784 Haywood Road

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

Family of Robert M. “Randy” Randolph (Idella Randolph with daughters Maxella and June) at the Randolph Pure Oil Service Station, circa 1947. Buncombe County Special Collections, N305-8A

Universal Joint – Opened 2007

Asheville Citizen-Times. Saturday, April 7, 2007, p. 23
Asheville Citizen-Times. Friday, September 5, 2014, p. T16.

Published September 2023. Updated September 2024.

Moments at this location

Know more about the history of this location, or have a pic to share? Let us know!

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Your Phone Number (required)

    Would you be interested and available to participate in making an audio and/or video recording of the information you are sharing?

    YesNo

    What would you like to tell us about this location or image?

    Do you have a picture of this location you'd like to share? (2MB upload limit) The NC Room is also happy to scan and return original documents.

    Would you be interested in donating any original photographs or other materials to the NC Room for archiving in their climate controlled/cataloged collection?
    YesNo

    I agree to allow WestAshevilleHistory.org and The North Carolina Room to share this information and make it part of the historical resources accessible to the public through their collections. I also therefore certify that I either own the copyrights to any photos or text I am submitting, or that these resources are no longer protected by copyright law due to age.

    Please prove you are human by selecting the Plane.