Monument Unveiled for Historic Threatt Filling Station
Over 100 people gathered at the Threatt Filling Station in Luther, Oklahoma, to celebrate a major milestone. The site, known as the first Black-owned gas station on Route 66, was honored with an official Route 66 monument.
The filling station was once a safe stop for Black travelers during the dangerous Jim Crow era. The Threatt family spent the last 10 years restoring it, bringing its powerful history back to life.
“We never envisioned that we would be here when we first got started,” said Ed Threatt, grandson of founder Allen Threatt Sr., during the unveiling. The new monument includes a QR code linking visitors to the Threatt Filling Station Foundation website.
A Lifeline for Black Travelers in Segregated America
Before civil rights laws, traveling as a Black person in America was risky and often life-threatening. Many towns, known as “sundown towns,” banned Black people after dark. This made safe places like the Threatt Filling Station vital for survival.
“My grandfather opened a place where people knew they were safe to stop,” said Cecelia Taft, a member of the Threatt family. “They could rest, get food, and feel welcome.”
The station not only sold gas but later added a café in 1937. It became a hub for community events, from dances to Negro Baseball League games.
Route 66 Recognition Ahead of Centennial
The Threatt Filling Station is now the eighth site to receive a Route 66 monument. More are planned before the famous highway’s 100-year anniversary.
“You could go anywhere on earth, and people know what Route 66 is,” said Brian Brown of the Route 66 Centennial Monument Project. “Stories like this need to be told.”
Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, praised the Threatt family for preserving history. The site is being transformed into an educational center to share its story with future generations.
A Legacy of Shelter and Kindness
Allen Threatt Sr. opened the filling station in 1915, long before it was safe for Black people to travel freely. He offered not just fuel and food, but also shelter for travelers facing the dangers of the night.
David Threatt, the founder’s great-grandson, recalled the importance of this generosity. “My great-grandfather was generous enough to let people spend the night so they could make it to sunrise.”
The Threatt family plans to complete the site’s transformation by 2026. “It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come as a country,” David said. “And for the Threatt Filling Station to be part of that history—it’s an honor.”
