Old Gulf Bulk Oil Dealer In Dilley Texas

The following photo is not directly related to the Eagle Ford shale, but it does show that oil and long been a part of the economy in South Texas. How long will old  buildings such as this one, on a busy corner in Dilley, Texas, stand before being demolished to make way for new Eagle Ford shale businesses? The danger facing small towns such as this one is that in the wave of oilfield related “progress,” the look and feel of the community will be changed in ways that do not preserve the area’s history. Property rights are sacrosanct in South Texas, and outside efforts to maintain old buildings and homesteads about to be torn down would most likely be met with hostility. Hopefully property owners, developers and oil companies will try to preserve historical properties for future generations.

Click on any photo below to enlarge.

Small bulk oil dealers such as this one in Dilley, Texas, delivered drums of oil and filled overhead gas and diesel tanks on area farms and ranches. This was an old Gulf Oil dealership years ago. Gulf Oil was later acquired by Chevron but you can see the old Gulf Oil Company logo still present on the side of the warehouse and on the bulk oil storage tank below. One wonders how many times the old diesel and gasoline tanks below were painted over the years.

Gasoline, diesel and bulk motor oil was stored in overhead tanks such as these, then pumped into trucks or barrels using the old pump below.