Saving a Unique piece of Knoxville's roadside history
by Kevin Lee Pettiford
Reprinted here with the premission of the "Knoxville Journal" July, 2004

Knox Heritage and the Airplane Filling Station Preservation Association (AFSPA) met of July 1 to discuss the preservation of the historic landmark at 6829 Clinton Highway.
"We discussed options ranging from non-profit and commercial use to a museum," said Kim Trent of Knox Heritage.
"We're trying to look at the whole picture. We want to raise money and restore the station so a potential renter only has to worry about maintenance and rent," she said.
The structure was built in 1930 along US Highway 25 by Henry and Elmer Nickle as a service station.
According to the AFSPA Web site, Elmer Nickle's fascination with airplanes and the need to attract travelers to their business led to the fantastic design.

Rock Bernard, treasurer of the airplane preservation association, said sometime in the mid-1960s the building became a package store."IT has also been a produce stand, a bait and tackle shop, and a used car lot, " said Bernard.
The Airplane Service Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in this spring.
"This (airplane station) is a unique piece of Knoxville's history," said Bernard. "There's nothing else like it anywhere and we want to see it restored and put to good use."