Memories and Metaphors

This afternoon I rode my bike to the Albert Lea Public Library in search of a book recommended to me by my friend, Sara Aeikens. She told me she’d written an article in “Albert Lea Remembers” about Mitch’s Gas Station, a once popular hangout that had been left to vandals and had become an eyesore in her neighborhood.

Sara, with the help of others, prepared the small station for auction, but not before meeting some measure of resistance. In addition, two tanks in the ground in front of the store had to be removed. Once this was done, it was finally auctioned off and sold to Family Treasures Estate Sales, who then fixed it up to be the beautiful building it is today.

Before: As you can see in this first picture on the right, the windows are all boarded up, the paint is peeling, and the landscaping could probably use a little help.

In her article titled, “Saving a Landmark,” Sara writes: “In July of 1996, the discussion of our weekly prayer group turned to the topic of another round of vandalism just a short block from my home. On my way to the meeting, I’d noticed that the door of the former women’s bathroom of Mitch’s gas station was swaying ajar at an angle on its rusty hinges. Some items that had been undisturbed for months were strewn across the back lawn of the station lot, and windows had been smashed.”

After: Now Mitch’s Gas Station has gone from being an eyesore to a ’site to see’ in Albert Lea.

Concluding her article, Sara writes, “Mitch’s station and its success story stands at the corner of Fountain and Vine as a tiny bright metaphor about what friends, neighbors and community are able to do when they decide on a common goal and believe, when surrounded by well-meaning doubters, that it is possible to make a little difference that has a positive, long-lasting impact.” (Before and after photos taken by Sara Aeikens)