by Michael Boss
Oil on Panel
20" X 30"
From the Collection of the Almena State Bank
Collaborating with Shad Chandler, president of the bank, about a painting for the bank, sort of out of the blue, he asked one of the bank employees, "what about the Curve Station on the east side of town?" Photos taken in 1970 seemed to be the only images available.
After visiting with people who were very familiar concerning the station, it was easy to paint. The c. 1930 subject was a Conoco station and Almena natives remembered how it was decorated i.e. a green roof, trim and even where the corporate sign was located!
In the mid-nineties I had taken slides of a Burlington Northern eastbound diesel coming into Almena. The number was 2827. Checking back to c.1960 it was first numbered 945. That led to the red and light gray color scheme with the accompanying chevrons. A 1957 gold Chevy convertible seemed to really set the stage for very warm and pleasant time in northwest Kansas.