Gas Station Adapted for Different Use

Team: Snap Happy

Team Member: Jen

Location: Sutter Street, Folsom, CA

Photo credit: Roy Vogel

Giuseppe Murer was born in Crespano del Grappa, a small town about 40 miles outside of Venice, Italy, on November 15, 1885. At age 12, he was apprenticed to Signor Giuseppe Melchiore as an apprentice in his carpentry and cabinet-maker’s studio. In this studio, Murer mastered cabinet making and finish work.

At the age of 21, Murer immigrated to the United States, arriving at Ellis Island, New York on October 6, 1906 and traveling on to San Francisco to look for work helping to rebuild the city after the 1906 earthquake. Unable to find work, he moved on to Shasta County and eventually arrived in Folsom around 1910. He became a U.S. citizen on September 10, 1910.

Murer worked at various jobs, applying his carpentry and cabinet-making skills. He built the back-bar in the Folsom Hotel which survives to this day. “Joe,” as he became known, eventually bought the Folsom Hotel and went on to design, build and operate other buildings and businesses on Sutter Street including a gas station and garage built with an Italian influenced design flare, the Folsom firehouse (which survives on the north side of the 700 block), and the old Folsom post office at 627 Sutter Street.

This photo shows a detail of the area where the pumps originally stood. In the vintage photo above of the de-commissioned gas station as an Antique store, the pedestal was still in place. 

September 1 Standings

So, here we are with 1 month left in The Hunt.  Sure seems fast.  These are the standings as I count them.  Let me know if it is otherwise.  Keep up with good work.

Team Spokane            17
Team Young               11
Team Snap Happy      15
Team Manteca              7
Team Fresno                 7
Team Unofficial            6


Happy Hunting!

Loading dock with Graffiti

Team: Spokane
Member: Marcia
Location: Three blocks from downtown Coeur d'Alene

We stumbled across this old - do you see the clues? - warehouse because we had to park out in the dirt behind the local ballpark to go to Ft. Sherman. All the other parking places around the North Idaho Community College require a permit. Marcia was a bit leery of the steps, but she bravely got up there. 

Building with 15 or More Steps

"At the Library"

Team: Spokane

Member: Melissa

Location: University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY

 

The Charles P. Smiddy learning resource center on campus.  17 Steps to get to the Library.  Melissa frequents this building during the school year.  Click here if you'd like to take a "Virtual Walking Tour"...It really is a beautiful Campus!  Melissa lives in "Harth Hall"
 

Relocated, but we went for Rustic

Team: Spokane
Member: Marcia
Location: Ft. Sherman, ID

Fort Sherman is a remnant of a historic fort established by General Sherman of Civil War fame in what is now the city of Coeur d'Alene. It was relocated from the banks of the river to this little spot in the middle of North Idaho Community College.

The outhouse was originally located down by the Spokane River, which flows out of Coeur d'Alene Lake. Posted in the hopes of earning a higher rating for a true pioneer structure. I think Marcia is checking the roof for leaks.

Workin' at the Car Wash... Yeah!

team: Young
member: Chris
location: San Jose, CA
item: gas station adapted for different use

Here's Chris waiting for his car to get steam cleaned and detailed... did you read about the stupid truck driver who didn't cap his load of recycled cooking oil/grease in Campbell?  Created quiet the mess on Campbell Avenue one morning - super smelly too!  So what's a guy to do when he's got a brand new ride but get it cleaned up, on that truckers dime!

This is our favorite place to take our cars for that special treatment! It's right on the corner of Coleman and West Taylor.  You gotta get there early on the weekend!  Lots of busy workers!

Double Dutch Bus - Uptown, Downtown, Everybody's gettin' Down

Never thought we'd get this one!  Enjoy the Funky Music

 

Double Decker Bus

Team: Spokane

Member: Melissa

Location: Knoxville, TN

 

Melissa and a few schoolmates traveled to Knoxville this weekend to deliver a Visiting College Grad Friend back to the bus station to catch his ride back to Memphis.  To her surprise, when they stopped at the Bus Station, There it was.  The Megabus! Click for a daytime view.    Excellent Find Melissa!