Cresco's Old Texaco Revving Again - with help from the community

CRESCO - If you listen closely on the corner of Elm, you can almost hear it: the soft ding of the air pump, the pop of a soda bottle cap, the early-morning shuffle of newspaper bundles. This month, the Cresco Restoration Fund added just over $200—thanks to mugs, books, and good old-fashioned cash donations—toward bringing that sound and spirit back. This is in addition to other donors that have previously put time, money and effort into the restoration project, including but not limited to generous donations from CUSB and Cresco Bank & Trust. 

   Mike Magler, of Midwest Artisans Group (M.A.G.) and the building which the restoration will be happening says, “I’d like to thank the people who contributed product or monetary donations. It all makes a difference toward making our community better.”

   At the heart of it all is a beloved landmark with a story to tell. Built in 1923 by Northern Iowa Oil and later refreshed in a 1936 Texaco look, the station isn’t just a building—it’s a memory bank. Kids once grabbed their papers there before running routes (and, rumor has it, grabbed an extra if they were short—sorry, not sorry), families treated themselves to a cold pop while filling up the gas tanks, and neighbors met not because they had to, but because that’s what community looked like.

   Today, that same energy still lives here—it just needs a little nudge. The station’s roof, which has faithfully shielded this corner of Cresco for decades, is tired. Years of deferred maintenance have put it at a crossroads: fix it soon, or it may have to come off entirely. That’s why the effort has been organized under a 501(c)(3) non-profit—an invitation to the wider community, grant makers, and local leaders to help save a piece of Cresco’s heartbeat.

Why it matters

- The Map: The United States map at the station is a local treasure—94 years and counting as part of Cresco’s story. It’s more than paint on a wall; it’s a landmark people love that needs to be protected.

- The Memories: From the last pump operations in 1979–80 to the station’s closing soon after, to City Hall ownership in the early ’80s, to the County Store’s 2010s display with an old car and pumps by Lon Scheidel—this place has worn many hats and kept many stories that many in the community want to continue on to future generations.

- The Future: Restoring the site to a 1936 Texaco Station look—with historically appropriate equipment and a sound roof—opens the door for pop-up events, markets, social gatherings, and tourism.