Oil dealer becomes part of Dead River Co.

CALAIS – A fuel oil dealer that serves eastern Washington County has merged its heating oil and propane delivery business with Dead River Co., the owners announced in a letter to customers.

J.D. Thomas Inc. owners Bill, Carl and Bob Gordon said in their letter that they would continue to operate their full-service gasoline and vehicle repair station on Main Street and their full-service gasoline station in the Milltown area of Calais.

In its letter to J.D. Thomas customers, Dead River Co. said it was pleased the Gordons chose a Maine-owned family business that has been part of the Calais community since the 1930s.

Seven J.D. Thomas employees have been hired by Dead River.

Officials at J.D. Thomas and Dead River would not comment Wednesday except to say they plan to release a joint statement later this month.

“While it is always difficult to make a major decision like this one, selecting Dead River Company to serve you has made our decision a bit easier. We will continue to have an interest in the business and assure you that everything concerning your account will remain the same,” J.D. Thomas officials said in last week’s letter.

Founded in 1907 by Charles Hutchins, Dead River Co. began as a forest products company. In 1936, the company acquired a heating oil company and a small chain of gasoline stations.

Dead River now has a presence in nearly every community in Maine along with locations in New Hampshire and Vermont. The company established a real estate division in 1981.

The company employs more than 900 people and has corporate and administrative offices in Portland and Bangor.

The Dead River office in Calais is on Barker Street.