Full Service era
ends at Twin Cities FS

By Lucy Rodenberg

Not too long ago, residents of McGregor could drive up to a service station and have their windshields cleaned, tires checked and gas tank filled.

That era is officially over. The Twin Cities FS station had their underground gasoline storage tanks removed last week after gas service was discontinued earlier this year. A much needed car repair service still continues at the station that has been operating at the site for many years.

The history of the site goes back to about 1938-40 when Mate Hill’s Fish Market was there for a time before moving across the alley in back of the present station. The site was vacant for a time afterwards and the Walsh Ford Garage (which later moved to Elkader) purchased the property and built the rock building.

The red-flying Pegasus emblem of the Standard Oil Company was the sign at the station and Soco Vacuum gas was sold. The station was operated by Walsh’s two sons. Records show that a Leo Becking was manager in 1948 so one wonders if this was at this time Walsh’s sons operated the business. Floyd Snook purchased the building later and John ‘Jake’ leased it in 1949.

The Ferguson family began in a lengthy association with the gas and oil trade in 1934 when Clarence Ferguson began operating the former Shell Station at the corner of Main and Fourth Streets. With the help of his son, Del, he operated this station 16 years, then leased the Standard Station on our town’s Main Street at the site of Twin Cities FS. After Clarence’s death in 1972, Del continued the business with the help of his sons, Joe and John with his wife, Mary Jane doing the book work.

Mary Jane says that while Clarence was operating the station, it was open from 6 a.m. - 12 midnight every day. Del operated it from 6 a.m. -10 p.m. She says the biggest draw was the lube room and this was where the profit was made. One of the things she remembers was when the big bank leader, Tiny Hill stopped at the station and when the famous race car driver, Richard Petty stopped and no one thought to get autographs.

After eight years of operating the station, Del Ferguson sold it to Herb Collins and after his ownership, Bernell Larson became owner. Larson sold the station to its present owner, Bruce Ferguson, in 1996, who had been employed at the station for several years prior.

Ferguson intends to continue with repairs as he has done since the pumps were closed several months ago.

There are very few of the smaller full-service stations left that have been able to survive the rising gas costs. Historically, gas prices have risen steadily over the past 70 years, even if they look like a bargain by today’s standards. In 1934, gas was 10¢ per gallon, in 1950 it was 18¢ per gallon. By 1970 gas was 36¢ per gallon, but after the mid 70’s oil embargo, it had jumped to 86¢ by 1979.

Reflecting on times when the Ferguson’s operated the station, the price in 1980 was $1.29 per gallon.

HawkWatch celebrates the beauty of fall migration

HawkWatch at Effigy Mounds takes place on Sat., Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and on Sun., Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  HawkWatch is a free, family-oriented event in celebration of the annual fall hawk migration.

Saturday will begin with an 8 a.m. bird hike with Upper Iowa Audubon’s birding expert Dennis Carter. HawkWatch presentations will get underway at 9 a.m. and run until 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. There will be a variety of activities for people of all ages. Raptor programs will be presented throughout the weekend. Kay Neuman from SOAR (Save Our Avian Resources) will have a live bird display. There will also be special kid’s activities The children’s programs will run from 10 a.m. to noon, and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This year HawkWatch will feature Bob Anderson, a well-known raptor biologist and reintroduction specialist from the Raptor Resource Project. Anderson has brought raptors like the peregrine falcon back from the brink of extinction through years of tireless efforts. The Upper Mississippi River was an important part of the peregrine falcon range, and several releases were done right here at Effigy Mounds National Monument at the Hanging Rock Overlook as well as nearby locations such as the very successful Lansing nest site. 

Program highlights held throughout the weekend include programs by Kay Neumann of SOAR and legendary presenter Mike Havlik with “Big Owls Hoot, Little Owls Toot!” There will also be opportunities for learning about raptor rehabilitation, the lives and behavior of birds of prey, identification techniques, the art and sport of falconry, and endangered species. Hawks, after being banded, will be brought down from the field research station. They will then be released after a brief program and questions from visitors. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see a wild hawk up close.

HawkWatch at Effigy Mounds also operates a count site where IDNR staff, Audubon members, staff, and volunteers will be identifying and counting wild migrants as they fly overhead. Typically several hundred migrants are counted each day.  Spotting scopes will be set up around the area and there will be people to assist in using them and identifying the hundreds of hawks flying over the park.

HawkWatch is an annual event that takes place at Effigy Mounds National Monument and all activities are located in or around the visitor center. The monument offers a wonderful museum, hiking trails, lookouts over the Mississippi River, displays highlighting our 60th anniversary,  and, of course, the prehistoric American Indian ceremonial and burial mounds.  Come to HawkWatch at Effigy Mounds to enjoy the fall colors and celebrate the hawk migration.

For more information, contact the monument at 563-873-3491, www.nps.gov/efmo.  Hawk Watch is an annual program put on by local volunteers and it is a great time for people interested in volunteering to sign up for other events.

HawkWatch is co-sponsored by the Upper Iowa Audubon Society, Effigy Mounds National Monument, Eastern National, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Diversity Program and National Audubon’s Upper Mississippi River Campaign. It is powered by the boundless energy of volunteers, and operated on a shoe-string budget—all of which add up to an event filled with enthusiasm and fun.