Article for The Breeze Newspaper By Bruce Doorly
Click for Yesterday & Today photos of Raritan Gas Stations
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While Raritan’s “mom and pop” grocery stores and the local taverns are all gone, some of these local gas stations from yesteryear survive in some format today. One gas station, while it has changed names and owners, is still open after 85 years. Another one dates back 75 years.
One more site, while abandoning the sale of gas decades ago, (and changing names three times), still services cars after opening a century ago. Three other old gas station buildings, while vacant, are still standing.
Throughout history various societies have sporadically used this thick black liquid (oil) that bubbled up from the ground for things like insulation.
Around the 1850s, inventors decided to test if this substance could have more widespread use. They found that this oil could be processed into something which could be used in household lamps. They named it kerosene. Previously household lamps used whale oil which unfortunately produced a flickering light. Lamps that used this new kerosene produced a continuous light. It was also much cheaper.
The next challenge was how to get more of this oil out of the ground. Thus, the oil drilling business was born - and with the profit potential, it evolved quickly. When the oil was refined into kerosene there was a resulting byproduct – something which would come to be called gasoline. It initially had no use, and was usually disposed of.
In the 1890s, various inventors were designing a self-propelled (horseless) carriage that they called the automobile. After experimenting with various designs, it was determined that the best design was an internal combustion engine powered by gasoline.
In 1900, there were only 8,000 cars in the U.S.. Car ownership grew to 450,000 by 1910 and 8,000,000 by 1920. These cars would need lots of gasoline.
Initially gasoline was purchased in large cans at general stores such as Amerman and Regal’s on Somerset Street in Raritan. Getting the gas into a car proved to be awkward and messy as it had to be poured in with a funnel. It was also a bit dangerous.
A better method of putting gas in a car’s tank was needed. Therefore, stations were designed as we know them today - with large storage tanks with hoses that pumped gas directly into the car.
To research the local history of Gas Stations, I used three main sources: The business sections of the Polk’s Directories that are available at the Bridgewater Library. Early years available are 1917, 1919, 1922, 1927, 1931, 1936, 1942, & 1944.
Newspapers.com has the Courier News online since its beginning in 1884.
I emailed my list of Raritan Senior Citizens who are still quite sharp and like to share their history.
Route 202 - Corner of Thompson Street
The earliest listed “Gas and Car Repair Station” in Raritan was in 1917. It was owned by Augustus Duryea, who would also own a similar business in Somerville. It was at the corner of West Somerset Street and First Avenue where the Quick Chek parking lot is today.
Gas pumps were at the curb thus the automobiles would fill up right on the street. In 1936, Joseph Lipoma would take ownership of this gas and auto repair shop. (He lived in a house right next to the gas station.)
Sadly, Joseph Lipoma died in 1962 at the age of 54. The garage was knocked down in 1979.
In the 1927 Polk’s Business directory we see three gas stations listed for the first time. Since the previous directory was in 1922, we know that these gas stations were established between 1922-1927.
Almost all these early gas stations in Raritan were owned by Raritan residents.
One of these was a gas station at 13 East Somerset Street that was owned by John Terpis. In the early decades there was a garage in the back for fixing cars. The gas pumps were at the curb. John Terpis, around 1940, moved his business to Route 202 (then 29) in Raritan. The station at 13 East Somerset Street was taken over by Louis Filigeri, but it was gas only. It closed about 1955. The three-story orange brick building still stands, but has not been occupied for decades.
Lastly among the 1922-1927 start ups, was a station opened by Albert Van Tine. It was on the eastern border of Raritan at the corner of West End Avenue and Frelinghuysen Avenue. After his death in 1948, it was Bob’s Esso Station. By 1957, it was Gavazzi Service Station. Today a century later, on that site Mr. Tire continues servicing cars, but does not have gas.
Another early gas station was started around 1940 by Angelo “Moonbeam” Sena at 40 East Somerset Street.
Later owners included Bernie Rosania, then Michael DeAngelo. It is still open today after 85 years. Presently it is a Delta Station.
The home was initially built in 1858. It later was enlarged to be a duplex. Over the years the once quiet road in front of the house grew to be a busy highway – ideal for a gas station. Basilone’s cousin, Carl Bengivenga, who inherited the home, saw the business potential and built Carl’s Service Station in 1950. In 1962, the Basilone house was knocked down to expand the gas station.
with the Basilone House on the right
Gas Station opened around 1940 and closed around 1982. It was one of the last gas stations that had curbside pumps. The vacant building still stands today.
Where Halkett Woodworking is today was the Raritan Valley Garage which had a long run from 1939 – 1991. It was owned by the Russo Brothers.
Where B&T Tire is today, was the second location for the Terpis Service Center.
For the record, today’s most popular gas station in Raritan, the Quick Chek on the Somerville Circle, opened in 2018.