In 1924 Roy D. Bryan, an Amaranth farmer, purchased a livery stable and blacksmith shop at what is now the location of the Leader Building in Orangeville. From this location Roy initiated an automotive dealership and garage selling Star & Durant, Essex and Hudson cars, Rugby trucks and B A Gasoline.

In 1929 Roy was joined by his younger brother Wilson and the business was expanded to include the buying and selling of hay and grain. In those days a steam hay press did bailing and at their peak Bryan’s had four such press gangs operating across Southwestern Ontario. Contracts with dairies and bakeries (both of which used horse drawn wagons for door to door delivery) and the Toronto stockyards kept a steady stream of Bryan’s trucks flowing to Toronto.

In an effort to make a two way paying trip Bryan’s entered the coal business in the thirties. At that time coal was the predominate method of heating and sold for $10-12 per ton. Bryan’s remained in the coal business with several yards around Orangeville until the mid 70′s.

The garage business suffered a major set back when the building was completely destroyed by a spectacular fire on Christmas day 1934. The Bryan family, who lived in the apartment over the garage, were also homeless. Rather than give up, Roy and Wilson rebuilt and enlarged with a new garage.

After six years in the RCAF as a bomber pilot and a diploma in business administration from U of T, Roy’s son Glen returned to Orangeville and joined the family business. The post war boom was a good time for automobile sales. Cars were readily available again, and people had money to spend.

The mid 50′s saw the start of another new housing boom in Orangeville. At that time Glen saw the opportunity to go into the home heating oil business. “In 1956, I bought a used oil truck with an 800 gallon tank from Milnes Fuel in Toronto. My first customer was Keith Hunter who wanted the tank filled at his new home on Elizabeth Street. The tank truck wasn’t ready, so we delivered the oil in pails.

That was the start of a successful new business. The Bryan’s garage was sold and the fuel business relocated to 108 Mill Street where it was operated from a small office near the old grain elevator on site. In 1966 they moved to 42 Green Street.

In the 60′s third party contractors performed almost all heating service and installation work. In order to provide a superior service, Bryan’s Fuel began to offer service and installation with their men. From a modest beginning the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning business has grown to be a significant portion of the total operation.

In 1988 Greg and Roy Bryan purchased Bryan’s Fuel from their father Glen and ten years later moved to their present location at 400 Richardson Road, on the corner of C Line. 1999 marked a very special year for Bryan’s Fuel as they celebrated 75 years of supplying quality products and services to Orangeville and the surrounding communities. One year later Bryan’s Fuel diversified their product offering by introducing the supply of propane and equipment. To date that venture has grown to become an integral part of Bryan’s Fuel future.

In 2007 Greg retired and Roy carried on the family tradition.