Beacon Ethyl Gasoline 1942 Phone Case

Boston's Beacon Oil Company was founded in 1919 and named after the city’s Beacon Hill. By 1992 they had opened more than 350 service stations throughout New York State and New England, most of which used elements of the 1700s era Massachusetts State House. This design emphasized the colonial past with its use of the State House dome, columns, balustrade and the prominent lantern which was humorously enough, mistaken for a typical coastal lighthouse. Beacon ran with the greater public perception and eventually played up the lighthouse in their logo design, including this 1942 example. Sometime in the '50s, Standard Oil of New Jersey bought out Beacon and all of their service station were converted to Esso stations.