Kirsch Oil
This week we are featuring the Kirsch Oil Company. In 1934 Isadore Kirsch started delivering kerosene in cans from the back of a pick-up truck to friends & neighbors in the Paterson area. At the same time he opened a gas station on Market Street in East Paterson which served as the only filling station between Paterson and NYC.
In 1938 Isadore along with his 3 sons, Sidney, William, and George incorporated as: I. Kirsch & Sons Oil Company. After WWII, as coal to oil conversions and central heating systems became more popular, Kirsch started a service department within the company and bought more delivery trucks to keep up with the demand.
In the 70's Joe Kirsch (Isadore’s grandson) bought the company from his father & uncles, and changed the name to Kirsch Oil Co. After acquiring United Coal & Oil, Tony & Sons Fuel Service & Mernick Oil Companies; the company was renamed Kirsch Energy and in the early 90’s the company moved to Hawthorne NJ. In 2003 the company merged with Blue Ribbon Fuel Corp., in Nutley NJ, and was eventually sold to them in 2008.
Below are photos from the JHSNJ archives donated by the Kirsch Family. Joe Kirsch is a JHSNJ member and volunteer.
Sidney and his father Isadore Kirsch. Those Cities Service oil cans later were merged into the Citgo company.
Isadore Kirsch and his new 1948, 4000 gallon tanker truck.
The Kirsch gas station on Market St. East Paterson (Elmwood Park). Check out those old time gas pumps - they're collector items today.
Isadore and Sidney Kirsch loading their 1938 skirted tank.
The upper left image is of Isadore and Sidney Kirsch filling the truck from their storage tanks. The upper right image shows Richard Brooks (sales engineer) and Joe Kirsch at the East Paterson offices.
The upper left image is of Isadore and Sidney Kirsch filling the truck from their storage tanks. The upper right image shows Richard Brooks (sales engineer) and Joe Kirsch at the East Paterson offices.
Kirsch service & installation trucks in East Paterson (Elmwood Park).