Classics of the Road and of the Heart
Gas Pumps in Clayton
The Concord cruise was Salvio and Willow Pass. The kids generally ended up in the parking lot of Rick’s Drive-in, owned by Charlie Mann, my father. Other drive-ins in the area were the A&W Root Beer, and Chaps in Concord. From 1957 until 1971 I was the night fry cook at Rick’s. I could make it from my home on Pine Hollow Road in Clayton to 2350 Salvio in five minutes flat.
The speed limit on the two-lane Clayton Road was 65 mph with no stop signs all the way to Concord! Believe it or not, there was a time when gas pumps were as common as eucalyptus trees in Clayton. Originally there was a grocery store where Skip’s is now. The Rhine Store, owned by Charles Rhine, was sold to Hans Rasmussen and became the first Clayton Cash Store; it sported a Red Crown gas pump in front of it. At Pa Rasmussen’s second Clayton Cash Store, now Cup o’ Jo’s, there was a Shell pump. The pump in front of the Growler, now Moresi’s, was another Shell. In the 1950s there was a Union 76 pump at Thelma’s Village Grocery, now TLC Pet Grooming.
--Charmetta Mann
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Clayton Classic Cars