Historic Gordon Station offers summer treats

Jun. 24—GORDON — There was a line outside the former Art Nelson's Shell Station in Gordon Thursday morning. Instead of fuel or repairs, these folks were there for ice cream.

Gordon Station served 30 people in the first 10 minutes, according to Julie Phelps, who owns the business with her husband, John Sime.

"I couldn't even talk to Julie for the first couple of hours because it was just constant," said local historian Brian Finstad of Superior, who's been involved with the building's preservation.

The new ice cream shop carries 30 flavors of Cedar Crest ice cream in waffle cones, regular cones or by the dish.

Suzanne Smith of Wascott was a fan of the licorice ice cream.

"This is super convenient, next to the post office and the transfer station is right there. And the building is incredible ... I think she did a fabulous job. I love the color, it's very retro. I love the barn door, the color combination, the selection," Smith said.

Lisa Evans of Solon Springs made a special trip to the Gordon Station with granddaughters Rowan and Alexis, both 11.

"We came for this," she said, digging into a dish of licorice ice cream as the twins enjoyed the flavors of moose tracks, caramel collision and chocolate chip cookie dough.

Evans is among the 1,400 Facebook followers who have been keeping track of the gas station's renovation online.

"It's been really fun to see the progress from the move ... with all of the hard work they've done, it looks really pretty sweet in there. We're excited because we're ice cream kids," she said.

Built in 1937 as a Shell station, the structure is very likely the last of its kind, a catalog gas station built by the Butler Manufacturing Company of Kansas City, Missouri. The distinctive building has been calling to Phelps since she moved to Gordon seven years ago.

The structure, formerly owned by ICO, was in bad shape.

"But the reality is, you can't find another one so why wouldn't you put your heart into it," Phelps said.

Standing behind the counter Thursday, she scooped up a steady stream of treats.

"It's been great and people are just excited to see it. They can't believe it. I mean they can't believe what it came from," Phelps said.

The shop currently has two employees. Phelps said she wants to have at least 10 workers for Gordon Good Neighbor Days July 6-7.

Joshua Sawlaw of Wascott stopped by the shop with his daughter, Charlotte Rose, to check out the selection. They were on their way to a birthday party, so they didn't leave with cones. But they planned to be back.

"We're not buying ice cream anymore for our own freezer, we'll come here and eat ice cream," Sawlaw said. "We've been needing this for a long time."

"I wish this was here when I was a kid. We would have been riding our bikes up here," Finstad said.

The former Art Nelson's Shell Station that was moved to Packer Avenue in 1947 during construction of U.S. Highway 53,

was moved downtown in November

. It now sits on County Highway Y between the American Legion and Gordon Town Hall. It's about 380 feet from where it was originally built in 1937, where the Gordon Museum stands now. The site was donated by Ellen Connolly, whose family owns property on White Fish Lake.

Gordon Station is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Phelps plans to add malts and shakes, as well as coffee, to the menu soon. Eventually, she envisions adding antiques, plants and local crafts to the store.

Visit the

Gordon Station Facebook page

for more information.