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| "The
last Humble station still has it's sign. An interesting mosaic on
the side of the building marks it permanently as an outpost for Humble
Oil." |
| "Before
there was Exxon, there was Esso. And in Texas there was Humble Oil.
Humble Oil was once the most important oil company in Texas with service
stations stretched across the state and huge refineries that supplied
both Texans and motorists across the country." |
| "Some
of the old Humble stations have been abandoned, others have been remodeled
with a new corporate logo affixed above the station. All the Humble
stations are gone. All but one." |
| "The
last Humble station no longer pumps gas, and it has no employees.
As a matter of fact, it doesn't even have windows. It's been closed
for years." |
| "The
building is located just south of downtown. Bypassed by thousands
of cars daily, it exists in a void. Too small for redevelopment, but
saved from demolition by being far enough away from the highway, the
station sits empty as a monument to the past." |
 |
The
broken tile sign above the door. Dark spot at 2 o'clock is a Chimney
Swift's nest. |
 |
A
slightly different Humble Oil sign somewhere in Harlingen |
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|
Vintage
photos courtesy Mel Brown |
35
Years of Humble Service by Mel Brown
At age five, I went to live with my grandparents in San Antonio.
My grandfather, C. K. Brown was nearing the end of a 35 year long
career with The Humble Oil & Refining Co. as a truck driver and
was then marking time daily by running errands for the regional
depot. For most of the previous three decades he had delivered Humble
petroleum products throughout South Texas and all over San Antonio
first by mule team, below, then motor transport. But for that first
year before entering grade school, I became his pint sized partner
running around S A with him to the various Humble stations in a
'49 Chevy pickup truck.... more
- Mel Brown
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