I don't get down to the Four Corners area of Colorado often enough to see how my Uncle Robert is doing, so I google the name of his business: Ismay Trading Post, to see what pictures of the place people have posted.

This one was taken at least 15 years ago because the gas pumps are still in front of the store:



In the mid-1990s when the EPA cracked down on leaky underground storage tanks my uncle stopped using his rather than trying to bring them into compliance.

This was taken in the late 1940s or early 50s before the gas pumps were installed out front:



They had fruit orchards and raised livestock besides trading with the Navajo and Ute Indians who lived nearby. Also, when oil well were being drilled in that area the roughnecks stopped there for pop and candy.

During the 1950s oil rush, my uncles built another room onto the left side of the store to hold a machine that made big blocks of ice. The machine is still there, but hasn't worked for decades. Now, the room is used for storage and has cases of groceries piled on it.

This was taken in 2002:



That is their old dump truck that Uncle Robert was getting into running condition. I helped him search through their back yard for a part needed to get the carburetor working. You can see him in a new green shirt airing up the rear tire.

This is one of the more recent pictures I found on the Internet, taken in 2008: Uncle Robert out front in the winter. It was nice of him to go outside to pose for it.