You
rarely see independent service stations anymore. Stations named after the
owner rather than branded by a major oil company have all but disappeared.
Even Tom's Service now stands silent along highway 32 outside Lancer, Saskatchewan.
I don't think this station had been closed for long when I took this shot.
The pumps were set to prices from not long ago, and you could still see fluid
in the little glass viewing bulbs. But sadly, Tom's Service is no more. The
fixtures and equipment have been cleared out and anything that remains has
been pushed into a pile in the middle of the floor.
As I exposed this photo, the old sign squeaked as it blew back and forth in
the dry, prairie wind. Perfect! A very memorable, atmospheric moment.