Motorists visiting The Gas Station are greeted by people like Brandi Gregory, the assistant manager. - The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER

Oregonians will set their clocks back an hour Nov. 1, the day Pacific Standard Time begins.

Union County residents, however, do not have to wait until Nov. 1 to reverse the hands of time.

Driving into La Grande’s new service station will temporarily do the trick.

The Gas Station, 1508 Adams Ave., a business seven years in the making, is now open. The station is giving motorists a high octane blast into an era when muscle cars like the Plymouth Sport Fury and Rambler Rebel ruled the highway and people drove Route 66 to travel across much of the United States.

It was a time when computerized gas pumps were the stuff of Buck Rogers science fiction and transistor radios were the rage.

The Gas Station is a 1959 vintage Texaco edition restored by Father Hank Albrecht. The popular priest, a lifelong auto buff, served as head pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church for about 20 years through mid-2008. Albrecht began his restoration project in 2002.

The Gas Station is a work-in-progress, with many features to be added, but it already is in select company.

“It is one of the only operating vintage gas stations we know of,” said Robb Gregory, manager of The Gas Station.

Gregory is running the service station for Albrecht, who owns it and now lives in Honolulu where he serves as a hospital chaplain. Albrecht is closely monitoring the station’s progress.

“We talk on the phone two or three times every day,” Gregory said.

The new “filling” station is becoming a haven for nostalgia lovers. Its features include:

andbull; Attendants wearing 1950s and 1960s vintage Texaco uniforms. The men and women automatically wash the windshield of each vehicle with paper towels, not squeegees, and ask customers if they want their oil checked. Once under the hood attendants examine windshield wiper fluid levels and more.

andbull; Vintage-style pumps providing Fire Chief (regular) and Sky Chief (supreme) gasoline, names no longer used at regular Texaco stations. The fuel sold at The Gas Station is Texaco-brand fuel; it is not generic.

The pumps have old-style meters.

“They are easier to reset than computerized ones,” said Wayne Marks, a station attendant.

andbull; A station office filled with memorabilia like old framed ads for Texaco products including one for ” … Top Octane Sky Chief, Super Charged with Petrox” and motor oil that is “wax and tar free.” The office also has a display of automotive product cans, which disappeared from the market long ago.

Subtle features adding to the station’s old-style authenticity include 1950s vintage lights and bathroom fixtures and floor tiles.

“We found the original 1959 blueprints (of the Texaco station) and restored it almost everything exactly as it was,” Gregory said.

Additions set to be made in the future include a popcorn machine, which should be up and running in weeks; an old-time ice chest Coca-Cola dispenser; a garage for auto repairs; and air pumps at the fuel islands. Once the air pumps are in, attendants will check the pressure of each customer’s tires.

The garage will begin operating this spring. Motorists will be able to bring their vehicles there for tune-ups, oil changes and brake work. This will provide motorists with a service they no longer enjoy since gasoline today is generally sold at convenience stores.

Mechanics at The Gas Station will wear vintage Texaco style jumpsuits like the kind many saw Albrecht wear while restoring the station.

Albrecht told The Observer in 2008 he was creating the station not to make money but to draw more people to downtown La Grande.

“I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t want to be part of revitalizing the downtown area,” Albrecht said.

He hopes The Gas Station will be a site that attracts people who want to fuel up on conversation.

“I want it to be a gathering place,” Albrecht said, “a place where people can be around others, see friendly faces and help each other out.”

The Gas Station, is open every day but Sunday. Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A grand opening will be conducted later.