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Tydol Oil Refinery

Tydol Oil Refinery

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Built: Early 1900's | Abandoned: 1954
Status: Abandoned
Photojournalist: Billy DixonDavid Linde

Tidewater of Tydol Oil Company was a major petroleum refining and marketing company in the U.S. for more than 80 years. Tidewater was best known for its Flying A-branded products and gas stations, and for Veedol motor oil, which was known throughout the world.

Tidewater, a national company, built this refinery in the Drumright area. The refinery was the center of the Tydol community, spawning a school house, grocery store and neighborhoods. When the Tydol refinery closed, many of the houses were moved out or torn down. The Tydol community virtually disappeared with the exception of the school house.

All that remains of the refinery are a few buildings, foundations and furnaces. All the processing units have been removed.
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Turtle Walker
Turtle Walker
2 years ago

How do you get to the old refinery?

Alec Tyner
Alec Tyner
2 years ago

How do you find this place in drumright?

magnetsfoodsafety
magnetsfoodsafety
6 years ago

good sharing

trackback
9 years ago

[…] Tydol Oil Refinery, located in Drumright, was once a major refinery in all of the United States. They produced Veedol […]

Leoma Zieschang
Leoma Zieschang
9 years ago

In case that you are newbie domainer, then you are certainly a Domainbie

Lana
Lana
9 years ago

My grandfather, John T. Christian, worked at the refinery until it closed in the 50's. He was burned there. My grandmother , Oda, was active in the Union auxiliary. And, my mother, W. LoEva Christian met my father , Charlies (Buddy) Larkin at a Union dance!! So, I guess my paternal grandfather, Joe Larkin, must have worked there some. Wish I had a few pics to hang. Thank you so much. It was so nice to imagine them there and to remember my early childhood visits in Drumright at some of the Tidewater housing, where there was a smokehouse behind… Read more »

nathan copeland
nathan copeland
Reply to  Lana
2 years ago

thats really cool can you still get in?

J. Hull
J. Hull
10 years ago

The school building and property south of Drumright on Highway 99 was converted to a winery many years back. Is it still in operation? Haven't been down that way since my parents moved from Drumright in 2005.

David
David
Reply to  J. Hull
10 years ago

The winery is still in business. They did a beautiful renovating the old school. They regularly host wine tastings and live music. A very nice addition to the little town of Drumright!

Tammy Posey
Reply to  J. Hull
9 years ago

Yes, the Tidal School Winery is still open. You can visit their website at http://www.tidolschool.com . While you're in Drumright you can also visit the Drumright Historical Society Museum. http://drumrighthistoricalsociety.org

Toni Osterhout
Toni Osterhout
Reply to  Tammy Posey
7 years ago

It's no longer Tidal School winery, it is now Tidewater. Tidewaterwinery.com or Tidewater Winery on Facebook;)

Toni
Toni
Reply to  J. Hull
7 years ago

The school building is still there. The property was purchased in March, 2014, and reopened as a new winery called TIDEWATER WINERY. Come and visit us, check out events on TIDEWATERWINERY.COM or connect with us on TIDEWATER's Facebook page. Come visit us! Lot of history, murals, museum, a great day trip.

Bigphil
Bigphil
10 years ago

I was wondering if I can take my metal detector to this site and search around the grounds. Do I need permission for something like that? If so, who would I contact?
Thank you.

Richard
Richard
11 years ago

I wonder what the office was used for recently. It has a modern frount door with a breath easy sticker on it. The Breath easy program hasn't been around that long

David
David
Reply to  Richard
10 years ago

My mom worked in the office. It was occupied by Getty Oil through about 1985, and then was taken over by Texaco. The offices remained in use through early 1987.

Abby
Abby
11 years ago

Very cool. I would like to suggest that you look into Camp Paddle Trails in Watts, OK. It's close to the Arkansas but out in the middle of no where. It has been closed for years, not sure why but I could probably get more info since my siblings went to camp there when they we were young. I do know that a small girl drown in the river there years ago but don't know any details

Jenny Morrow
Jenny Morrow
11 years ago

I lived there from around 1963-1974. I have so many fond memories of that place. Rex and Pat McPhail and I built many a fort down and around those old buildings. I always dreamed of building a home right where my old home use to be. It was an awsome place for a childhood. Loved it!

Peggy McPhail
Peggy McPhail
Reply to  Jenny Morrow
9 years ago

Yes. Deb, Toni, Nancy and I ran away from home one time and stayed in one of the old buidings. We didn't last all night. Remember the basketball court made from a buiding foundation? We spent many hours playing around there. I aways worry about the mercury bottles we found and played with the mercury. We are still living, at least!!

Lazzaro
Lazzaro
12 years ago

Forgot to add: Like the snow on the title logo

Lazzaro
Lazzaro
12 years ago

Another outstanding exploration. Is this shot in digital? A few of the interior shots have amazing color – shots #10 & #16 specifically (as counted left to right, top to bottom). Very nice, thanks.

Fiend
Fiend
Reply to  Lazzaro
12 years ago

Every photo on this site is digital. The bright colors are from blending 3 different exposures.

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