Soulsby Service Station
Also known as: Soulsby Shell Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 by former coal miner Henry Soulsby, this small gas station in Mount Olive, Illinois, served drivers on Route 66 for decades. Soulsby designed it himself using common materials, with his teenage son Russell helping. The building has a hipped roof, wood siding and a front canopy over the pumps, a layout known as the house-and-canopy type that echoed residential architecture. In 1937 the family doubled its size with a rear extension. Russell and his sister Ola later ran it, and Russell also repaired radios and televisions there after World War II. Interstate 55 drew traffic away in the late 1950s; gas sales stopped in 1991 and the station closed in 1993. A volunteer restoration starting in 2003 removed later vinyl siding, revealing original pine siding, windows and most doors. The station is listed for its role in Route 66 commerce and transportation and for its well-preserved design, with a significance period of 1926 to 1956.
Significance in brief: It is locally significant under Criterion A for serving local and traveling customers along Route 66 with gasoline, oil and repairs, and under Criterion C as an excellent example of the house-and-canopy station type. It meets the registration requirements for gas stations in the Route 66 through Illinois multiple property documentation, and its integrity is described as excellent.
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 04000420, listed May 6, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 102 Sout Route 66 St., Mount Olive |
|---|---|
| County | Macoupin County |
| Listed | May 6, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000420 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Soulsby, Henry |
| Architectural style | OTHER/House and Canopy Gas station |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored beginning in April 2003 with volunteers; the owner hoped to operate it as a museum by June 2004. Gas sales ended in 1991 and the station closed in 1993. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.07322, -89.73559 (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.
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 04000420.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7564541
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.