Chandler, Oklahoma
Contact Information:
Seaba Station
R R 1, Box 7891
Chandler, OK 74834
Phone: 405-258-6700
Fax: 405-258-6777
E-Mail: seabastation@aol.com |
Seaba Station is listed on the National Register of Historical Places and was chosen as one of the top Route 66 roadside attractions last year by Hampton Inns. The building was built in 1923-24 by John Seaba as a NevrNox Gasoline Station, but in the 1940's it was doing more engine rebuilding and by the 1950's it was called Seaba Engine Rebuilding and gasoline was no longer being sold. John had a wholesale and retail engine rebuilding business that covered a wide swath of the southwestern United States. The wholesale business was called Ace Engine Rebuilding.
In the early 1950's John Seaba sold the business to Victor Briggs, an entrepreneur from the East. Victor used the location to fulfill his government contracts in engine rebuilding at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. He had a shop with 80 mechanics in Oklahoma City and 40 mechanics at Seaba Station. He continued the wholesale and retail businesses, also. In 1956, Victor was killed in an airplane crash, leaving his widow, June, to pick up the pieces and until 1986, she single-handedly ran Seaba Engine Rebuilding herself, which was quite a feat in the 1950's and 1960's when women were not so readily accepted in this man-dominated business. She was definitely one of the original women's libbers. Her success, however, is documented in Motor Trend Magazine and Hot Rod Magazine.
In 1986, June retired and sold the business to Johnny Farmer and in 1995, the building was sold to Sonny and Sue Preston. For five years they spent their weekends lovingly restoring this unique building. In 2000, they opened it to the public as Seaba Station Antique and Gift Shop. Now Sonny and Sue welcome tourists and locals on scenic Route 66 Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. |
Web site: http://hometown.aol.com/sonnysu/myhomepage/business.html
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Site design copyright © 2002-2007 Carolyn Hasenfratz. All Rights Reserved.
Site contents are the property of the individual contributors.
Photo credits: Top left, Shellee Graham, top right, Carolyn Hasenfratz. |
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