Scott's Service, 1951

I found some great old photos of the Mountlake Terrace from the 1950’s that I’ll be posting with the hope that you, the readers, may be able to pinpoint where they were taken. It would be interesting to do a then/now comparison.

Most of the photos will be form the Tacoma Public Library’s image archives.

Today’s photo is of Scott’s Service, a Texaco gas station . The photo was taken in August of 1951, nearly three years before the city was incorporated in 1954.

I originally thought the gas station in the photo is located where the current Shell station is (232nd and 56th) but the trees seem too far away. It could also be 228/44th or 66th/220th. What do you think?

Image courtesy Tacoma Public Library.

  1. I am not sure, but this is a terrific idea. I’ve often wanted to find out more about MLT from old photos/info. Seems like there’s only info about “Alderwood Manor” north of us or Edmonds. Please post more!

    1. I’m definitely planning on posting more old photos occasionally.

      You’re right that it’s hard to find information about the MLT before the 1950’s. Some one present day MLT was referred to as Alderwood Manor but much of the city wasn’t developed until the 1950’s.

      The Lynnwood History museum just off 196th has some great older info and photos of the area and a very cool reproduction of an interurban rail car.I definitely recommend if you are interested in the history of the area.

  2. FYI:

    Conner’s Mink Farm was located at 54th, and 242nd in Mountlake Terrace. My father and Mr. Conner were great friends. I have looked at old maps at City Hall, and there were actually a number of mink farms in the area before they developed the neighborhood for post-war baby boomers.

  3. Great pictures! I grew up on 15th NE just south of Ballinger in the 50’s and 60’s. I believe this gas station is the Texaco station on 15th and Ballinger (205th?). The building behind the gas station in this picture looks like the little burger place where you could sit in your booth and listen to music on the small jukeboxes hanging on the wall. There is a RiteAid built there now where this burger place and a bank used to be.

  4. Great pictures! I grew up on 15th NE just south of Ballinger in the 50’s and 60’s. I believe this gas station is the Texaco station on 15th and Ballinger (205th?). The building behind the gas station in this picture looks like the little burger place where you could sit in your booth and listen to music on the small jukeboxes hanging on the wall. There is a RiteAid built there now where this burger place and a bank used to be.

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