Iconic State College service station is changing its name but nothing else. What to know
One of State College’s most iconic buildings will soon have a new name, but don’t expect anything else to change with the oldest continuously operating service station in Centre County.
College Heights Exxon is one of two local service stations that will change its name due to no longer being affiliated with Exxon. The 803 North Atherton Street service station with a unique exterior will soon be renamed College Heights Service Station, a name it previously had in the 1940s. Owner Gary Green has an old calendar page framed in the shop from the ‘40s that says “College Heights Service Station.”
“It’s going back to what it was,” Green said.
There were rumors that the longtime service station was closing, but there’s no truth to that. The name is changing because the station won’t be affiliated with Exxon.
The service station gets Exxon through Nittany Gas and Oil. Green said Exxon told their Nittany Gas and Oil representative that if the service station didn’t upgrade their gas pumps to include card readers and a point-of-sale system in the store by the end of March, they would be fined. Those upgrades would be too costly, he said.
No other changes are planned for the station, Green said, and the name change hasn’t impacted the slew of dedicated customers they see there.
“We’ve had a lot of good customers over the years, everybody from Joe Paterno to Mayor Welch, the whole gang,” Green said.
It has become a notable service station over the years thanks to its throwback exterior — a triple-peaked roof, stucco walls, red trim and red-and-white awnings. The service station is the oldest continuously operating service station in Centre County, according to the Centre County Historical Society.
Since the early 1900s the station has been at the corner of North Atherton and Hillcrest Avenue. At first glance, it looks more like a house than a service station, as was the trend at the time. According to the historical society, people were concerned about gas stations intruding into residential areas in the 1920s, so the industry responded by designing buildings to blend into the neighborhoods.
Having the oldest continuously operating service station here is special to Green but isn’t something that he necessarily strived to have. He’s been at the service station since 1987 — first leasing the building and later buying it in 2000, according to the historical society.
“I like old stuff and I save and … collect a lot of old stuff. So it means a lot to me that we would have that,” Green said.
Nearby, Graham’s Exxon, 815 S. Allen St., will also undergo a name change to Graham’s Service Center. Owner Larry Johnsonbaugh said no other changes are expected there, either. The employees will stay the same and the gas will be a top-tier gasoline.
He’s been telling customers about the name change and affiliation, but the response has been positive.
“I’m letting them know that we’re doing away with Exxon and just telling them why. And they’re like, ‘Well, we’re not really coming here for the brand of gas. We’re coming here for (your) service,” Johnsonbaugh said. “They’re trying to support a small business and the community. We’re not a Sheetz or any big corporation, we’re just small family owned business.”
Johnsonbaugh, who has been the owner for nearly five years but has worked at the service station since 1986, said they appreciate the community’s support.
“Everything’s going to stay the same, except for the name,” he said.
The name change will be effective April 1.
