10/23/2026
In 1924, Standard Oil built a fine fueling station at the intersection of Church and Center streets in Coloma. Automobiles making the trek from Chicago often fueled there on the way to the resorts at Paw Paw Lake. Coloma’s own World War I veteran, Earl Rockwell, was employed there.
Mr. Rockwell was on duty when the Standard Oil filling station was robbed of $121 ($2,370 in 2026). The robbers, trying to be anonymous, rendered him unconscious so they could make their getaway. Those thieves were never caught.
Another World War I veteran, Harry DeField, operated the Standard Oil filling station during the late 1920s and early 1930s. In 1939, Harold Bachman left his post office job and took over the management of the station from Mr. DeField. Mr. Bachman originally got the post office position when Mr. DeField quit the post office to manage the Standard Oil Filling. The year before, John Wolff bought the building next door to the Standard Oil station for his tire shop.
Initially, Harold Bachman rented the station from Standard Oil. Then in 1944, he bought the filling station from Standard Oil.
By 1949, the location was upgraded to a Super Standard Oil Station. The building was enlarged and remodeled to make room for washing and greasing bays. The canopy connecting the pumps and the old building was removed and the pumps themselves moved out to give a wider drive in front of the station. Construction work was done by contractor Fred Munchow.
Wolff’s Tire Shop next door burned in an epic fire in 1953. Bachman was thankful the Coloma Fire Department saved the Super Standard Oil Station, as Wolff’s Tire was a mere eight feet from the station.
George Wooley purchased the station and operated it with his sons Bob and Jim in 1970. Later that year, he purchased the adjoining parcel (formerly Wolff’s) of the triangular corner which faces on Center Street.
Three years later, he purchased the parcel of land on the Church Street side. George’s son Bob Wooley operated the station until 1982, when the business covering three lots was purchased by Gary and Jackie Hammond, who in turn sold it to Randy and Bonnie Schultz in 1984.
Randy’s Amoco became known as Randy’s Amoco BP or Bonnie’s BP, providing great customer service and enthusiastic community service for over 30 years. In 2018, Roy Patel and VJ Patel became the owners of the station and the business became Roy’s BP Food Mart. In the years since, the station has offered Mobil gas.
