Beacon Oil
| Industry | Oil and gas |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 |
| Defunct | 1947 |
| Fate | Acquired by Standard Oil of New Jersey |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
Key people | James Lorin Richards |
| Parent | Massachusetts Gas Companies (1919–1926) Louisiana Oil Refining Company (1926–1929) Standard Oil of New Jersey (1929–1947) |
| Subsidiaries | Colonial Filling Stations |
Beacon Oil Company operated as an American entity in the oil and gas sector, with its headquarters situated in Boston. From 1930 until 1947, it was recognized under the name Colonial Beacon.
Early years
Founded in 1919 by the Massachusetts Gas Companies, Beacon Oil entered into an agreement to procure crude oil from the Atlantic Gulf Oil Corporation. The firm initiated construction of a refinery located in Everett, Massachusetts, which commenced production in July 1920. This facility manufactured gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, asphalt, lubricants, and wax, boasting a daily output capacity of 15,000 barrels alongside storage capabilities for 950,000 barrels. In 1923, the company secured a contract from the United States Shipping Board to supply fuel oil at the Port of Boston. Additionally, Beacon held joint ownership of Beacon Sun Oil Company with Sun Oil Co., managing 55 drilling rights in Venezuela.
Control of Beacon shifted on January 8, 1926, when Louisiana Oil Refining Company acquired a majority stake. Subsequent to this transition, Clifford M. Leonard assumed the role of chairman, replacing James Lorin Richards, while Richard B. Kahle succeeded H. L. Wollenberg as president.
Colonial Filling Stations
Colonial Filling Stations Inc., a subsidiary under Beacon Oil, managed service stations across New England—excluding Vermont—and in New York. In 1922, the architectural firm Coolidge & Carlson developed Colonial’s signature gas station model known as the “Watertown,” characterized by a white exterior adorned with columns and a golden dome inspired by the design of the Massachusetts State House. Between 35 and 50 such stations were constructed within the Greater Boston area. During the 1930s, Colonial adopted a lighthouse motif for its stations located in New York.
In 1924, following Dixie Oil Company’s failure to meet contractual obligations, Beacon acquired its gas stations in both Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts. By the following year, Beacon’s portfolio included 160 gas stations. Expansion continued in 1926 with entry into Rhode Island through acquisition of Narragansett Filling Stations Inc., penetration into New York state via purchase of Pennzoil’s gasoline and kerosene operations, and entry into the New York City market through acquisition of Craycroft Oil Company. The company further acquired Webaco Oil Company’s outlets in Webster, New York in 1928. By 1929, Beacon had ownership or lease agreements covering some 350 stations. In 1931, it completed acquisition of Kesbec’s chain consisting of 55 stations.
Industrial accidents
On April 14, 1922, an explosion at the Everett refinery resulted in injuries to four workers and claimed the life of one employee, Harry Vokes, who had previously been a vaudeville performer. Later that year in November, a group of 151 residents from Everett filed a bill in equity with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court seeking closure of the refinery; however, this legal action was ultimately dismissed.
A fire on March 10, 1925 beneath seven oil storage tanks necessitated evacuation of approximately 200 residents from South Everett. On December 10, 1926, an explosion at the refinery caused tremors felt across Everett as well as neighboring Medford and Winchester.
A significant catastrophe occurred on February 10, 1928 when ten distillation stills exploded simultaneously, igniting over half a million gallons of oil and resulting in fourteen fatalities among employees. On July 22, 1929, two workers sustained injuries due to a flare-up involving a high-pressure still.
Acquisition by Standard Oil
On January 9, 1929, Leonard declared that Beacon had been acquired by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey.[1] To better represent its product lines, the company was rebranded as Colonial Beacon on March 25, 1930.[2] Later that year in December, R. B. Kahle stepped down as president to become vice president of Standard Oil’s shipping division, with A. Clarke Bedford taking over his role.[3]
Between 1932 and 1933, Colonial Beacon was the sponsor of NBC Blue Network’s Five-Star Theater, which featured the Marx Brothers’ radio show Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel.[4] The company broadened its market presence in 1935 by acquiring Arthur H. Ballard Inc., thereby entering the oil burner sector.[5] Standard Oil took complete ownership on December 31, 1947, yet maintained the Colonial Beacon name in New England and New York well into the 1950s.[6] The refinery located in Everett was shut down in 1965 as a result of diminishing financial returns.[7]
- ↑ "New Jersey Standard Oil to Buy Beacon Oil Co". The Boston Daily Globe. January 10, 1929.
- ↑ "Beacon Oil Now Colonial Beacon". The New York Times. March 26, 1930.
- ↑ "Bedford Heads Beacon Oil". The New York Times. December 18, 1930.
- ↑ Barson, Michael, ed. (1988). Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel: The Marx Brothers' Lost Radio Show.
- ↑ "Colonial Beacon Oil Buys Arthur H. Ballard, Inc". The Boston Daily Globe. September 29, 1935.
- ↑ "Jersey Standard Takes Over Colonial Beacon Oil Co". The Wall Street Journal. December 31, 1947.
- ↑ Jarvis, Judy (April 13, 1975). "The Economy: Plans, plans, plans... but no refinery". The Boston Globe.