145-year-old gas station in College Point used to be a horseshoer

In Queens, you can find history in the most unexpected places. Take this gas station in College Point that Scouting New York visited last month. The typical retro service station has a sign in the window that says, “EST. 1868.” Hmm, that’s before the invention of the automobile.

It turns out that the Farrington family business was once a blacksmith shop that made horseshoes, so they’ve always been involved in the transportation industry. Sometime between 1917 and 1920, they adapted with technology and started servicing cars instead.

The station’s office is lined with old photographs, and even a case of some of the specialized horseshoes that the Farringtons used to make for racing horses, so you can relive the company’s history.

Scouting New York thinks this is the oldest family-run service station in NYC, having been around for 145 years, and it looks like it will be around for a while yet. As reported by the Daily Mail Online (yes, even the UK news outlet picked up this story), current co-owner John Farrington says the station will continue to evolve with the times, possibly making changes as the hybrid and electric car industry picks up.

The 145-Year-Old NYC Gas Station That Started Out As A Blacksmith Shop [Scouting NY]
Queens gas station still open – after 145 years [NY Post]
From horseshoes to Hot Rods, and everything in between [Daily Mail]