Pioneers in pumping gas include the Connolly Sisters on South Main Jane & Theresa. Then, WWII spawned a dream for my Uncle, Freddy Charron. While in the U.S. Army, Fred, as a Motor Pool Sergeant, sketched out his vision of having a small gas station in North Brookfield. His father, John Charron operated a small station on North Main.. the predecessor to ANDY BROWNS!
A.L.Potvin Builder along with my dad and Fred built his station on South Main. It opened in 1947. Gas was cheap.. maybe 21 cents a gallon?! The birth of this neighborhood station proved to be a social station too. Loyal customers and friends would gas up, have their windshield washed, oil checked while Fred or Blanche pumped gas into your tank. Fred had an eagle eye. While pumping he looked for worn tires on your car! LOL.
Kelly Springfield tires were sold. I even bought a pair of Kelly Explorer snow tires years later (1958) for $42.00. Rubber headed hammers and tire irons were the rule and inherently dangerous. No machines back then!
Over the years the Charron's enterprise was a way of life: Eat, work & sleep. Penny candy and Penny their cocker spaniel made the station feel like home. Aunt Blanche cooked in their diminutive kitchen in back. Fred "bitched" when the customer bell rang as he started to eat! Their vegetable garden provided for a huge crop each season and their home freezer was filled with vegetables,trout and 'pout! They were truly frugal and saved thousands.
Charron's Blue Sunoco came to an end in 1971. Both enjoyed a very long retirement at their home on Ward Street, NB. For me, the gas station proved to be a wonderful experience in learning the nuances of entrepreneurship.
Today, corporations rule although we do have such a station here in West Brookfield: COUNTRY CORNER where your gas is still pumped and oil checked but the tire air is no longer FREE!
No comments:
Post a Comment