River City Classics @ Eamon’s Garage

Historic buildings and vintage metal are equally a passion for us and this piece has both. Presenting historic Eamon’s Garage, a mid-century gas station at a small town museum and kindly showing up to pose in front, vintage rides belonging to members of the car club that own the building. It’s the makings of wonderful photoshoot with a grand time had by all and reaching peak awesome just as a storm rolled in. Before getting soaked, the sky came alive and it put on quite a show. Luck seems to follow us and for that we’re forever thankful.

The Legend.

Eamon’s Super Service became a fixture on what was then Highway 1 (present day 1A), the main road west out of Calgary at the time. When the subject comes up on social media, you’ll always see much talk and many fond memories shared. “The folks always stopped at Eamon’s”, or some such thing, comes comment after comment. Along with Happy Valley it’s one of the most remembered and iconic local landmarks of the era.*

At the time the business was just outside city limits and the last place to get gas before hitting the highway. On a busy weekends, throngs of people would pass by on the way to Banff and many would make a pit stop to top up. A true service station they could also could do all manner of repair work. Long since closed, it’s been moved away to High River and being loving restored. We’ll be back when it’s done, that you can count on.

The Building.

Eamon’s Garage, named after owner Roy Eamon, dates from the early 1950s (1952 said most often) and was located in what is now the present day Calgary neighbourhood of Rocky Ridge along Crowchild Trail. The business closed in 1966, about the time the Trans Canada Highway (today’s Highway 1) opened up to the south and which siphoned away much traffic.

Hanging with River City Classics.

In every way it’s the service station archetype, with a small central office flanked by two service bays and with an uncovered fuel island out front. An old truck and tire racks now complete the scene. Eamon’s operated under the Texaco banner, a company with a storied history that was merged out of existence, in Canada, back in the 1980s. Unlike present day Gas ‘n’ Gulps, they sold no groceries here (well maybe a Coke if that counts) and instead of you doing the dirty work, attendants would pump gas, check the oil and tires or even wash the windshield. Times have changed and now it’s all on you.

The station stood empty for many years after closing and in recent memory with the property sometimes used by a local car dealership to park excess inventory. How fitting. Then in 2012, with the C-Train expansion, the building was taken away and put in storage. A few years later it was acquired by the River City Classics Car Club of High River and moved next to the Call of the West Museum at the Rodeo Grounds just north of town. And you can come take a tour of it all in person (links below).

In addition to the garage, Eamon’s operated a motor court style motel and restaurant on the same property collectively called “Eamon’s One Stop Tourist Service Centre”. Those other buildings are but a memory although it appears the accommodation side of the business operated into the 1980s with the cabins still standing well into the next decade. The eatery seems to have closed about the same time as the gas station.

The Sign.

Put in place in the mid-1950s, it did not accompany Eamon’s to High River and presently is in the parking lot of the Tuscany/Rocky Ridge C-Train station in Calgary not far from where it once stood. It’s been beautifully fixed up and a real showpiece. Many people are torn that it remained behind, but at the same time, it’s still honours the business close to its original location, so it’s kind of a give and take. Where you park to catch the train sits atop the old Eamon’s lands.

We paid the sign a visit and were curious to see if it lit up come nightfall. We hung around till after dark but didn’t see it happen, so I guess that’s a no.

The Cars!

Here’s ones that participated in the shoot, all so shiny to the extreme that it threw off light meter readings. With so many good photos coming out of this, that we ran out of space in this post. Maybe we’ll do a follow up piece for that reason – yes, let’s do that and we’ll take a closer look at the old sign in Calgary too while we’re at it. Stay tuned.

1) Geoff Embley’s 1950 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe displays some amazing pinstriping. Done by legend “Boots Olson” and once his car, it takes what would be a stand out ride and ups the ante. The product of a full frame-off restoration taking a couple years, it’s gotten the street rod treatment under the hood (IE, many ponies) and with that fastback styling it’s a real looker. This model of car is a popular one with collectors and lends itself well to customization.

2) This 2006 Mustang GT Convertible us the newest of the bunch but by no means any less awesome. Purchased new by Brian Chipchase (his second ride comes later), it was outfitted with hand controls after the owner was involved in an cycle accident. With about 23k on the odometer it’s barely broken in.

Awesome pinstripping here!

3) Here’s Ray Bouillet’s 1953 Packard, a make you don’t see too often. The firm made well appointed cars, comfortable, stylish and of course luxurious, but being exclusive meant they were uncommon. The current owner purchased it from a friend in the early 2000s, who found it at an estate sale out in Lethbridge. It’s believed it spent most of its life out that way and Ray mentions the car being in good shape for its age when picked up, but still it got a thorough restoration. He goes on to say it drives like a dream….and it looks dreamy too.

4) Absolutely stunning, it’s Harold Chipchase’s award winning Monarch Lucerne. Monarch was a division of Ford Motor Company and made and sold in Canada (only) in the 1946-1961 period, save for a one year break in the 1950s and always in small numbers. A 1956 model, Brian has been able to determine the build date to within weeks (late April/early May of that year).

A mid-price offering, these were mechanically a Mercury (a Montclair in this case). Picked up about a decade ago and lovingly restored, it’s in showroom condition. That two tone paint!

