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Jul 23, 2008 6:00 pm US/Eastern
Mendon Runs On Empy As Gas Stations Close
MENDON (WBZ) ―
The Worcester County town of Mendon is running on empty. Since both gas stations in town closed this month, all its residents, police and fire departments are leaving town to fill-up.
"It's unbelievable, you know. This is ridiculous. Where are we going to gas up?" asked Anthony Bourdreau, who has lived in Mendon 42 years.
Standing on an old wooden sidewalk in front of the town's post office, he told WBZ's Ron Sanders he had gassed-up at Gaskell's Service Station, which closed-up this month after 50 years of business, squeezed between high oil prices and overhead.
Read:
Decades-Old Gas Station Hangs Up The Nozzle
Within a week, the Xtra Mart shut down its pumps, leaving Mendon with no gas stations.
"Weapons of mass destruction? This economy could hurt us almost as bad as mass destruction," said Boudreau.
Other Mendon residents such as Glen Larson are less bothered that they need to gas up in neighboring towns. "Just small town life. That's all," said Larson.
Mendon Police feel the effects more than other town departments because cruisers are on the road around the clock. They now have to drive 6.8 miles to Blackstone P.D., which has agreed to sell them gas.
Topping off the tank in his cruiser behind the Blackstone station, Officer Philip Dunlavey said, "It's amazing not having gas and then going to another town to fill-up."
Dale Pleau, the Town Coordinator, agrees it's less than convenient. "We're also negotiating with the town of Hopedale, who's another neighbor; they've really stepped up to the plate to help us out."
Pleau says he's working on a permanent solution for the 341-year-old town of 6,500 people.
"We're still waiting for a grocery store here. We were lucky to get a bank, a couple of banks," said Sue Fay, who has lived in Mendon 32 years.
What seems to compound the irony here is that while Mendon doesn't have any gas stations anymore, it still has a drive-in theatre. Town officials say a local businessman has plans to buy Gaskell's and reopen it as a 50s-style service station.
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