Picture Enfield - Then and Now

ENFIELD, CT — Today's installment of this weekly Enfield history series, provided by former longtime town resident Don Tenerowicz, takes us back to a time of national crisis: the 1973 gasoline shortage.

In this amazing photo looking south, cars are lined up as far as the eye can see on Route 5 to obtain gas at Troiano's Garage. At the time, a sign reading "Last Car In Line For Gas" was placed on the rear of a vehicle to stop others from lining up.

An oil embargo which began in Oct. 1973 caused oil prices to nearly quadruple; in turn, the price of gasoline increased nearly 50 percent, from 38 cents a gallon to 55.

This photo also shows the former Thompsonville Garden Center, a longtime town institution. It closed a number of years ago, and was knocked down in 2012, along with a pair of neighboring houses, to make room for expanded parking for Gary Rome Kia. Troiano's service station also closed some time ago, although the adjacent Troiano Oil Co., founded in 1934, is still doing a healthy business today.

Here is a more recent look at the area, courtesy of Google Maps.

Last week's trivia answer:
Last week's trivia question was, "In the early 1980s, what was the name of the dining room in the rear section of the Hazard Villa where terrific prime rib and Sunday brunch were served?" The answer: The Dinner Edition.

This week's trivia question:
Which Enfield oil company is remembered for a devastating fire in Oct. 1974, when fuel from a gasoline tanker ignited and damaged about 50 cars in a nearby parking lot? Post the answer in the comments section below, or on the Enfield Patch Facebook page.