grandfather and the station. Have you seen the “Christmas Over Route 66 Cuba, Missouri” print that features the station? We commissioned it last year.
Thank you to the Viva Cuba Mural Members for honoring the MO State Highway Patrol with the Mural showing a Patrol Car. I appreciate the honor that was given to my husband Ret. Sgt. W.E. Woody Aytes by placing his Badge number on the license plate on the patrol car. He was very proud of the respect shown him.