Pictured is Charles J. Erickson. (Photo courtesy of the Negaunee Historical Society)

NEGAUNEE — The Erickson Oil Company, local jobber of petroleum products and affiliated with Shell Oil Company, was founded by Charles J. Erickson in 1937.

Mr. Erickson was born in Republic and attended schools in that community. Erickson Oil Co. was a sole proprietorship, owned and operated by Mr. Erickson. The first step was to construct a warehouse and office building. Bulk tanks and truck loading platforms were built on U.S 41, just east of the Krist gas station. Two service stations were built the first year of operation. One was located in Republic and one in Marquette. The first delivery from the plant was made in August 1937.

Earl Makela was the manager for the oil Company. Mr. Makela was a native of Republic. He attended Lawrence College at Appleton, Wisconsin where he obtained a teaching degree. Prior to serving as manager for Erickson Oil he taught school for eight years at Nichols Wisconsin.Mr. Makela was active in civic and community affairs. He served two terms on the city council under the old alderman form of government. He served his third term under the council-manager plan. He was the mayor of Negaunee in 1959 and 1964. Marcella Makela was the bookkeeper for Erickson Oil. In 1938, a service station was constructed in Ishpeming and the first station in Negaunee was built in 1940.

This station was on the corner of Iron and Silver Streets. Ted Smedman took over the operation of this station. Ted Smedman served in World War ll. That building still stands. In 1953, Erickson Oil erected a second service station in Negaunee at the corner of Main Street and Teal Lake Avenue. (Gas is still sold at this location) This station was operated by Gordon Vincent. Mr. Vincent was born in Negaunee in 1915 and was a lifelong resident of the community. Mr. Vincent spent four and a half years in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He attended local schools and graduated from Negaunee High School in 1933. Prior to entering business for himself, he was employed for several years at Lloyd’s Texaco just a block up the street.

And also for the Texaco Company in Marquette. He was married to the former Viola Cattron of Negaunee. Viola was a teacher for the Negaunee Public Schools. In 1955 Gordon Erickson entered the business of hauling petroleum products when he purchased his first transport. Erickson Oil leased this equipment from him and hauled all its gasoline and fuel oil from the Shell terminal in Escanaba. A second unit was added in 1962. The business outgrew the storage and original loading platform and a new plant was built with underground storage tanks in 1959. A steel garage was built in 1962 with repair facilities and equipment and housing for all vehicles in one building.

Prior to entering the oil business, Charles Erickson was engaged in logging and lumbering for a number of years, operating pulpwood jobs and producing lumber in Yellowstone, Montana.