Texaco tales: Under the hood or at the bar, this is where Maricopans got their fix

This recollection was written by the late Harry C. Brock, husband of the late Patricia Brock, beloved Maricopa historian and author of Reflections of a Desert Town.

Jim and Louise Slack moved to Maricopa in 1956 from Casa Grande with their three children. They leased the Texaco station from businessman Harry Little, which included an auto repair bay and lube service. Jim had previously worked as service manager for Blinky Wilson Lincoln Mercury in Casa Grande and also at Walton Pontiac.

The Slack family lived in the old Dallas Smith “big house,” located just south of what is now the Business Barn. The house, originally built by Perry Williams in 1884, was later destroyed by fire.

At the station, Jim handled car repairs while Louise pumped gas — at least until 5 p.m., when the cocktail h