
Imperial Refineries Filling Station, 315 West Bourke Street, southeast corner of Bourke Street and the Wabash Railroad tracks, looking southwest, circa 1940s. Wabash Railroad’s water tower for their steam locomotives is on the right. Founded in 1915, Imperial Refineries Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri was known for selling bulk motor oil in glass bottles and discount gasoline. Imperial was sold to Cheker Oil Company in 1976, which merged with Marathon Oil Company (now Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC) in 1983. Photo courtesy of Dwayne King.
Imperial Refineries Filling Station’s grand prize, a 26” Schwinn Panther bicycle, 315 West Bourke Street, January 1954. These black, red and chrome bicycles are currently valued at over $3,000. They had a large padded tan leather seat with side-mounted hand grips, white wall tires, a Delta Rocket Ray headlight, a passenger seat, red vinyl handle grips and spring loaded shock absorbers on the front. The station advertised a 10 quart can of Imperial motor oil for $1.89, .22 caliber long rifle shells for 65 cents, and .22 caliber shorts for 45 cents.
Imperial Filling Station, 315 West Bourke Street, circa 1959. Imperial Refineries Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri was founded in 1915 and was known for selling bulk motor oil in glass bottles and discount gasoline. Imperial was sold to Cheker Oil Company in 1976, which merged with Marathon Oil Company (now Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC) in 1983. A 1959 Chevrolet can be seen to the right of the station building and a 1957 Plymouth Plaza four door sedan is parked in front of the storage tank on the right. Bourke Street is paved with bricks in this photo.
Imperial Refineries Filling Station, 315 West Bourke Street, looking southeast, circa 1960s.