# Sprague's Super Service

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**Sprague's Super Service** is a historic independent [gas station](/source/Gas_station) on [Route 66](/source/U.S._Route_66) in [Normal](/source/Normal,_Illinois), [Illinois](/source/Illinois).[2] It is listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places), Town of [Normal](/source/Normal,_Illinois) Local Landmark, and is in the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame.

## Architecture

A [Tudor Revival](/source/Tudor_Revival) building constructed in 1931 by William Sprague to house a service station, restaurant and garage, it is the largest of three remaining two-story fuel station buildings on US 66, originally housing a café and service station on the main floor plus two second-floor apartments for the owner and the station attendant.

As Pine Street (the main U.S. 66 route before construction of the Veterans Parkway as a bypass after 1940) is part of a largely residential neighbourhood, the station was designed to fit with its surroundings by having the building follows the architectural conventions of a private residence.

## History

General contractor William Sprague opened Sprague's Super Service in 1931.[3]

While additions were made to the station in 1948 and 1967 (one of which sited a second auto service bay as an adjoining [garage](/source/Automobile_repair_shop) beside the main building) the original building's design has been left largely intact. Originally a Cities Service vendor, the station has sold various brands of fuel (including [Gulf Oil](/source/Gulf_Oil) during the 1960s).[2] The last fuel was dispensed in 1971[4] and the pumps removed by 1979.[5] The building then served as a storefront for various businesses including Joe's Welding and Boiler Company, Corn Belt Manufacturing, Yellow Cab and Avis Rent-a-Car. The last occupants were Hodge's Catering and Bridal World before the building was ultimately left vacant.[6]

## Restoration effort

[Illinois State University](/source/Illinois_State_University) instructor and Route 66 historical author Terri Ryburn,[7] with her husband William Sanders (August 23, 1933 - January 6, 2011[8]), purchased the station at a cost of $220,000 to begin restoration in October 2006. An architectural study was completed and the roof, electric and plumbing systems, bathrooms, ceilings and heating and air conditioning system replaced[9] as the first steps in an eventual restoration of the property. The owner's stated intention was to reopen the historic building as an information centre, café, diner, soda fountain, [bed and breakfast](/source/Bed_and_breakfast) and event space;[10] these plans were delayed due to an estimated total cost of $1.2 million to fully complete this ambitious project.

Sprague's Super Service has been listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) since April 25, 2008, was inducted into the [Route 66 Association](/source/Route_66_Association) of [Illinois](/source/Illinois) Hall of Fame in 2009[11] and designated municipally as a local historic landmark on August 15, 2011.[12]

In December 2010, an outdoor [wayside exhibit](/source/Wayside_exhibit) was installed to describe the history of the Sprague Service Station in all the various incarnations it has gone through over the years as a service station, a residence and various retail operations.[13] In 2012, a group of Illinois State University interior design students proposed various designs for interior renovations.[14]

Various attempts have been made to raise funds to complete the restoration; in addition to about $90,000 from the owner's own pockets,[15] contributions have included a $46,695 grant from the town for a new roof and temporary furnace, a $20,000 matching grant from the National Park Service for a heating and air conditioning system, duct work and ceiling, a $10,000 matching grant from the National Park Service to replace windows in the living quarters above the station, a $10,000 grant from the state for two new bathrooms and a day of volunteer service from the Route 66 Association. An additional $10,000 federal matching grant in 2012 subsidized restoration of historic wood-frame windows and doors.[16][17]

In 2010, proceeds from the sale of a 'Pics on Route 66′ 2011 Calendar by David Schwartz[18] were donated to the restoration effort; local classic country group Wagon Load A Trouble performed for free at the site in 2014.[19] Attempts have also been made to raise funds through private individual donation.

As of 2014, Ryburn planned to include a coffee and ice cream shop, a tea room and theatre space[20] but said, "The short-term goal now is to finish the downstairs and rent that out as event space, so I can get some income to finish my plans. I can't afford the equipment for a restaurant now."[19]

In 2016, Ryburn sold the station to the town of [Normal, Illinois](/source/Normal,_Illinois).[21][22] After additional renovations, the station reopened in August 12, 2017.[22][23] It operates as a visitor center and gift shop featuring local art under the name Ryburn Place.[21][24][25]

## See also

- [Ambler's Texaco Gas Station](/source/Ambler's_Texaco_Gas_Station) and [Soulsby Service Station](/source/Soulsby_Service_Station) on [U.S. Route 66 in Illinois](/source/U.S._Route_66_in_Illinois)
- [Provine Service Station](/source/Provine_Service_Station) on [U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma](/source/U.S._Route_66_in_Oklahoma)
- [National Register of Historic Places listings in McLean County, Illinois](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_McLean_County,_Illinois)

## References

1. ["Sprague's Super Service: Normal, Illinois"](https://archive.today/20120805081021/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/route66/spragues_super_service_normal.html). US [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). Archived from [the original](http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/route66/spragues_super_service_normal.html) on August 5, 2012.

