WELCH, W. Va. (WVVA) – After serving as a beloved landmark in Welch for over sixty years, a local filling station closed its doors, leaving behind memories of its veteran owner, Ed Shepard. Now, the City of Welch is embarking on a project to breathe new life into the historic building.
Ed Shepard, a respected veteran deeply rooted in the community, had operated the station since its inception. However, with his passing, the station fell into disrepair and ceased operations.
Mayor Harold McBride, reminiscing about his childhood visits to the station with his father, expressed a desire to preserve the building’s legacy and honor its veteran proprietor. The City of Welch is now spearheading efforts to transform the structure into an enchanting ice cream shop.
“We couldn’t bear to see the little building lost. So, we brainstormed ideas and landed on the concept of an ice cream shop. It seemed fitting to pay tribute to him in this way, considering his long-standing presence in the community,” explained Mayor McBride.
Welch has a history of community-led ventures, with the Pocahontas Movie Theater being another establishment operated by the city. With plans to open the ice cream shop by the end of May, just in time for the CoalField Cookoff barbecue festival in June, the city aims to restore vitality to the cherished filling station while honoring the memory of its esteemed proprietor.
