Founded in 1909 by Charles Hutchins, Dead River Company had its roots in the forest products industry. The company was named for the Dead River, which flowed through much of its timberland in remote areas of Western Maine. In the 1930s, Curtis Hutchins took over management of the company from his father. The purchase of a small petroleum bulk storage plant, four gasoline stations and an Esso franchise, in 1936, marked Dead River Company's entrance into the petroleum business.
Steady expansion throughout Eastern, Northern and Central Maine followed, and we established our headquarters in Bangor. In 1981, we sold nearly all of our timberland to the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Indian Nation as part of a historic settlement. The sale was an opportunity for us to enter the commercial real estate business. During the 1980s, we also embarked on a major petroleum expansion plan that included Southern Maine and New Hampshire. Several retail heating oil locations were either started or acquired. Growth was rapid.
After we sold our remaining interest in the forest products business in 1987, the primary focus became the distribution of petroleum products as well as commercial real estate development and management of convenience stores.
Dead River Company now has over 85 years of experience in the fuel oil and propane business. While our size ensures a reliable supply of petroleum products for our customers, it's how we deliver our services and support our communities that matters most. By operating locally managed offices throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and western Massachusetts, we remain committed to upholding our core values of integrity, caring and excellence.
We thank all our customers for their loyalty and our employees for their hard work and commitment. We look forward to continuing our legacy as a strong, stable and dependable company that our customers can call on anytime, day or night.
