The Lost Gas Stations of San Mateo County is topic on April 27

On Sunday, April 27 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, the Menlo Park Historical Association is presenting a program on “The Lost Gas Stations of San Mateo County,” delivered by authors Bruce Cumming and Nicholas Veronico. The program will take place at the Menlo Park Library (800 Alma St.)

The years following the 1906 earthquake saw a migration from the city to the suburbs, farms, and orchards of the San Francisco Peninsula’s San Mateo County. Mobility on the Peninsula came in the form of streetcars, trains, and buses but was soon dominated by the automobile.

Beginning in the late 1920s through the 1990s, the Peninsula was inundated with automobile service stations, or gas stations, where smartly dressed station attendants practically ran to one’s car to fill the tank, check oil and tire pressure levels, and clean the windshield. At the peak, the small city of San Carlos had 23 stations. Today, it has only five.

Bruce C. Cumming enjoyed a 42-year-long career in California law enforcement, serving as police chief of Menlo Park and Morgan Hill. Cumming has had an interest in all things automotive and currently owns several vintage autos and collects petroleum memorabilia.

Nicholas A. Veronico is the author or coauthor of more than 45 books on art history, aviation, military, and transportation subjects.

Together, they have sourced many rare, never-before-seen photographs from various county archives and private collections to document how car culture on the Peninsula has changed over the years.

Photo courtesy of Menlo Park Historical Association; Associated Gas Station, El Camino at Live Oak, Menlo Park