Sylvandale Service Station Redwood Highway Humboldt County California Real Photo Postcard
Sylvandale was a wayside community or service point located on the historic Redwood Highway in northern California. Largely completed by the 1920s, the Redwood Highway, primarily U.S. Route 101, served as a vital transportation artery, connecting coastal towns and promoting early automobile tourism to the state's iconic redwood forests. Its establishment facilitated the emergence of numerous roadside businesses catering to travelers.
The service station, featuring "Associated Ethyl Gasoline" and "Shell" signage, is characteristic of early 20th-century automotive infrastructure. Associated Oil Company was a significant West Coast petroleum producer and retailer, while Shell was expanding its global presence. The inclusion of "Ethyl Gasoline" indicates the period of the 1920s-1930s when leaded gasoline was widely marketed as a premium fuel, reflecting the rapid growth of car ownership and the development of supporting services along major routes.
The service station, featuring "Associated Ethyl Gasoline" and "Shell" signage, is characteristic of early 20th-century automotive infrastructure. Associated Oil Company was a significant West Coast petroleum producer and retailer, while Shell was expanding its global presence. The inclusion of "Ethyl Gasoline" indicates the period of the 1920s-1930s when leaded gasoline was widely marketed as a premium fuel, reflecting the rapid growth of car ownership and the development of supporting services along major routes.
