History behind Bismark Filling Station in San Marcos, Texas revealed.

Bismark Filling Station/Bismarck Filling Station is one of the well remembered but forgotten filling stations of San Marcos, Texas. This news article will explain what Bismark Filling Station/Bismarck Filling Station was.


Bismark Filling Station/Bismarck Filling Station operated from around 1921 to about 1988. Bismark Filling Station was a filling station, automobile repair shop, road stop, service station, and gas station. This filling station had a lunch located in the back of the building. A service station was located out back. This property has approximately 964 square feet of floor space and has a lot size of 0.29 acres.

 

Bismark Filling Station/Bismarck Filling Station was and established around 1919 and opened in 1921 on Post Road which was then considered the outskirts of San Marcos, Texas. Bismark Filling Station was located on what was originally Riverhead Farm and the estate of C. L. Hopkins. H. C. Hubbs, Franklin A Chapman, Hiram E. Dewing, and T. Z. Williams owned the property. (Ref: Hays County Deed Records, Volume 71, Pages 201-203)

C. L. Hopkins. H. C. Hubbs, Franklin A Chapman, Hiram E. Dewing, William N. Goforth, E. B. Dobbins, and T. Z. Williams owned the property. Bismark Filling Station went through many owners as the property was sold to several different owners over the course of several years. That is why ownership of this land changed so often.

T. Z. Williams and E. B. Dobbins sold the land property Bismark Filling Station was located on to William N. Goforth and G. H. Ward for the sum of $200 dollars in 1924. However William N. Goforth would assume and ear full ownership of the property. William N. Goforth would assume ownership of the property for several years before selling it to various owners by gift deed. (Ref: Hays County Deed Records, Volume 58, Pages 78-80)

The land was sold back to William N. Goforth and G. H. Ward by T. Z. Williams in 1927. William N. Goforth and G. H. Ward sold the land to James W Gary, and his wife, Ela Gary, around the year 1929. James W Gary, and his wife, Ela Gary, sold their land to Humble Oil & Refining in 1929. Humble Oil & Refining and Exxon Corporation began owning and operating Bismark Filling Station in early 1929. (Ref: Hays County Deed Records, Volume 97, Page 434)

In 1964, Bismark Filling Station was sold to Ottmar Schwarzlose and his wife, Elfrieda R. Schwarzlose, by Carl Marx Ritnour for the sum of $10 dollars. (Ref: Hays County Deed Records, Volume 200, Page 2)

Exxon Corporation assumed ownership and property rights over the land Bismark Filling Station was located on in 1982. This was after Humble Oil & Refining merged into Exxon Corporation in 1973. The land was transferred to Exxon Corporation for the price of $39,500 dollars. (Ref: Hays County Deed Records, Volume 432, Pages 339-342)

Bismark Filling Station closed down in the 1980s. Possibly around 1988. Bismark Filling Station has been abandoned since then and only sold twice. (Ref: https://www.facebook.com/groups/745885792416310/permalink/1429297790741770/)

In 1996, Ottmar Schwarzlose sold the land to his daughter, Dorothy Schwarzlose Rudisill, on a general warranty deed for just $10 dollars. (Ref: Hays County Deed Records, Volume 1214, Page 453)

San Marcos Record wrote a news article about the Bismark Filling Station. They say, “ Little is known about the old Bismark Filling Station on Post Road.” (Ref: https://web.archive.org/web/20170113024707/https://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/news/old-filling-station-holds-secrets)

Kate Johnson described the poor condition of the old Bismark Filling Station on Post Road in San Marcos and said that $8,000-10,000 were needed to repair the collapsing column and to stabilize the structure. After discussion about its history, Kate said that she would like more information about the current owners in order to plan for the structure’s future. (Ref: http://www.hayshistoricalcommission.com/pdf/minutes/012518.pdf)

Dorothy Schwarzlose Rudisill Curry sold the land to William (Bill) Rudisill in 2019 on a special warranty deed on October 1, 2019 for an undisclosed amount of money. No other details were released publicly. (Ref: Hays County Deed Records, Deed 19048005)

The City of San Marcos recommended to research for evaluation to determine historical significance and potential NRHP and/or local landmark eligibility of Bismark Filling Station back in 2019. (Ref: https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042021-2469)


Haunted Texas claims that there are hundreds of spirits there haunting the former filling station at night and even during the day. Dismal pictures of destruction were posted to the Haunted Texas Facebook group on May 23, 2021. Members of the Haunted Texas Facebook group have been on the search for old ghosts Bismark Filling Station extensively. (Ref: https://www.facebook.com/groups/745885792416310/permalink/1429297790741770/)

The name on the front of Bismark Filling Station is still fairly visible from road view despite having not being a maintained building for almost 3 decades. Bismark Filling Station has have seemingly been reclaimed by nature including woods surrounding the building. There is egetation growing alongside the building. Signs of homeless people squatting inside Bismark Filling Station. This stone structure remains in pretty good stable condition. This is what remains of the Bismark Filling Station in San Marcos, Texas.

Bismark Filling Station is located at 1521 Post Road, San Marcos, Texas, US 78666.