On Tuesday, August 2, 2005, Howard Sears, CEO of Sears Oil Company, in conjunction with Rome Clean and Green, opened the newly restored Sears Gas Station on 201 N. George St. in Rome that will now operate as a museum. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held at 1:30 p.m. with an appearance from the Rome Tappet Twirlers car club.
The Sears Oil Company was founded in 1913 and the newly restored station was originally constructed in 1930. The gas station stopped operating and has been vacant since 1974. In 2002, restoration began and its conversion into a museum of Sears’ history began. The museum will include on display restored antique pumps and a variety of artifacts inside the building. The pumps feature glass globes on top and the reproduction of side billboards were installed to complete the project. The museum, with free admission, may appear small in size, but will highlight vast memories of a much simpler, bygone era.
Please visit their website at www.hpsearsoil.com