And the West is History: Basin Petroleum – ca. 1950

Organized in May 1948, Basin Petroleum integrated Durango Oil Co., Triangle Oil Co. of Cortez and Tri-Gas & Equipment Co. of Durango into a stand-alone business that became one of the San Juan Basin’s most successful companies. Besides selling Phillips 66 oil products, Basin Petroleum also sold appliances, butane and propane gas. In the 1950s, it offered cooking classes to market its line of gas stoves. In 1963, it advertised a free box of Jell-O gelatin (a 9-cent value) with a fill-up at its service stations. The company was well known for its civic involvement, supporting many worthy causes and multiple sports team sponsorships. This location at 255 East Eighth Ave. closed after its sale in 1987. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 96.08.25 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)