Long Island's Hidden Past: Yaphank Garage

<p>Travel back in time as <strong>News 12 Long Island</strong>'s Danielle Campbell and photojournalist Brian Endres take you to a vintage gas station in Yaphank.</p>

News 12 Staff

Aug 2, 2017, 9:00 AM

Updated 2,691 days ago

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Travel back in time as News 12 Long Island's Danielle Campbell and photojournalist Brian Endres take you to a vintage gas station in Yaphank.
Called the Yaphank Garage, the original Shell Gas Station from 1937 sits on the corner of Main Street and Yaphank Road. 
The gas station was lovingly restored by Suffolk police officers and volunteers in 1990. 
Retired Suffolk police Lt. Tom Smith, who is the curator of the Suffolk Police Museum, says the restoration process took seven years because the old station was a wreck.
"The roof was leaking, it needed a paint job, it needed everything," says Smith.
Once the station was restored and painted with its original orange and red striping, the hunt was on to find the priceless Shell Gas Station pumps from 1937. With research, and a lot of luck they were found in Pennsylvania.
The restored gas station is now part of the police museum - where vintage police cars are also on display.
Smith says restoring the old gas station was a unique opportunity to connect the community to the crossroads of its past.