Gus’ Station fundraiser scheduled for Saturday

 Gus’ Station, built in 1931, has always been a good place to tell stories. On July 18, visitors to the historical building will once again have the chance to hear stories of days gone by. 
 Lloyd Kaplan, a member of the Ellendale Area Heritage Society and former Steele County Historical Society board member, has a wealth of knowledge about the building and its contents. In fact, he can tell stories about most items at the site, from the sign outside the station to the broom hanging on the wall near the front door. 
“Hilda swept the floor with that broom every day,” Lloyd said. “Every piece here has a story.”
 Lloyd is referring to Hilda Jacobson, who operated the station from 1946 to 1976 with her husband, Gus. While Gus and Hilda Jacobson were not the first operators of the building, they were well known for their thriving business and made the station into an area landmark. During their 30 years at the station, Gus and Hilda sold gas, candy, cigarettes and soda pop, in addition to servicing vehicles. 
“This is how Kwik Trip and Casey’s got started; they modeled their business around places like this,” Lloyd said. 
Lloyd says that prominent area figures would gather at the station for their morning conversation. Lloyd also says that local students would buy candy at Gus’ Station, which was located just half a block away from the Ellendale school.  
“Instead of eating lunch at noon, the kids would come here and buy candy,” Lloyd said. “They were absolutely a huge part of the business.” 
 Hember C. and Ruth Steele built the station on the corner of Ellendale’s Eighth Avenue and School Street in 1931. During its first 10 years of existence, the station was operated by Hember Steele, Franklin Dahl and Neil Johnson. 
During World War II, the small building became a residence. In 1941 the Kuntz family lived at the station, followed by the Anderson family it 1942. Briefly, in 1946, Beverly Fynbo served as the station’s operator before Gus and Hilda opened their business. 
After Gus and Hilda closed their business, Roger and Luann Sommer began using the building as an office. Along with the office, the Sommers also sold candy and pop until 1984. Ray Winter then used the station as a place to service cars. Later, the building was used as a storage shed. 
In recent years, the Ellendale Area Heritage Society and Steele County Historical Society teamed up to clean and restore the building. Bit by bit, Lloyd and other Heritage Society members filled the station with relevant historical items, many of which were actually used at the site while the station was in operation. 
“We were very fortunate that we were able to salvage as much as we could,” said Lloyd. 
Lloyd is also quick to note that he is not the only person who worked to restore the station. “It took a lot of people to do this, and it took a long time,” he said. The station moved to its new home, in the Steele County History Center’s Village of Yesteryear, in Owatonna, and was first open to the public at this location in 2014. 
The latest additions to the station are two new pumps. Lloyd says that the pumps should be installed just in time for the upcoming fundraiser.  
On July 18, all are welcome to attend a special fundraising event at the Steele County History Center in Owatonna, where the Village of Yesteryear is located. That day, a pancake breakfast will take place at the Center from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. During this time, a car show will also take place on the grounds. The first 75 entrants will receive a dash plaque, and all are invited to take place in the car cruise at 1:15 p.m. Guests can even take a photo of their vehicle in front of Gus’ Gas Station. (Free will donations will be accepted.) Souvenir t-shirts will also be available. All proceeds will benefit the “Gus’ Station Project.” 
Although this event is sponsored by the Ellendale Area Heritage Society and the Steele County Historical Society, Lloyd says that this may be the last “big event” for the Ellendale Area Heritage Society. The Society currently has few members, and information is lost each time a member passes away. Lloyd hopes, however, that the members’ legacies will live on through their efforts to preserve Ellendale’s history. 
“That’s what this is all about,” said Lloyd, gesturing to the original shelving and artifacts on display at Gus’ Station. “It’s not about us. When we are gone, this will still be here.”