Making Old New Again
by Laura McSwain Vick
Reprinted here with the premission of the "East Knox Area News" February 2005.

We travel to many places during our lives. We pass many landmarks and establishments along the way. Some of these places we remember, but many we do not. There is one local establishment that everyone who has driven past has some memory of. Built in 1930, the old Aeroplane Service Station is an unforgettable landmark on Clinton Highway.

The station was built by two brothers, Elmer and Henery Nickle. Elmer inspired by his love for airplanes, decided to construct the building to resemble an airplane. They choose their location on the old Dixie Highway (US 25), which ran between Detroit and Miami, this was before the additions of the intersate systems.The well travelled road attracted many people to the service station.

The business thrived for the Nickles until they sold the Aeroplane Service Station back in the 1970's. It has switched hands and held a varity of businesses since then.

The run down filling station was facing self destruction until a group of concerned citizens intgervened in 2003. Since then the have been raisin funds to purchase and restore the filling station. To help ensure the survival of this landmark, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

The Airplane Filling Station Preservation Assocation is still short of their goal to restore the station They want to fully restore it to look as it did back in it's "glory days", so the public can enjoy the amazing architectural design.

If you would like to make a contribution to the project, or if you have any memorabilia from the Old Airplane Filling Station, you may contact Knox Heritage at 523-8008 or Rock Bernard at 933-7158. You may also show your support of this wondrous landmark by purchasing a "Save the Airplane Filling Station" T-shirt at Rocky Top Barber Shop at 8419 Ashville Highway (or on the powellairplane.org website).