1. Bersett, Kevin (2014-11-17). ["Alums are driving force in preserving Route 66"](https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2014/11/alums-driving-force-preserving-route-66/). *Illinois State University*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

1. Miller (2007-05-07). ["Historic Route 66 station to be business"](http://www.pantagraph.com/business/historic-route-station-to-be-business/article_0ac0e9eb-c14e-51e1-bebd-2922337c72bc.html). The Pantagraph.

1. ["Sprague's Super Service Station to Receive Honors Plaque"](http://www.il66assoc.org/content/spragues-super-service-station-receive-honors-plaque). [Route 66 Association](/source/Route_66_Association) of [Illinois](/source/Illinois). September 16, 2010.

1. Mary Ann Ford (August 4, 2011). ["Roadside assist: Route 66 site seeks restoration aid"](http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_92c388e2-be34-11e0-a019-001cc4c002e0.html). The Pantagraph (Bloomington IL)

1. Ryburn (1995). *Route 66 Goin' Somewhere: The Road in McLean County*. McLean County Historical Society. ISBN 9780943788074.

1. ["William Sanders (obituary)"](http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/obituaries/article_b64e8e16-1aff-11e0-8390-001cc4c03286.html). The Pantagraph. January 8, 2011.

1. Ford (2010-09-21). ["Park Service recognizes Route 66 station project"](http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/900093d4-c5e2-11df-920c-001cc4c002e0.html). The Pantagraph (Bloomington IL)

1. ["Sprague Super Service"](http://illinoisroute66.org/sprague-super-service). illinoisroute66.org.

1. ["2009 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced"](http://www.il66assoc.org/content/2009-hall-fame-inductees-announced). Illinois Route 66 Association. April 20, 2009.

1. ["Planning board backs landmark designation for Route 66 station"](http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/planning-board-backs-landmark-designation-for-route-station/article_f94b4c72-beec-11e0-a426-001cc4c002e0.html). The Pantagraph. August 4, 2011.

1. Morello (2010-12-15). ["New Route 66 wayside exhibits unveiled"](http://wjbc.com/new-route-66-wayside-exhibits-unveiled). [WJBC radio](/source/WJBC_(AM))

1. ["Students help Route 66 building renovation"](http://mediarelations.illinoisstate.edu/report/1112/may1/route.asp). Illinois State University. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2014-07-27.

1. Mantel (2011-08-04). ["Historic designation could help restore Old Route 66 site"](http://wjbc.com/historic-designation-could-help-restore-route-66-site). WJBC radio.

1. ["Route 66 corridor preservation cost-share grants"](http://www.nps.gov/rt66/grnts/2012GrantAwards.pdf). US National Park Service. July 2012.[dead link]

1. ["Historic service station in Normal gets another Route 66 restoration grant"](http://herald-review.com/news/local/historic-service-station-in-normal-gets-another-route-restoration-grant/article_8a0b3e98-c8ba-11e1-9acb-0019bb2963f4.html). Herald-Review. 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2014-07-27.

1. ["Sprague's Super Service"](http://www.route66world.com/tag/sprague-station). Route66world.com.

1. ["Outdoor concert to benefit Route 66 station restoration"](http://www.wjbc.com/common/page.php?id=146263). WJBC. 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2014-07-27.

1. ["Route 66 site seeks restoration aid"](http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110814/news/708149989/). Daily Herald. 2011-08-14. Retrieved 2014-07-27.

1. ["Illinois: Sprague's Super Service (U.S. National Park Service)"](https://www.nps.gov/places/spragues-super-service.htm). *www.nps.gov*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

1. Warnick, Ron (2017-07-15). ["Sprague's Super Service station in Normal will open in August"](https://www.route66news.com/2017/07/15/spragues-super-service-station-open-august/). *Route 66 News*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

1. Baron, Patrick (2017-08-12). ["Sprague's Super Service to open after a decade of restoration"](https://www.wjbc.com/2017/08/12/spragues-super-service-to-open-after-a-decade-of-restoration/). *WJBC AM 1230*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

1. ["Grand opening on August 12th for Ryburn Place (formerly Sprague's Super Service) on Route 66 in Normal, IL"](https://newherald.news/grand-opening-on-august-th-for-ryburn-place-formerly-spragues-super-ser-p3207-1.htm). *newherald.news*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

1. Kennedy, Laura (2017-08-11). ["Historic Route 66 Site Restored And Ready For Business"](https://www.wglt.org/show/wglts-sound-ideas/2017-08-11/historic-route-66-site-restored-and-ready-for-business). *WGLT*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sprague's Super Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprague's_Super_Service) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprague's_Super_Service?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.