Garages & Service Stations

Dunagan’s Service Station

Thomas J. Dunagan operated Dunagan’s Service Station in Akron. Dunagan was born in 1891 in Alabama. He married Demma G. Young in Choctaw County, Alabama, in 1916. Dunagan’s obituary stated that he had lived in Akron since 1917. The couple appeared in the Akron City Directory in 1925 living at 105 North Canal Street, and Dunagan worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. By 1928 they were living at 735 Raymond Street. The earliest mention found of Dunagan’s Service Station was in the Call & Post in November 1939. Another ad was listed the 1940 Akron Negro Directory, which featured a photo of Demma taken by Stewart Photo Studio. She passed away in 1944, and Dunagan later remarried Ruby Oates in 1949.

Dunagan also owned Dunagan’s Tavern, sometimes referred to as Dunagan’s Bar. The address for Dunagan’s Tavern is unclear. Most newspaper articles listed 836 Rhodes Avenue as the address, but other articles listed 354 Berry Avenue (where Thomas and Ruby lived), and one source noted 839 Rhodes Avenue. The tavern’s dates of operation, and if he was operating the service station and tavern simultaneously, are also unclear. The first mention found of Dunagan’s Tavern was in help wanted ads in the Akron Beacon Journal in 1953. An article as recent as 1990 named Dunagan’s Bar as a location that was raided for alleged illegal gambling.

Dunagan retired in 1971 after 41 years of service and died in 1974. Ruby owned Dunagan’s Tavern after his death until at least 1976.

Green Book Details

Dunagan’s Service Station appears as Dunagan in the Green Book from 1947 to 1955 at 834 Rhoades (Rhodes) Ave. under the category Service Stations.

Resources

  • “17 Arrested in Area Gambling Raids.” Akron Beacon Journal. March 3, 1990.
  • 1930 U.S. Census, Akron, Summit, Ohio; p. 3B; Enumeration District: 0045.
  • “Active Akron Church, Civic Figure Dies.” Call & Post. February 12, 1944.
  • Call & Post. November 2, 1939.
  • “Charged in Bar Knifing.” Akron Beacon Journal. May 8, 1966.
  • Dunagan’s Service Station ad. Call & Post. December 7, 1939.
  • Kingsberry, A., ed. Akron Negro Directory. Akron, OH: Kingsberry, 1940.
  • Thomas J. Dunagan, 1916, in “Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957” database, familysearch.org/.
  • “Thomas J Dunagan.” Akron City Directory. Akron: A. Kingsbury, 1925.
  • “Thomas J Dunagan.” Akron City Directory. Akron: A. Kingsbury, 1928.
  • “Thomas Dunagan Ex-Tavern Owner.” Akron Beacon Journal. October 24, 1974.
  • “Waitress wanted.” Akron Beacon Journal. August 1, 1953.
  • “West Side Fire Ruins 2 Houses.” Akron Beacon Journal. November 1, 1976.
834 Rhodes Ave, Akron, OH

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