Wadham's Oil and Grease Company of Milwaukee

Wadhams Oil and Grease Company of Milwaukee is a filling station built in 1927 located at the intersection of South 76th Street and National Avenue in West Allis. The building features an unusual curved pagoda-style roof with metal roofing, paired with distinctive black walls trimmed in yellow.

The station was designed in 1927 by architect Alexander C. Eschweiler as part of a chain of stations operating across Milwaukee. The Vacuum Oil Company acquired the chain in 1930, which led to the eventual closure and repurposing of most locations.

The station displays Japanese-influenced design with black walls and yellow trim, a style that early gas stations adopted for their visual impact. Visitors can observe these distinctive features clearly when approaching the building.

The building is easily visible from the street and can be viewed free of charge from outside. The site now functions as a museum of transportation history and is easily accessible by car or public transit.

This station is one of only a handful of remaining pagoda-style stations from a series of over 100 built between 1917 and 1930. The unusual architectural design served as a distinctive brand marker for Wadhams locations across the region during that era.

Location: West Allis

Inception: 1927

Architects: Alexander C. Eschweiler

GPS coordinates: 43.01194,-88.00750

Latest update: December 18, 2025 11:40