On June 9, Remember Knox in the old days, celebrate the Stevenses’ gas station
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Si Stevens was 6 years old in 1932 when she stood on the railing at her father’s gas station on Route 156 in downtown Knox. She took over the gas station in 1970 when her father, Daniel Webster “Web” Stevens, died. She worked 14 to 16 hours every day for the next 33 years, pumping gas for customers.
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By Nancy Frueh
KNOX — The Knox Historical Society invites you to attend the official acceptance ceremony of the Stevenses’ Mobil gas sign on Sunday, June 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Saddlemire Homestead on Route 156 by the town hall and firehouse. The sign was a local landmark that hung in front of “Si” Stevens’s gas station in downtown Knox for more than 40 years.
Starting at 2 p.m., Roger Shafer and New Venture will play music of the era. At 3 p.m., visitors will hear Bob Stevens and Lou Saddlemire, facilitated by Travis Stevens, discuss life in Knox in the old days, and their experiences around the gas station in particular.
When the stories end, we will move the sign inside to complete our exhibit of photographs and history of Knox’s Stevens family. We also encourage guests to explore the refurbished Knox Cave Room, learn why Knox was the Pill Box Capital of the World, and discover other historical artifacts in the museum. Refreshments will be served, including a
special Stevens family recipe.
KNOX — The Knox Historical Society invites you to attend the official acceptance ceremony of the Stevenses’ Mobil gas sign on Sunday, June 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Saddlemire Homestead on Route 156 by the town hall and firehouse. The sign was a local landmark that hung in front of “Si” Stevens’s gas station in downtown Knox for more than 40 years.
Starting at 2 p.m., Roger Shafer and New Venture will play music of the era. At 3 p.m., visitors will hear Bob Stevens and Lou Saddlemire, facilitated by Travis Stevens, discuss life in Knox in the old days, and their experiences around the gas station in particular.
When the stories end, we will move the sign inside to complete our exhibit of photographs and history of Knox’s Stevens family. We also encourage guests to explore the refurbished Knox Cave Room, learn why Knox was the Pill Box Capital of the World, and discover other historical artifacts in the museum. Refreshments will be served, including a
special Stevens family recipe.
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A blacksmith and wagon shop was purchased by Daniel Webster Stevens from the Baxters in 1929
and re-opened as a gas station on May 6, 1931. The first floor became a store that sold homemade ice cream, candy, and cigarettes. Gasoline was 10 cents a gallon. |
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In 1977, when gas prices were less than half of what they are now, Si Stevens was still in charge of the Knox gas station. She entered St. Peter’s Hospital for surgery in 2003 and then moved to Our Lady of Mercy Life Center. Margaret “Si” Stevens was born on Aug. 28, 1926, the daughter of Daniel Webster Stevens and Edna Mae Quay, and died on May 18, 2010, at Our Lady of
Mercy Life center. |
For more information, contact John Elberfeld at 872-2082 or [email protected].
Editor’s note: Nancy Frueh is the president of the Knox Historical Society.
Altamont Enterprise - May 23, 2013
Editor’s note: Nancy Frueh is the president of the Knox Historical Society.
Altamont Enterprise - May 23, 2013