Wayside Stands And Other Things

AN INDUSTRY of astonishing proportions is strung out along the highways of the United States. This industry's purpose is to sell things and disseminate comfort and information to the passing motorist. Its visible plants include wayside lunch stands, gasoline stations, farm produce stands, sign­boards, comfort stations for tourists, ice houses, bar­becue stands, dancing pavilions, ice-cream stands, pop­corn booths, and salesrooms for flowers and shrubs.

Whether you build a wayside stand for yourself or for someone else who is willing to pay you for your efforts, you will find it worth while to apply many of the ideas contained in other chapters of this book. Of all the possible forms that a roadside stand may take, that involving the use of real logs or log siding is particu­larly desirable. Although some use has been made of such building materials along various highways, the field is virtually a brand-new one.

A gasoline station, lunch room or other sales center built of real logs is almost certain to stand out from every other similar place in the vicinity, and perhaps along the entire highway. There is something about a real log structure that commands attention and makes a lasting impression.

The development of log-cabin siding has opened an immense field to the builders of roadside stands. When properly used, such material is as distinctive as real logs, and in many localities is much cheaper.

Of course, wayside stands can be built of conven­tional material such as ordinary siding nailed over a wooden frame. Such places can be made extremely attractive and distinctive. However, the fact remains

This simple one-room cabin has all the essentials of the satisfactory and comfortable vacation home.

that there are more ordinary frame shacks along our highways than attractive buildings of logs or some other material; and ordinary things seldom attract attention.

By making a few simple changes, many one-room cabins, designed primarily for recreational purposes, can be converted into practical wayside lunch stands. For instance, here is a 14- by 21 ½ -ft. cabin designed

A combination lunchstand and lunch room that can be built at slight cost.Floor plan of the lunch room shown in the preceding illustration.

by Louis Boynton Bersback, Minneapolis, Minn., architect, for the Shevlin Pine Sales Company. You will note that there are two windows and a door in the front. To convert this cabin into a wayside lunch stand, all that is necessary is to take out the windows and build a counter that will project out from the wall.

This unusually attractive building is constructed of pine log siding. It is economical and easily built .

Another way would be to build a porchlike arrange­ment in one of the front corners and erect a counter around it. This opening would extend about halfway across the front, so that the entrance door could be set in the remaining wall area. This door would lead to an inside lunch counter large enough to seat 6 or 8 customers. Serving both the inside and outside counters is a compact kitchen including a range, soda-fountain equipment, and other usual lunch-room devices. The cabin roof should be extended somewhat at the eaves so that it forms a shelter for the outside lunch counter.

A highly desirable part of any wayside stand is a section devoted to rest rooms for men and women. These can be made a part of the main structure, or

A pine log siding ice station that is a great convenience near a tourist ramp.

set at some distance from it. In either case, they should be properly designed from a sanitary standpoint. Log siding and similar materials are particularly adapted for such structures. Providing of rest-room facilities is more than an act of kindness towards motorists. It is sound business, for the traveler who makes a com­fort stop is likely to purchase a few ice-cream cones or several full meals, depending on the time of day and the attractiveness of the stand.

Even a sign board can be made attractive as is evidenced by the illustration above.

A log-cabin gas station would be an excellent advertisement and at the same time fit into its environment.

Continue to Roadside Stands Made Of Logs

How To Build A Log Cabin