Its Not to Late to still Donate to the MDA just click on the link below and help the children in the MDA LockUp .. Just click this link

Our very own Donna Beeler Hensley is pictured here. This cause helps raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper locomotion. More about it here.

Today we are lucky enough to live in a world where we can control the temperatures in our homes with the click of a button or turn of a dial. I imagine most of us never stop to think of how people heated their homes even 100 years ago, it was certainly not that easy! With the cold weather letting us know it’s here to stay with this recent January like cold spell, lets take a look back to the origins of home heating.

There is evidence of central heating systems used as early as 100AD by the Roman Empire. It was actually an ingenious set-up for its time, using hot air to create underfloor heating. Fueled by wood, the system was both expensive to maintain and labor-intensive to run therefore it was limited to mainly upper class households. Other forms of central heating systems that have been seen throughout the years following the Romans vary from wood-fired furnaces in Spain (early 1200’s) to the Russian’s hydrological systems (1700’s) and finally the first steam-heating systems in England in the 1800’s. These lead to the modern American systems, which began with wood based systems.

Wood was the main source of home heating and remained so until 1885 when coal overtook wood for the first time. At the turn of the 20^th century low cost cast iron radiators and riveted-steel coal furnaces were common in many homes across the country. These were kept in basements and since electricity was not yet available, homes were heated by natural convection otherwise known as the tried and true, warm air rises mantra. This process was facilitated through ducts that provided the warm air access from the furnace to the rooms above. Things began to change in the mid-1930’s with the forced air coal furnaces. Electricity had been incorporated into the design and electric fans were used to distribute the heated air.

It wasn’t long after that gas and oil were adopted as primary fuel sources and soon made coal heating and the need to “stoke the fire” a thing of the past. Today American homes are still primarily heating their homes from these sources. About 60% of homes are currently using gas and 10% use oil. It will be interesting to see where the world of home heating leads in the years and centuries to come, no doubt they will become more efficient and increasingly environmentally friendly.

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us with the approach of Thanksgiving in less than ten days. While many decide to spend the holiday with family, you might be thinking about a change this year. If this sounds like you, let someone else take care of preparing the Thanksgiving feast and look no further than National Bridge.

Just under forty miles from Lynchburg, the Natural Bridge Thanksgiving Buffet will be hosted by the Natural Bridge Hotel on Thanksgiving Day. In addition to a delicious dinner to satisfy any holiday appetite with turkey, prime rib, and catfish to name a few entrees, there will also be live entertainment to enjoy while you eat. Prices are extremely reasonable with admission set at $28.95 for adults and $12.95 for children ages 5-10. Reservations are required and are already being taken so make sure to call or book online to confirm a seat.

The best part about spending Thanksgiving at Natural Bridge is not just the food but the beautiful setting. If you find you have eaten too much, which is a certainty on Thanksgiving, you can take a hike on the Natural Bridge & Cedar Creek Trail which will be open until dusk. What better day to explore the Monacan Indian Village and see the preparation of a traditional Harvest Feast that was common in the 18^th century than on a day the nation spends giving thanks. Continue reading ‘Natural Bridge Thanksgiving’ »

At Sterling Oil Company we offer a number of different petroleum products such as kerosene, fuel oil, and various levels of gasoline. You hear of these products quite often in daily life but do you really know what they are? Here is a quick look at each of the petroleum types carried by Sterling Oil.

Probably the most commonly known petroleum product is home heating oil otherwise known as #2 Fuel Oil. The number ‘2’ is actually a class of oil rated by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) classification system. It is delivered in a low viscosity liquid (meaning it is not too thick) state and is used widely throughout the United States at just under 7 million households.

Sterling Oil also carries ‘Low Sulfur (LS)’, a cleaner alternative to #2 Fuel Oil. LS is marketed as such because its sulfur content, is at the most, 15 parts per million.  To obtain this lower sulfur standard additional steps are taken during the refining process. It is a big step in the effort to lower emissions and become more environmentally friendly.

Kerosene is probably one of the more versatile petroleum products but is generally associated with lighting (such as kerosene lamps), cooking, and heating. Did you know it is also used as jet fuel and as an ingredient in insecticides? Like #2 Fuel Oil, kerosene has a low viscosity and is derived through the distilling of petroleum. It was the first to be extracted for large commercial purposes in the mid 1800’s.

In addition to all the products above, we also carry three grades of gasoline – regular, midgrade, and premium. The difference in the grade is based on the octane rating of the three. The higher the octane content, the higher the grade. Gasoline with a higher rating is less likely to self-ignite and will burn more evenly. When you are at the gas pump, the gasoline rating of 87, 89, or 91 (sometimes 93) correlates to their level of octane.

Various fuels have been distilled from petroleum for over 2000 years, first discovered by Arabian scientists. Petroleum products are, in short, very complex mixtures. In fact, there are many products we come across in our everyday lives that we do not realize are derived from petroleum, such as linoleum, perfumes, soap, and even vitamin capsules. Sterling Oil is proud of the petroleum products we carry and are proud to be serving the beautiful city of Lynchburg.

Started in 1983, family run Sterling Oil makes its home in Lynchburg , Virginia. We are proud to be serving the residents of one of the best cities in Virginia and oldest cities in the country. Here is a quick look back at Lynchburg’s unassuming beginnings and how it grew to be a city with an exceptional educational and recreational culture. Located in the center of Virginia and nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains and the James River, Lynchburg has played an important role in the history of not only our great state but our country.

Lynchburg was first settled in 1757 by John Lynch and was officially established by charter in 1786. Nicknamed the “City of Seven Hills” due to its geography, Lynchburg began to serve as a trading center during the 18^th century due to its convenient location along the James River. This introduced the tobacco trade to the city which provided a major boost to the economy and soon became its primary source of income throughout the start of the 1800’s.

Other major developments that aided the city’s growth were the construction of the Salem Turnpike (now US 460) and the James River toll bridges which made travel in and out of the city much easier. In addition, prior to 1820, the residents of Lynchburg were plagued with a perpetual water shortage. The 1820’s saw the creation of the city’s water works system which provided a steady source of water from the river and led to the building of a reservoir.

The city continued to grow and welcome new technology when the Civil War began. Lynchburg served as a Confederate supply and medical post and was briefly named the capital of Virginia during the war. It managed to escape much of the destruction seen in other larger cities and towns and continued its growth when the war ended and throughout the rest of the century. War again hit the city in the early 20^th century when World War I took its toll on the city as many of its young men left to serve their country and many of the city’s industrial resources switched gears to aid the war effort. After weathering the Great Depression and World War II, Lynchburg continued its march to with manufacturing and development.

Today the city is known for its nuclear technology industry along with pharmaceuticals, insurance, and cellular communications to name just a few others. It is also home to six colleges and universities making it not only a great place to find employment but to provide our families with a sold education. We’ve said it once and we will say it again, we are proud to serve the great people and families of Lynchburg!