The Roots of the Gas City Cow

If you grew up in Frankfort, you know the Gas City cow.  It has been down on south LaGrange Road for as long as I can remember.  It always seemed out of place, but was of great fascination to me (and I'm guessing just about everybody who grew up in town).  It was the scene of at least one high school movie where the utters were milked on camera to hilarious results (at least we thought - at the time - it was rip-roaringly funny).

A few days ago, I came across this piece in Crain's Chicago Business about how Gas City has been hit with a foreclosure suit which mentions the roots of the cow.

Longtime Southwest Siders may remember a cow statue that Mr. McEnery placed on the roof of his original station at 55th Street and Pulaski Road in the early 1970s. It was an attempt to advertise milk, a somewhat unusual product to be sold at a gas station at the time.

In 1976, the roof gave way, and the cow was eventually moved to the company’s Frankfort offices, according to the Gas City Web site.

Pretty cute idea back in the 70's it seems.  I'd have stopped for milk if I spotted that huge beast.