Founded in 1909 by Charles Hutchins, Dead River Co. 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 Co.’s entrance into the petroleum business.
Steady expansion throughout eastern, northern and central Maine followed, and Dead River established its headquarters in Bangor. In 1981, the firm sold nearly all of its timberland to the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Indian Nation as part of an historic settlement. The sale was an opportunity for Dead River to enter the commercial real estate business.
Contributed photo
A VINTAGE Dead River Company delivery truck from the 1930s.
During the 1980s, they 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 Dead River sold its 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.
Last year, the Dead River Co. and Xpress Natural Gas teamed up to deliver compressed natural gas to commercial and institutional customers who may not necessarily have a pipeline running through their towns.
XNG has retrofitted the former Louisiana Pacific Mill in Baileyville into a compressed natural gas plant, capable of producing 8 billion cubic feet of the substance each year. They say, choosing Dead River as the carrier of that product to end-users like McCain Foods and The Aroostook Medical Center, was a no brainer.
Still a family-owned company, Dead River Co. now has over 70 years of experience in the fuel oil and propane business. While the size of the company ensures a reliable supply of petroleum products for its customers, it’s how those services are delivered and support to local communities that matters most. By operating locally managed offices throughout Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and now Massachusetts, Dead River still maintains the values of a family-owned company.
For more information, go to www.deadriver.com.
