About DOC
HISTORY
Daigle Oil Company, better known as “DOC”, was founded in 1955 by Guy Daigle in Fort Kent, Maine. He started with one fuel truck, delivering fuel oil and kerosene to Fort Kent and surrounding areas.
In 1958, Guy built his first gasoline station on the corner of Fort Kent’s East and West Main Streets. He expanded his retail gas and fuel oil business with the purchase of Johnston Oil and Valley Service Station in Madawaska in 1965. At that time he changed his company’s name to Johnston Oil. When he purchased the petroleum division of the Aroostook Federation of Farmers in Presque Isle in 1974, he changed the company name back to Daigle Oil Company.
Through the years, Guy continued to expand his fuel oil business by purchasing smaller companies such as the Presque Isle division of Thompson Oil Company and Davis Oil Company in New Sweden.
Daigle Oil Company’s retail gas business also continued to grow when Guy built a new fuel office and Gulf station on North Main Street in Presque Isle. In 1982, DOC initiated its unique “Try to Catch Us” policy that is still in effect today.
Although he remained an active force as Chairman of the Board, Guy retired in 1983 and handed the reins over to his son Rick. Following his father’s lead, Rick purchased Al’s Sunoco in Caribou and completely renovated it in 1986 to include two shop bays and Maine’s first completely touchless turbo car wash, the Gentlebear car wash. It was at the grand opening of this site that a local dee-jay coined the term “DOC’s Place”, which has become well-known throughout the state.
In 1987, Daigle Oil Company purchased the former Tower Restaurant at the Bangor Street Triangle in Houlton and completely renovated the building and grounds to a new CITGO station with a Gentlebear car wash and 3 self-serve car wash bays. A Citgo station on Route 1A in Brewer followed shortly thereafter.
The Company logo, “DOC”, was formally launched in 1989. The following year, DOC’s fuel oil price protection plans were introduced to the public. This innovative idea quickly flourished and was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal on August 15, 1990. The director of Maine's State Planning Office praised Daigle Oil for this plan, which he accurately predicted would "forever change the way Maine people purchase fuel oil and kerosene." This was also the year when DOC introduced another innovative product to the people of Aroostook County: radiant floor heating systems.
In 1991, DOC became an international company with the addition of a heating oil office in Edmundston, New Brunswick. That same year, DOC introduced the “DOC CARD” which offered 24-hour automated service at all DOC’s Place locations and also assumed ownership of the Fort Kent Self-Serve car wash on Main Street. The DOC’s Place CITGO station, with a state-of-the-art Touchless Plus Tunnel Wash, was built in 1992 on the corner of Hogan Road and Stillwater Avenue in Bangor. The following year, a convenience store was added to this location.
Through the years, Daigle Oil Company’s heating oil business continued to expand with the purchase of Transark Oil Company in Ashland, James Oil Company of Oakfield, Paul’s Heating of Frenchville, Ouellette’s Fuel of Caribou, Porters Oil of Island Falls and Worcester Brothers in Lincoln.
DOC’s Place convenience store-truck stop on Route 1 in Houlton was built in 1996. This facility also houses a 32-seat Subway restaurant.
In 1998, DOC acquired Worcester Brothers in Lincoln, and completely remodeled the site into a convenience store and heating oil office. The Edmundston location was also remodeled to include a fuel oil office, complete with service department and clerical staff.
In 2005, Daigle Oil Company celebrated 50 years in business. Today DOC has grown to become a company of over 130 employees who work together as a team to continue the vision that was started by its founder, Guy Daigle, so many years ago.
