The Spirit of Community in Delano is defined by the
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Leiter Oil Company
Built 1923
220 Babcock Blvd.
Founded in 1912 by Frank and Oscar Leiter, the Leiter Oil Company became a longtime fixture of Delano’s automotive history and held the distinction of being the oldest independent jobber with Pure Oil. The Leiter filling station at Bridge Avenue and Highway 12 was built in 1923, and Oscar Leiter went on to operate the oil company while also becoming a prominent local automobile dealer. The business weathered repeated Crow River floods, including major flooding in 1952, 1957, and 1965, before Oscar’s son Edward sold the company in 1969. Over the years, changes in ownership and oil companies transformed the service station into Adolph’s Union 76, while the Leiter Auto Company evolved into a Ford dealership. The Leiter automotive legacy remains visible in Delano today: Absolute Automotive and Brinkman’s Trailers.
The Leiter Oil Company was started in 1912 by Frank and Oscar Leiter, who signed with the Pure Oil Company. Leiter’s had the proud distinction of being the oldest independent jobber with Pure Oil.
Oscar Leiter was born in 1898 in Woodland township. He began working in his father’s (Frank Leiter) automobile garage when still in his teens and became a long-time prominent businessman in Delano, eventually taking over the Leiter Oil Company as well as becoming a Buick and Pontiac dealer.
The filling station on the corner of Bridge Avenue and Highway 12 (then Highway 10), was built in 1923, the “finishing touches” being applied in July.
It was plastered outside and covered with crushed marble, giving it a wonderfully ornamental exterior, according to the Delano Eagle.
(from the Mainstreet, a special edition of the Eagle, 1946) – The Super Service Station on Highway 12.
“Oscar Leiter, owner of the Leiter Oil Company, has been in business here for the past 25 years.. Quality products plus courteous service have helped to make this one of Delano’s most popular service stations.”
Oscar Leiter, Carol Leiter, and Juanita Kaiser, ca. 1940
The service station greatly suffered during the flooding of the Crow River. In 1952, possibly the greatest individual loss, as reported in the Delano Eagle, was suffered by Oscar Leiter whose home, apartment building and two rental houses as well as filling station and garage were flooded.
Leiter’s Pure Oil station in the 1952 flood.
The 1957 flood! Cars next to Leiter’s Auto Co.
Leiter’s apartment building and garage on the left, 1957 flood.
and again in 1965!
Besides his oil business, Oscar Leiter was also the Pontiac and Buick dealer for this territory.
Edward A. Leiter, Oscar’s son, continued in the Leiter Oil Company until he sold it in 1969. Don Adolph began managing the service station on the corner of Bridge Ave. and Highway 12. The Union Oil Company bought out Pure Oil in 1965 and rebranded the name to Union 76. When the oil companies merged, the station became known as Adolph’s Union 76. After Don died in 1974, Mrs. Adolph operated the station for six more months before selling it.
Theis Standard Station
Amoco
Absolute Automotive – 2024
Currently, in 2026, the former Leiter Auto Co. building is the home of Brinkman’s Trailers
Pontiac and Buick dealer
Besides his oil business, Oscar Leiter was also the Pontiac and Buick dealer for this territory.
1923 Ad from the Delano Eagle
The Leiter Auto Co. became a Ford dealership.
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