The first gas stations along Route 66 were simple curb pumps outside of general stores. In the late 1920s the Mother Road supported self-contained service stations - usually two pumps under a canopy with a simple office. Over time, gas station buildings became more and more extensive. Sprague's Super Service in Normal, Illinois may represent the culmination of this trend.
Until 1931, when William Sprague built his station, most of the country's gas stations were affiliated with major oil companies such as Pure Oil, Phillip's Petroleum or Texaco. The architects of these companies provided functional, standardized station designs. For example, drivers could look at a white building with three green stripes and immediately know it was a Texaco station because of the recognizable symbol.
Like other small business owners of his time, Sprague took a different approach. As a contractor, he built his large, one-of-a-kind Tudor Revival service station out of brick using quality materials and craftsmanship. The result, Sprague's Super Service, appeared to be part mansion and part gas station.