5) This 1962 Chevrolet Pickup belonging to Peter Hampton has been nicknamed Orange Crush. Rescued from a field in the 1980s by a previous owner it was soon after restored. Old trucks are always highly collectible and here’s one that’s a real head turner. Making an appearance in the number of magazines over the years, it’s a true celebrity as well. And it comes with a mascot!

An everyday vehicle in this colour just wouldn’t work, but for one done up for show like this, it’s about perfect. Incidentally, we’re still waiting to find a hot rod in BIGDoer yellow to photograph. If orange can happen…just sayin’…

6) Brian Chipchase’s other pride and joy is this fine Ford Ranchero from 1979 (the last model year). Half car and half pickup, one questions if it did either task well. The first year they were offered was 1957 and made across seven generations they borrowed front sheet metal from Ford cars of the time (in this instance LTD II). Coming by way of Ontario and BC it was fully rebuilt by the current owner and it’s wow!

That’s your author hard at work in front and oddly not showing company colours.

7) Here’s a legendary DeLorean DMC, a car not just famous for time travelling (it went back to the 1960s to pay Eamon’s a visit) but due its over the top cool factor. The story of how it came to be could fill a book but for brevity, let’s just say, the car burst on the scene with much hype, but soon faltered in the market. As it played out further the flamboyant fellow behind it all crashed and burned spectacularly during a shady deal meant to save his failing firm.

With about nine thousand made across three model years (1981-1983) and coming from a factory in Northern Ireland, an estimated two thirds are still on the road, mostly in the US. Gull wing doors and a brushed stainless steel exterior are guaranteed spotting features. That’s the only colour they came in. It’s a rare Canadian spec model (so it has a speedo in kms for example) made the last year of production and belongs to Micheal Fischer, a guest of the car club.

That’s one low driving position (about trailer hitch level if following a one of those jack-up super pickups) and heaven help you if you’re a big guy trying to get in. Where’s that shoehorn?

As we prep a storm builds.

8) It’s some kind of special magic photographing Brent Gordon’s 1961 Buick Invicta Custom and how nice of Mother Nature to put on a show for us back there. We saw the storm form and hoped for the best and did it deliver here. Coming out of the US, the car’s all original and has won many awards, including one at the Buick of America Club annual show. He goes on to say (it) “literally floats along the highway” and “a real pleasure to drive”. Can’t you picture yourself behind the wheel?

This car has a dealer badge tracing it back to Chick Norton of Tulsa Oklahoma. This dealership moved a lot of Buicks and so legendary in that regard.

Then rains came and the shoot abruptly ends. Soon the group scatters to the wind and in mere moments we’re the only ones here. Eamon’s is closed for the night and we’re the customer. We got the photos we needed, so the timing not all bad.

Cool rides? YEAH! We could go on for hours more, but sadly we’re out of space. This goes down as one of the more fun shoots we’ve ever done and hopefully that enthusiasm gets reflected in the piece. We’re not the best at it, but our passion knows no bounds. We ‘d like to thank everyone who participated too. This piece was to be published over a year ago but became Covid delayed. Of course.

*This place just up the road from Eamon’s deserves honourable mention: Nagway Inn.

Here’s some useful search terms if want to know more these subjects or if you want to visit Eamon’s: Eamon’s Garage High River and River City Classics High River.

Till the next post, keep being awesome.

They’re saying…

”Always something to peak my curious nature…sometimes we even go on road trips!” Deborah Pearen.

Recommended for you…
Retro Motels: Medicine Hat Alberta – Can you say neon!
Hanging at Frostbite (1) and Hanging at Frostbite (2) – An amazing hot-rod shop.
Fossil Prospecting @ Dino Provincial Park – ‘Dem bones!
The Clearwater – An old school drive-in theatre.

For more information on what you’ve seen here feel free to contact us!

Date of Adventure: August, 2019.
Location(s): High River, AB.
Article references and thanks: The City of Calgary, Old Calgary Phone Book @ Calgary Library, Michael Fischer plus River City Classics and its members (Brian Chipchase, Peter Hampton, Brent Gordon, Harold Chipchase, Geoff Embley & Ray Bouillet) – rock on!

1) Geoff Embley’s 1950 Chevy Fleetline Deluxe.

Chick sold a lot of Buicks.

Orange Crush and mascot.

Call of the West Museum in back.

A time traveller?

The legendary DeLorean DMC.

It’s a low slung driving position (DeLorean).

2) The newest of the bunch, this 2006 Mustang.

It’s a party at Eamon’s Garage High River.

3) Ray Bouillet’s 1953 Packard.

One in for service and one needing a fill.

Eamon’s is nothing like today’s Gas ‘n’ Gulps.

4) Harold Chipchase’s 1956 Monarch Lucerne.

Eamon’s was moved here a few years back.

Things were simple and basic then.

Another rolls in for gas.

Eamon’s flew the Texaco banner.

It’s a busy night.

5) Peter Hampton’s 1962 Chevrolet Pickup.

6) Brian Chipchase’s 1979 Ford Ranchero.

Eamon’s was Calgary Landmark for decades.

7) Micheal Fischer’s 1983 DeLoeran DMC.

8) Brent Gordon’s 1961 Buick Invicta Custom.

You can visit Eamon’s too (read the post).

The Eamon’s sign stayed in Calgary.