Fred Lynch retired in 2018 after capturing images for the Southeast Missourian since 1975, in that time moving from black-and-white to color, from film to digital and to video. The blog title is a nod to an earlier era of news photography and the 4x5 Speed Graphic: It's more important to be there for the shot than to worry about technical details.

Derby Oil Co., 1865 Broadway

Posted Wednesday, December 23, 2015, at 12:00 AM

This Derby gas station opened in late 1970 at 1865 Broadway in Cape Girardeau.

The photograph was taken for the Southeast Missourian Achievement Edition published Feb. 27, 1971.

Regular gasoline was 24.9 cents and ethyl was 26.9 cents per gallon.

Using the Consumer Price Index, the price of regular gasoline in 1970 had the same buying power as $1.52 in 2015.

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The 1985 city directory lists B.J.’s Derby. The site was vacant for a time. By 1990 it was Burger Tyme. The 1992-93 directory lists Mike’s Backyard Bar-B-Que. In 1995, Dave’s Bar-B-Que is listed. It was operated by the family of Zoi Mousadakos. She transitioned the business after eight years to Zoi’s Gyros Corner. She announced her retirement and closing of the business in March 2022.

In this previous blog, another Derby gas station was photographed by G.D. Fronabarger a few years earlier. The gas price was a little higher.

Saveway Oil makeover

More gas station blogs:

25-cent gasoline?

Alvarado

Southern Oil on Morgan Oak

Sinclair station on Highway 61

Haman Service Station

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And don't forget, they gave stamps to collect for gifts.

-- Posted by JungleJim on Thu, Dec 24, 2015, at 9:08 PM

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