Jerry’s Dream Museum sits on the west edge of Pawnee City. The project was completed by a group of community members 13 years after Jerry Stephens’ death.
Christina Lyons
A refurbished ’50s diner sits inside the museum. It originally operated in Chillicothe, Missouri.
Christina Lyons
Memorabilia lines the walls of Jerry’s Dream Museum, offering a sense of nostalgia.
PAWNEE CITY — Cars of all makes and models surrounded Jerry’s Dream Museum for the monthly Cars and Coffee. Signs out front advertise gas for 22 cents.
The Phillips 66 gas station was restored by a group of Jerry Stephens’ friends after he died of cancer.
Rick Helms, a member of the nonprofit board of directors, talked about the history of the museum.
“Jerry grew up next door,” he said. “His uncle had owned the station. After it was closed and his parents had died, Jerry bought the station with the intention of restoring it. He died of cancer in December 2008; but his wife, Marilyn, and his son, Jeremy, decided to get a board of directors together. There are five of us, and we started fixing it up.”
Among other memorabilia, the story of the station is told with photos detailing the history.
Jerry Stephens was the grandson of Lloyd “Turk” Matthews, who bought the station in 1937. It operated as Pawnee Oil until the early 1990s. After the station closed, Jerry bought it and started working to restore it, beginning with the office and back room.
He bought the Valentine Diner at an auction in Falls City. The ’50s-style diner had operated in Chillicothe, Missouri. Stephens planned on restoring the diner and setting it next to the station.
The building was extended, and the diner was placed inside. A new heating and air system was added.
“It was lots of work,” Helms said.
Another board member, Bob Smith, said they held fundraisers and had a lot of support from the community. It took 13 years to finish the project after Jerry’s death.
Among the activities held at the museum, Cars and Coffee draws crowds from April to October on the second Saturday of the month from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Each month has a different theme. In October the theme is Mopar.
Helms said it is an opportunity for people to get together.
“It’s a time for gearheads to get together,” he said.
Photos of some of the vehicles Jerry restored hang in the museum. He owned a body shop in Pawnee City for many years. Historic oil cans, signs and calendars lined the walls of the shop for visitors to admire.
More information on Jerry’s Dream Museum is on its Facebook page, as well as photos of events.
Pawnee City announced a program incentivizing people to move to the town, offering $50,000 in down payment assistance. Less than a month later…
Jerry’s Dream Museum sits on the west edge of Pawnee City. The project was completed by a group of community members 13 years after Jerry Stephens’ death.
