Barber Asphalt Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Asphalt production, refining, shipping |
| Founded | January 1, 1883 in Washington, D.C., United States |
| Founder | Amzi L. Barber |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Fate | Ceased operations; assets sold to various firms |
| Successor | Petro-Lewis Corporation (oil and gas segment), Apex Shipping (shipping), Hanna Mining Company (coal products), Standard Oil (American Gilsonite Company shares) |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, Trinidad, worldwide maritime routes |
Key people | Amzi L. Barber |
| Products | Asphalt, asphalt shingles, petroleum products, shipping services |
The Barber Asphalt Company was established in 1883 by Amzi L. Barber in Washington, D.C., before moving its main office to New York City. By 1888, the firm had secured a lease on the largest known asphalt reserve located at Pitch Lake, Trinidad, and expanded its operations through numerous branches and affiliated companies. Following several mergers and rebrandings—including a 1946 partnership with Standard Oil—Barber Asphalt contributed to paving millions of miles of roadways. Additionally, the company operated a fleet of tankers and coal vessels that supported the US Merchant Marine during World War II. The company ceased business activities in 1981, divesting its assets to various firms.
History
Amzi L. Barber founded the company in 1883, recognizing asphalt's cost-effectiveness for road construction and later diversifying into asphalt shingles. Initially a professor who transitioned into real estate, Barber relocated the headquarters to New York City in 1879. The company maintained offices in Washington, D.C. (1878–1912), Philadelphia (1912–1938), and Perth Amboy, New Jersey (1938–1948).
In 1888, the firm leased the vast Pitch Lake asphalt deposit in Trinidad. Over time, it underwent multiple reorganizations: Elkins Widener acquired it in 1898, merging it with his Trinidad Corporation subsidiary to create the Asphalt Company of America. In 1899, ownership transferred to John M. Mack, who renamed it the National Asphalt Company of America. By 1900, more than 12 million square yards of Trinidad asphalt had been applied across 70 U.S. cities at an investment of $35 million. Barber retired in 1901 but returned in 1904 as the company experienced several name changes—becoming General Asphalt Company in 1903—and merged with Barber Asphalt Paving Company's Uintah Railway subsidiary.
During the 1920s, Barber Asphalt established a refinery in Perth Amboy (then called Barber), which later developed into the Perth Amboy Refinery. In 1936, General Asphalt and Barber divisions combined to form Barber Company, Inc., which was renamed Barber Asphalt Corporation in 1938. A key joint venture with Standard Oil of California led to the creation of the California Refining Company in 1946.
The company’s operations spanned asphalt production, refining, and maritime shipping—facilitating infrastructure growth and supporting wartime logistics. In 1981, Barber Asphalt ceased operations; its oil and gas segment (Barber Oil Corporation) was sold to Petro-Lewis Corporation, shipping assets went to Apex Shipping, coal-related products were acquired by Hanna Mining Company and others, while shares of American Gilsonite Company passed to Standard Oil.
Throughout its existence, Barber Asphalt played a pivotal role in U.S. infrastructure by utilizing Trinidad asphalt deposits to pave millions of miles of roads.
World War II
During World War II, Barber Asphalt Company managed a fleet comprising oil tankers and coal ships that contributed to the war effort. The company operated Merchant Navy vessels on behalf of the United States Shipping Board and participated in charter shipping agreements with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. Its ships—including Liberty ships and tankers—were staffed by Barber Asphalt crews while US Navy Armed Guards handled deck armaments and communications equipment, underscoring the company's strategic importance in wartime supply chains.
Ships
Following World War II, Barber Asphalt Company expanded its maritime fleet by acquiring multiple Type T2 tankers, significantly boosting its shipping capabilities. Among the prominent vessels were:
- Birch Coulie, a T2 tanker
- Chapultepec, a T2 tanker (torpedoed in 1943 but subsequently restored)
- Luckystar, a T2 tanker
- Fruitvale Hills, a T2 tanker (operated from 1947 to 1965; later altered and renamed San Antonio)
- Carleton Ellis, a Liberty Armadillo-class tanker
During the Second World War, the company’s Liberty ship operations were limited to Carleton Ellis and William E. Pendleton. The subsidiary Trinidad Corporation managed several ships, including:
- SS Fort Mercer, a T2 tanker that encountered structural failures in 1952 and 1964 before undergoing repairs and being renamed San Jacinto
- Houston (previously SS Caribbean), a T2 tanker
- Lyons Creek, Clarke's Wharf, La Brea Hills, New Market, Redstone, and Tillamook—all classified as T2 tankers
Admiralty Bay was constructed in 1971 and dismantled in 1993. Additionally, Barber Asphalt leased vessels such as USS Mascoma during the period from 1947 to 1948.
These maritime assets played a crucial role in supporting Barber Asphalt’s operational strategy by enabling worldwide distribution and enhancing its competitive position within the petroleum and asphalt transportation sectors.