One of two painted brick English cottage style filling stations built by the Pure Oil Company on Haywood Road, the station at 784 Haywood Road features a steeply pitched multi-gable roof covered with blue glazed terra cotta tile, a simulated end chimney, and other pseudo-domestic touches. Two garage bays are located on the south side of the office, which contains a two-pane plate glass display window and single-leaf entrance with copper hood. The station retains is original wood roll-up garage doors; pressed tin ceiling; exterior lamps, gutters, and downspouts; and metal frame windows. The building occupies a prominent
triangular site at the three-way intersection of Haywood Road, Sand Hill Road, and Vermont Avenue.

Ladd L. Wells, who lived nearby on Mildred Avenue, operated the Pure Oil Station after its completion in 1947. During the 1950s, Robert Randolph of Fairfax Avenue ran the station, followed by Lawrence Brooks in the 1960s.

“Pure Oil Station, 784 Haywood Road. 1947. C-B,” West Asheville End of Car Line Historic District, National Register of Historic Places. Nomination by Clay Griffith.

Pure Oil Service Station – Opened 1947

Universal Joint – Opened 2007

Published September 2023. Updated September 2024.