Afternoon scoot through the hood.....

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Got out for a ride this afternoon did'nt go far but it was nice to ride again before the rain arrives this evening....Airplane Service Station ...





The Airplane Service Station, also known as the Powell Airplane, is a service station built in 1930 in the shape of an airplane. Located at 6829 Clinton Highway in Powell, a neighborhood in Knox County, Tennessee, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The station was built by brothers Elmer and Henry Nickle. Their intent was to increase business by having a service station that was visually unique, both to area residents and to travelers on newly widened U.S. Highway 25.Elmer Nickle had a strong interest in airplanes, and so the station was constructed in the Fantastic architectural style in the shape of an airplane.

The structure ceased being used as a service station in the 1960s, when it became a liquor store. It has also been a produce stand, bait & tackle shop, and a used car lot. Knox Heritage and a local organization, the Airplane Filling Station Preservation Association (AFSPA), are working to preserve the structure.










Brickyard Road ............Johnny VanZant



This is about Van Zant's older brother Ronnie, who was killed in a plane crash in 1977. Ronnie was the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd; Johnny took over after his death.Brickyard Road is where Ronnie, his wife Judy, and his daughter Melody lived when he was killed on October 20,1977.This makes reference to "Freebird," the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic that came to symbolize Ronnie Van Zant after his death.



Doesn't seem that long ago
Three of us walkin' down that road
Grey '55 Chevy parked in the front yard
Little Melody tagged along
Those were the best days now they're gone
Oh it's been twelve years since it went down
Lord, lost my best friend now
I can still see him fishin' on that old dock
I know I can't bring back yesterday
But oh Lord can't you help me find my way


Down to brickyard road
Oh, walk on down
Down to brickyard road
He's with me now
Swore I saw a Free Bird fly
Ridin' the winds of a Southern sky
When I hear that whistle blow
It carries me back
To brickyard road



Johnny Van Zant - Brickyard Road


" The Money Shot " taken at the 82 year old Airplane Service Station that until recently was in bad shape and ready to fall down from lack of maintence.

[R J]

I stopped there one time and the guy gave me a tour of the inside.

It was amasing how the interiior was fixed so it could almost use all the available space.

I started looking for my pictures but hasven't found them yet.

I  have close to 600 or 700 on this computer, and setting about 5 feet to my right is 57 photo albums with 200 pictures per album.    All pictures taken while on motor trips.   2 of my kids were my passengers back then.

Jeez Louise, that is like 11,400 in albums and say 600 on here, dat be 12,000 pictures.    I do have an Excel index of what the pictures are in every album.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I stopped there one time and the guy gave me a tour of the inside.

It was amasing how the interiior was fixed so it could almost use all the available space.

I started looking for my pictures but hasven't found them yet.

I  have close to 600 or 700 on this computer, and setting about 5 feet to my right is 57 photo albums with 200 pictures per album.    All pictures taken while on motor trips.   2 of my kids were my passengers back then.

Jeez Louise, that is like 11,400 in albums and say 600 on here, dat be 12,000 pictures.    I do have an Excel index of what the pictures are in every album.

Cool read RJ ....I know what you mean about the pictures I've got close to 4,500 on my computer.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I stopped there one time and the guy gave me a tour of the inside.

It was amasing how the interiior was fixed so it could almost use all the available space.

I started looking for my pictures but hasven't found them yet.

I  have close to 600 or 700 on this computer, and setting about 5 feet to my right is 57 photo albums with 200 pictures per album.    All pictures taken while on motor trips.   2 of my kids were my passengers back then.

Jeez Louise, that is like 11,400 in albums and say 600 on here, dat be 12,000 pictures.    I do have an Excel index of what the pictures are in every album.

RJ if you was to find that picture please post it or send it to me. I remember it being open when I was a kid but don't think it was a service station then.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Saw that they were finally making progress on that recently. They been seeking donations for years. Glad you caught some wind Joe. Thanks for the RR  

[T-Bird]

A salesman I had for my welding store lived in Powell. he told me of that plane several times and said I should ride up there to check it out. He talked of when he was young kid he used to hang out there. He said people traveling would be sure to route their trips through there just to get a picture.

[Stanley Steamer]

Joe.....you and T-bird should build a motorcycle shop shaped like a BIG Boob.....you'd have folks coming from ALL around to see that!!.......

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

A salesman I had for my welding store lived in Powell. he told me of that plane several times and said I should ride up there to check it out. He talked of when he was young kid he used to hang out there. He said people traveling would be sure to route their trips through there just to get a picture.

Cool......Thanks for adding to the thread    I've got a co-worker that collects memorabilia and advertising nostalgia from those days his collection is worth thousands and fills a garage and two out buildings...He would pay LARGE for those gas pumps in the picture.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Joe.....you and T-bird should build a motorcycle shop shaped like a BIG Boob.....you'd have folks coming from ALL around to see that!!.......

T-Bird pretty much already runs a used motorcycle dealership out of his garage. I'm sure his wife would'nt mind if he built a big boob beside his house 

[Big IV]

I would like to stop at a gas station shaped like an air plane, now I will next time I'm up that way.

[BIG--T]

I'd love to see that plane and is good to know about Brickyard Rd. I'll have to check out Clinton one day. 

[Devl]

Very cool thread Joe...Thanks!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Very cool thread Joe...Thanks!

Thank you for the comment 

[NC_Rob]

Good report! Keep'em coming. Will have to check out the station next time I'm in the area.

[F6Mark]

That is a nice little slice of Americana.  It's interesting how things change slowly- people driving from all over the place to see the airplane gas staion- we amused easily back then.
Y'know, back when this place was built, you could be an elevator operator and still put your kids through college if you applied yourself.  (but that's another story).