Curtis Oil

Curtis Oil. Old Courthouse Way and Oriana Road. , With the coming of the automobile as a common form of travel, convenient stops for gasoline were essential. The first full-time filling station to serve Denbigh was an Esso operated by Douglas C. Curtis Sr., which he opened at this location c. 1922-1926., Commonly called Curtis Oil, the enterprise was officially known as D.C. Curtis, Inc., fuel oil and gasoline distributor. The building's "cottage style" appearance was intentional to make it immediately identifiable as a gas station. The brick structure featured a terracotta Spanish tile hipped roof and front overhang to shelter motorists and attendants from the elements. The pumps on the fuel plinth were accessed via the drive-thru forecourt. Large plate glass windows on three sides provided excellent visibility for employees to watch for drivers., During the 1950s, gas stations proliferated in Denbigh. Four operated here at the important crossroads of Routes 60 (Warwick Boulevard) and 15 (Oriana Road): a Texaco, Shell, Sinclair and the most long-lived, this Esso. The station was leased by different operators. The last proprietor from 1949-1950 was Guy "Tommy" Jones, who later founded the adjacent Leggett and Jones American Service Station., The Newport News Green Foundation acquired this property in 2003 and subsequently transferred it to the City of Newport News on February 28, 2011. As part of an initiative to re-invigorate the historic courthouse corridor, the intent is to restore the exterior as a reminder of the area’s early motor transportation history., (sidebar) , Douglas “D.C.” Curtis Sr. , One of the most influential Warwick County families was the Curtises, prominent landowners and businessmen since the 18th century. "D.C.” Curtis carried on the family tradition, albeit in a more subdued role. According to his Times-Herald obituary, when he died August 30, 1978, he had been a Democratic leader for 38 years, having become county party chairman in 1930. He subsequently held the same post in the city of Warwick and then from 1958-1968 in the consolidated city of Newport News. During those years, Curtis gained a reputation as a "non-political" politician and public servant who was respected by all. Because he viewed his role as that of a neutral moderator, he kept the party together by preventing differences of opinion from becoming divisive., Curtis was also past president of the First National Bank of Yorktown (organized by his father S.R. Curtis), had substantial interests in the First National Bank of Poquoson and wide holdings in real estate. His three-story home was a landmark in the village of Lee Hall. His residence and various places of employment were all venues where locals might find him to discuss issues. Curtis Oil, which he operated for 40 years, was a natural Denbigh gathering spot and an ideal location for backroom politicking., (captions) , The well-known trade name Esso derived from the initials S.O., the phonetic pronunciation for Standard Oil, a monopoly which was broken up by anti-trust legislation in 1911., The term “service station,” now a bygone descriptor, implied full service, a place where a courteous uniformed attendant came to the vehicle, inquired what kind and amount of fuel the customer desired, then pumped it. He raised the hood to check oil and water levels, then the air pressure in tires, cleaned the windows and headlights and lastly collected payment and perhaps a small tip. Additional services included oil, road maps, snacks, tobacco products and knickknacks.