Standard Oil Gasoline Station
Also known as: Sinclair Gas Station; Odell Standard Station
Why it's listed
Built on old Route 66 in Odell, Illinois, this small frame gas station was begun in 1932 after Patrick O'Donnell bought a 60-by-200-foot lot on the southwest side of town. It follows the "house with canopy" pattern, a domestic-looking design meant to make travelers feel at home, with a low-pitched gabled roof that extends forward over the pumps, asphalt-shingled walls and banks of one-over-one windows. Before 1940, O'Donnell, a contractor, added a service bay on the north side, bringing mechanical and body repair to a stretch of highway where ten stations competed. Over the years the station sold Standard, Phillips 66 and Sinclair products under various lessees. It was listed for its architecture and for its role serving Route 66 motorists between 1932 and 1956. It is described as one of the few Illinois Route 66 stations retaining its original character. It is now vacant and in disrepair, though judged restorable.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be locally significant under Criterion C as a good example of the "house with canopy" gas station type with added service bays. It also meets Criterion A for its role providing fuel, oil and repair services to Route 66 motorists and Odell residents. It is described as one of the few remaining Route 66 stations in Illinois that retains 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 97001338, listed November 9, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 400 S. West St., Odell |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Listed | November 9, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001338 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1932-1956 |
| Architect / builder | O'Donnell, Patrick, 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 vacant and in a state of disrepair, but containing all original materials and declared restorable by the village engineer. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.00201, -88.52890 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 97001338.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7598278
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.