Gypsy Road Trip

American Gas Pump Heaven Museum overflows with memorabilia from the past.

Remember the good times!

A Sinclair gas delivery wagon from the 1930s greets people as they travel over the bridge in Dover, Ohio. It stands along the bank of the Tuscarawas River with many vintage gas signs on display. Everyone is sure to see the Sinclair Brontosaurus atop American Gas Pump Heaven Museum.

Roger Ramsey, owner of the museum, began collecting gas pumps in the 1970s. This was an expansion of his car restoration hobby, as he thought it would be special to have ‘one’ old gas pump. But as all collectors soon experience, something has to be done with what has accumulated. Roger decided to share his with everyone.

As a teenager, Roger worked at a Bonded gas station in Freeport, Ohio, where he grew up. Men usually pulled up for $1.00 worth of gas and if it went over a few cents, no extra was charged. There he acquired his passion for gas memorabilia, while at his real job at Dover Credit Union he learned about finance.

Roger prides himself on his Americana touch to his displays. Everything from American flags to an American eagle and a scaled down model of the Statue of Liberty can be found throughout his museum. There’s so much to see that one trip through will probably not be enough.

The museum opened in 2010. His original building didn’t have enough room for all his collectibles, so he built another building – this time a replica of a Sohio Service station. His goal is to keep fifty gas pumps at the museum at all times. He frequently sells or trades, so there is always something new to experience.

This is more than just a collection of gas pumps from 1910 to 1962, it is a collection of memories! Take a walk through gas station history as well as the history of that time. While there stop and play the 1920s Nickelodeon, which works at the drop of a quarter.

Roger enjoys all the memorabilia he has collected. He’s really a kid at heart as he listens to the crooning of Dean Martin or a talking parrot from his desktop. Flashing signs adorn most walls as he “loves neon signs.”  He definitely has fun collecting gas pumps and memories of those days gone by.

“Roy Rogers is my hero,” Roger explains as he points out piece after piece inside the museum related to his hero. A life size picture of Roy easily stands out among the gas pumps.

American Gas Pump Heaven Museum contains favorite memorabilia that remind him and visitors of the happy days of their youth. He has a little bit of everything and can’t think of anything that he really wants. But he always seems to be ready to make a deal on something that appeals to his fancy. Quite often he would point out a recent purchase and say, “I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this.”

A mural of how it “used to be” covers an outside wall.

Everyone has memories of a favorite gas station when they were growing up. Our small town had a gas station/grocery store. There was only one pump but the Sinclair sign proudly displayed their signature Brontosaurus.

Gas stations provided neighbors with much more than fuel for their cars. Here you met your neighbors and caught up on local news over a cup of coffee or two cent bottle of pop – Orange Whistle was a favorite of mine

You’ll definitely be surprised by the variety of items you see even from the outside. Since Roger is retired, he can’t be there all the time, but if the parking lot intrigues you, give Roger a call at (330) 343-6883. and he will find the time to stop down and unlock the door to a room filled with treasures of yesteryear. It’s what keeps him going!

The American Gas Pump Heaven Museum can be found easily off I-77 at Exit 83 to Dover OH Route 211. Follow 211 for a couple miles and on the left hand side you will see the museum just before you cross the bridge over the Tuscarawas River. Admission is well worth the price of  $5.00.