05 Feb Bingers Rocket Gas
40 x 40″ painting, oil on canvas
Imagine my joy when I came across an old weathered and faded photo of Bingers Rocket gas station in one of my file folders! When I turned it over I had thankfully written “Aberdeen 1977”. This photo had to have been taken in Aberdeen, Washington on a trip to visit my favorite cousin Sue when she lived there. I reached out to her with the photo to see if she remembered any details about it, but she was coming up blank. She then reached out to a good friend of hers who has lived in Aberdeen her whole life and here’s what she said: “The Binger “Rocket” gas station was in what is now the parking lot for the old YMCA on Market Street in Aberdeen. I would buy Black Jack Gum (licorice flavored!) there when I was a kid in Jr High & early high school.”
This is my most recent painting which has been on exhibit at the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild’s Kleinert Gallery. Hope you enjoy it!
Gregg Akehurst
Posted at 22:16h, 08 OctoberBought gas from Binger’s in Olympia during the 70’s. Thank for sharing!
Mary Anne Erickson
Posted at 12:10h, 10 OctoberThat’s so cool Gregg. Do you think they also had a Bingers in Aberdeen? I’m pretty sure that’s where this photo was originally taken in the late 70’s. It was a chain?
Linda Foster-Hathaway
Posted at 13:38h, 15 SeptemberThis was the Bingers on Simpson Avenue in Hoquiam where the now defunct Floral Shop was located. (next to the lot where the carwash was, across the alley from the Domino’s carry out is now. Bingers was a chain gas station; there were 3 of them in Aberdeen and Hoquiam. This one, the one in the parking lot next to the old Aberdeen “Y” and the one at the Y going out of Aberdeen across from Five Stars car lot. I had family that worked at all 3 locations. Lots of memories keeping family company at nights while they worked their shifts, lol!
Mary Anne Erickson
Posted at 11:04h, 19 SeptemberThank you Linda. I’m always hoping someone will remember the details of the business history. I really appreciate your comments. Do you remember what years they were in business at that location?
Perhaps you know something about “Dapper Dan, the used car man”? I have a photo I took of his sign too and didn’t write on the back where I took the picture.
Raney Newman
Posted at 02:15h, 04 JanuaryVery cool painting and place👍👍👍😀
William Mauerman
Posted at 13:20h, 10 JanuaryI grew up down the street from Bingers between Martin Way and Pacific Ave in Olympia, during the 60’s & 70’s. Us kids used to go there to buy candy. Was a funky little box if a store originally, then they remodeled somewhere along the way and made it a little bigger. After I started driving (mid 70’s) always went there for gas cause they had the lowest prices in town. I remember an old guy that worked there back in the day when they filled your tank, went by Whitey. Was a really nice guy. Treated us, and everyone, great. Really liked him but never really knew him. Have wondered about who he really was for years. Have also wondered about the history of the Bingers gas stations and the people/ family behind them. I remember stopping at the Aberdeen station going to or coming home from the beach all the time. Wish they were still around. Great memories!
Mary Anne Erickson
Posted at 10:18h, 14 JanuaryThank you William for your wonderful story of growing up around Bingers! I believe this particular station was in Aberdeen but didn’t realize they had a chain. I also would love to know more about who started the chain and why they chose this great sign. Love that you found it on my site. Wishing you all the best in this crazy year we’re living in.
Mary Anne
Michael Deloney
Posted at 19:47h, 18 DecemberBingers had up to 22 stations across western Washington , my dad hauled gas for them for 25 years ,
Mary Anne Erickson
Posted at 10:51h, 26 DecemberThat’s so cool! Thanks for the info.
Debbie Mason
Posted at 04:17h, 07 MarchMy grandfather Edward H Binger started and owned Binger’s in the mid to late 40’s. He sold the Business in the 70’s. Ed and Leona Binger lived and raised their two children in West Olympia. Thank you for posting the painting it’s beautiful.
Mary Anne Erickson
Posted at 14:23h, 07 MarchHi Debbie,
Thanks so much for chiming in! How thrilling to know more of the history of Bingers! I wondered where the name came from – a family name! That’s incredible. Absolutely love the sign! Do you know who designed and manufactured it by any chance? I’ll be able to do an update to the post about it now that I have more information. Was it a chain as well? So glad you like my artwork – great to hear from you. PS – how did you find my post?
Mary Anne
Brigitte Hazelmyer
Posted at 01:07h, 01 JulyThere was also a Bingers station on 48th st and Pacific ave. in Tacoma Wa. a block from Stewart Jr. High (now Middle School). I remember buying gas there in the mid 70’s. In fact the station is still there operating as a Walts Muffler shop.
Mary Anne Erickson
Posted at 07:55h, 01 JulyHi Brigitte,
Thank you for chiming in on that! Wish I had known – just drove through Tacoma a few weeks ago and would have loved to check it out. Next time on the West Coast will do! Appreciate your comment!
Greg Davis
Posted at 09:23h, 12 JanuaryMy name is Greg Davis. I am 61 years old. I grew up in Bremerton Washington. There was a Bingers gas station at the intersection of National Ave. and Kitsap Way back in the 1960s. I am trying to find a photo of the beautiful Bingers neon sign for that gas station??? Thank you!
Mary Anne Erickson
Posted at 11:28h, 12 JanuaryWow that’s so cool Greg. I would absolutely love to see any pics you could find. I wonder what happened to that amazing sign when they went out of biz? Hopefully a neon sign museum picked it up! Too beautiful not to keep forever.