The History of Winthrop Fuel Co., Inc.

Winthrop Fuel Co. started as Purinton Brothers in the early 1920's selling firewood, ice, and building supplies in the Central Maine Area. The Purinton Brothers harvested their ice from the local lakes and stored it in several ice houses in Winthrop. When coal became popular and available, they started selling coal and coal heating equipment to the local communities. They built a coal shed beside the railroad tracks, our very location now, to insure delivery for their supply. In the late 1930's to early 1940's oil burners were introduced to the heating world as the newest and most efficient source of heat. Purinton Brothers then pursued the heating oil delivery market, purchased oil delivery trucks, and built a bulk storage facility in Winthrop.

In the early 1950's the Purinton Brothers sold the business to an employee and resident of Winthrop, George Fortier. George added a service and installation department and renamed the business The Winthrop Fuel Company, Inc. Mr. Fortier owned and operated the Winthrop Fuel Company for many years. George then sold the business to a long-time employee Laurence Guerette in 1971. Laurence ran the company for many years, expanding the delivery routes and service department with his son, Dick Guerette, at his side. In the early 1990's Dick purchased the company from his father and has been working in the industry for 30 years. He and his loyal, local staff have worked very hard to keep their level of service and dependability at the best in the industry.