Ambler's Texaco Gas Station
Why it's listed
At the corner of Route 17 and Old Route 66 in Dwight, Illinois, this small gas station was built in 1933 by Jack Schore and his son Paul. It follows the house with canopy design, a domestic style meant to make travelers feel at home, with a gabled roof covering both the wood-clad office and the pump canopy. Concrete-block service bays were added around 1941 to 1945, when wartime shortages limited building materials. A wood icehouse to the north, once used to store cut ice for sale, also contributes to the site. The station was known as Vernon's Texaco, then Ambler's Texaco from 1938 to 1966, and later operated as a Marathon station. It was listed for its architecture and for its role serving Route 66 motorists and local residents between 1933 and 1956. It also served as a neighborhood gathering place, and customer charge slips remain in the office. Today it is leased as an auto repair shop.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the station is a good local example of the house with canopy gas station type, with service bays added circa 1941-1945 (Criterion C). It also reflects the commerce and transportation role of a gas station serving Route 66 travelers and Dwight residents from 1933 to 1956 (Criterion A). It is described as one of the few remaining Route 66 stations in Illinois that keeps its integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 01001311, listed November 29, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Il 17 and Old US 66, Dwight |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Listed | November 29, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001311 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1933-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Schore, Jack, Builder |
| Architectural style | Other: House with Canopy Gas Station |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as cluttered but in quite good condition, needing mostly cosmetic repairs. It is leased out and used as an auto repair shop, and the local township intends to acquire it, possibly for a Route 66 Welcome Center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.09412, -88.44073 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 01001311.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3497324
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.