Duke's Service

: Cisco, UT. Sep. 11, 2014
: Cisco, UT. Sep. 11, 2014


I’m trying to duplicate the whole town of Cisco, Utah in N scale. This post introduces one of the structures in the town.


A few businesses survived along US Hwy 50 & 6 at Cisco in the early 70s; 4 gas service stations, a mercantile/cafe, and a motel. Some private houses also seem to exist along Second Street. Next to Cisco Automotive Service on the west sat this structure on Block 2, Cisco Townsite.

The 1971 movie Vanishing Point barely shows this structure hanging out Phillips 66 sign. In the movie, this structure painted white with a red band is hardly seen. This structure also appears in the 1990 movie Thelma and Louise as a tired service station/beauty salon.

Several historical documents describing this structure are found: Kathy Jordan describes this structure as the Capansky’s Bar, Restaurant and Conoco Gas Station[1]. Mary L. Cowger Hepperle describes this structure as the Capansky's Cafe Beer Joint[2]. A 1957 Legal Notice designated it as Mrs. Capansky's Cafe[3]. And, the 1961 Annual Financial Report of Grand County lists it as Duke's Service[4].
　　
　　
William Boston "Bill"(1887 ｰ 1951) and Eppie Nettice Fanning(1890 ｰ 1976) Capansky arrived at Cisco in 1925[5]. Bill and Eppie established the garage built with railroad ties by 1927[6, 7].

In 1934, Bill opened up the gas service station in the former Pace Brothers Company building next to his garage[8]. Pace Brothers Company was a stock and ranch holding company established in 1913 and acquired the Cisco Mercantile Company in 1925. Remains of the particular service station is the structure shown in the photos above.

In 1936, the station was operated by Marmaduke Burnadette Woods(1910 ｰ 1971) as Duke's Station which appears in the 1955 advertisement shown below[9].

After the demise of Bill in 1951, Eppie transferred the Duke's business to Richard T. Bevins of Gunnison, CO[10]. By 1960, the gas supplier was changed from Texaco to Phillips as shown below. In 1969, it was operated by John William "Peg Leg Johnny"(1907 ｰ 1975) and Gertrude Irene(1906 ｰ 1994) Moore[5].

: July 21, 1955 Green River Journal
: June 29, 1960 Times Independent

In 1970, Eppie's son Robert Theodore "Ted"(1920 ｰ 2006) and Johney Ruth Driver(1923 ｰ 1978) Capansky came back from California to take care of their mother's holdings including a home and a place of business at Cisco[11]. Beer license was approved for Ted in 1971[12].

Unfortunately, however, the Annual Financial Statement For the Year Ended December 31, 1972 is the latest evidence of the survival of Ted's business to this day[13]. Even so, 2015 Grand County Tax Delinquent List still has Ted's name on it[14].


The structure of Duke's Service still existed as of 2014, but in a rather swayed appearance as you can see in the photos above. It took some time to figure out the shape of the chopped corner because of the structure’s distortion.

Its chopped corner entrance must be a later modification. The annex next to this structure on the south was moved from Green River, Utah[15].

The aerial photo of Google Maps helped me to infer the dimensions to draw plans. Former Rio Grande tracks on the opposite side of the road brought me the approximate scale. The result of my survey is shown below as drawings: of course, some imaginations are included.

revised Sep. 22, 2014

revised Jan. 7, 2015

revised Feb. 4, 2015

revised Dec. 28, 2016

revised Jan. 8, 2017

revised feb. 16, 2018

revised Jul. 24, 2021

revised, Sep. 23, 2022

revised, Apr. 14, 2023

[1] Jordan, Kathy. "‘Uranium King’ Charlie Steen started out in Cisco tar­paper shack", Mar. 24, 2011 Grand Junction Daily Sentinel;
[2] Hepperle, Mary L. Cowger. "Memories of Cisco", Canyon Legacy, Vol. 51, Moab Museum, 2004;
[3] Jan. 3, 1957 Times Independent;
[4] Oct. 5, 1961 Times Independent;
[5] Jul. 27, 1969 Daily Sentinel;
[6] Jul. 21, 1927 Times Independent;
[7] April 5, 1951 Times Independent;
[8] Dec. 13, 1934 Times Independent;
[9] Jun. 18, 1936 Times Independent;
[10] Nov. 15, 1951 Times Independent;
[11] Mar 19, 1970 Times Independent;
[12] Apr. 22, 1971 Times Independent;
[13] Mar. 1, 1973 Times Independent;
[14] 2015 Grand County Tax Delinquent List;
[15] Apr. 2, 1970 Times Independent;

: Duke's Service drawings

: North and West elevation
　
　　
ユタ州を走るD&RGWの沿線にある／あった、Ciscoという町を紹介している。この建物は「Cisco Automotive Service」の西隣り（といっても随分離れているが）に建っている「Duke's Service」である。

この建物は、映画「バニシング・ポイント」や「テルマ＆ルイーズ」の中で、この出で立ちで登場する。前出のKathy Jordanによれば、ここは「Conoco Station」とされているが、「バニシング・ポイント」ではPhillipsの看板が見える。

前出のLee A. Bennettによれば、この建物では1920年代からCapansky夫妻が商売をしていた。残念ながら夫は1951年に亡くなっている。1971年当時は、息子が切り盛りしていたはずだが、筆者の記憶にはない。

建物は下見板張りの壁にシーチングを被せた切り妻屋根を載せた木造家屋である。後の改造だろうが、角を斜めに切り取り屋根を庇にしている。この形状を、現況の半壊状態の写真から理解するのにしばらくかかった。D&RGWの軌道幅を基準に拡大したGoogleの航空写真を参考に、全体の大きさを割り出した。