In 2024 we marked an impressive milestone in the history of Chair City Oil, our 75^th Anniversary!

In 1949, shortly after returning from World War II, my dad, Paul Tourigny, and two close friends, purchased a small gasoline and auto service station at 525 Main Street in Gardner, Massachusetts. Chair City Oil was born.

I have always credited my dad with doing the hard part, building the business from nothing, with limited funds and education. Things were indeed different back then. But with hard work and long hours, and a constant focus on satisfying each customer every time, the business grew and prospered.

In the beginning, the business serviced cars and sold auto gas. In 1950, gas sold for 25 cent per gallon. In 1951, Chair City Oil purchased an old oil delivery truck and began delivering kerosene. At the time, most apartments had kerosene stoves for heating and stored it in 55 gallon barrels in basements or up on the back porch. As a kid, I rode with the delivery driver and remember pulling the hose up 3 flights of stairs or through a basement window and around obstacles to get to a tank that often times only took 20 or so gallons.

It soon became clear to Paul that central heating was the future. At the time, most central heating systems were old coal fired steam boilers. Many had been retrofitted with ‘modern’ oil burners and all this new equipment created a new service industry. Customers relied on their oil company to install and service their new oil burners so Paul went to Lenox Heating school in New York and entered the full service oil heating business.

During the 60s, the company enjoyed steady growth and established a great reputation for installing quality equipment and dependable heating oil delivery and service.

In January 1973, my dad’s only remaining partner had to stop working due to health and sold his shares back to the company. January is not a good time to be down a key man in the heating business so I took a break from college to help the company get through the winter. I have worked at Chair City Oil ever since.

In October 1973, the world and oil industry was shocked when OPEC instituted an oil embargo on the United States. Prices quickly doubled and fear of ‘running out of oil’ was front page. It was in this atmosphere that I began my career in the heating oil business. I realized the best way to serve our customers was to help them use less. I was determined Chair City Oil would be an expert at efficient heating system design and installation.

During the 80s, Paul retired and together with my brother Mike, the company set out on the 2^nd generation of management. Auto gas and auto service were fazed out and our sole focus was to become the best local choice for full service oil heating. We were early adopters of technology. The first to use computers in the area, our vehicles were equipped with 2 way radios, and I got my first cell phone! Protecting the environment from oil pollution came front and center and Chair City Oil removed all underground oil storage and installed new safe above ground tanks with full containment in the event of a spill or leak. Providing the best customer service and being a responsible business was important to me.

The 80s and 90s saw substantial growth for Chair City Oil. More regulations and higher costs of business saw many smaller oil companies sell or simply go out of business. With consistent fair pricing and constant customer satisfaction, Chair City Oil grew from the hundreds of customers of the 1970s to over three thousand customers by it’s 50^th anniversary in 1999.

In 2003, my son Peter joined Chair City Oil representing the 3^rd generation in our family business. So much has changed in the last two decades and it is fitting that new management and fresh ideas come forward to lead Chair City Oil. Our industry is heavily regulated. Oil and energy are closely tied to global and political events. As a responsible business we need to address what is important to our customers. Our future depends on our ability to provide affordable, safe, and dependable heating that is good for our customers and the environment.

By 2024, Chair City Oil has grown to over 4600 customers. Chair City Oil is now the only locally owned full service oil company in Gardner. Much has changed over the past 75 years and Chair City Oil has adapted and changed with it. The one thing that has not changed since my dad began 75 years ago, is the advice he gave to me; “Sell quality products at a fair price and treat every customer the way you would wish to be treated”.

Sadly, Paul Tourigny, the founder of Chair City Oil, passed away in August 2005. He would be proud of what Chair City Oil has become and appreciate the great customers, like you, we serve.

Thank you for joining Chair City Oil on this journey.

David Tourigny

Chair City Oil