Vickers Service Station

The old Vickers service station on north Main. The hyperbolic paraboloid design of these stations (also known as "batwing") was developed in 1954 by Wichita’s own Vickers Petroleum. The design of this building was supposed to hold up to a tornado and proved true in 1999. As of 2005 this is just one of two remaining of the original 50 built.The building is now owned by the city as used as an office. In January 2009 4 restored gas pumps were added. The pumps, originally from the old Coopers Corner station, were donated to the city and restored.

An excerpt from a 1960 Virgina Record which I believe was some sort of architectural publication…

Something new in filling station design has proved to be a drawing card for motorists at Haysville, Kansas. The soaring lines of the roof are of shell concrete in the form of a hyperbolic paraboloid.


Vickers Service Station Ad.
Above scan courtesy of Cathy Hurley.

Vickers gas station
Vickers after the 1999 tornado. Photo courtesy Russel Pinkston.

501 E Grand

This building at the S/E corner of Grand and Delos was originally Haysville’s first Sonic. It has also been home to Walt’s Carryout and Johnny B’s both burger joints and in 2010 Rene’s Mexican Fast Food.

In the picture below the original cover that stretched the length of the parking stalls and the ordering boxes are gone.


class=”serendipity_imageComment_txt”>Building while Johnny B’s

Grandlane Shopping Center

Located on Grand between the Cowskin Creek and Stewart. Built in 1959. In the early/mid 2000s the property was bought by the school district.

Grandlane Shopping center in the early 80s. Some of the stores pictured above are P.N. Hirsch and Co and Cohlmias clothing store.


Some of the stores pictured above are Steen Pharmacy, Dale’s Clothing Store, TG&Y and Safeway.

Other stores that have occupied the shopping center…
Homers Meat Market.
Sally’s The Fashion Place.
The Dollar Store.

In the stand alone building (grocery store)…
Haysville Hardware.
Skating rink.