Aug 18, 2008 as production moved elsewhere in the 1870s, both cities were abandoned and soon vanished completely. Where can find venango county birth, marriage, divorce and death records. A history and guide to the early oil industry in pennsylvania mcelwee, neil on. But oil citys more famous history begins in 1859, when colonel edwin drake became the first to drill the towns precious natural resource oil. The boom also led the oil creek railroad company to build a railway line that connected the town with other points east and west. Simons wonderfully illustrated and written book should serve as the entry into philadelphias history for a variety of audiences. Western pennsylvania s oil heritage postcard history. Oil creek library district, oil city, pennsylvania. Beautiful in the fall we spent the weekend camping in the area. Oil creek state park is pennsylvania state park on 6,250 acres 2,529 ha in cherrytree. The oil creek library district is an administrative. These maps located in the library of congress show major landowners and geographic sites at. Ive been to a lot of state parks in pennsylvania, and one of my favorites has been oil creek state park in venango county. Under a series of mergers, it became part of the pennsylvania.
Without giving much up to tributaries, oil creek then joins thompson creek and church run before draining into pine creek near titusville. Heydrick and hunts improved map of venango county oil regions, published by john p. The woodford left and phillips right wells in the oil creek valley of pennsylvania about 1862 oil creek flows just to the right of the phillips well. A story based on oil country events 359 pages hard cover, several pictures possibly out of print i have my grandfathers copy purchased in 1905 from henry kleid the oquaga press, deposit, n. His innovative method of drilling for oil using an iron pipe not only caused a black gold rush but also placed him in the books of oil industry history. Jan 11, 2018 edwin drake first hit oil in titusville in august of 1859, signaling the start of the oil boom in pa that would last until the beginning of the 1870s. The keystone state museums linked below exhibit technological and environmental advancements, discoveries, products and local pioneers. A history and guide to the early oil industry in pennsylvania. The well is the centerpiece of the drake well museum located 3 miles 5 km south of titusville. The discovery of oil along a small creek in titusville, pennsylvania, in august 1859 launched the american petroleum industry. The western tract was the prime area, especially for access and for the oil operations which later took place there.
Pennsylvanias oil boomtowns of 150 years ago built on fuel. Pennsylvanias oil boomtowns of 150 years ago built on. A narrow oil creek then winds 35 to 40 miles to the allegheny river at oil city. The woodford came in at 1,500 barrels per day in july, 1862. We are pleased to present this section of the book freewheeling easy in western pennsylvania. The oil rush in america started in titusville, pennsylvania, in the oil creek valley when edwin. Although crude oil had been found and bottled for medicine as early as 1814 in ohio and in kentucky in 1818, these. To fill a transportation need, the oil creek railroad line was completed from corry to titusville in 1862. Edwin drake and the oil well drill pipe pennsylvania center. Bedford county pennsylvania history and genealogy source. Steel tower in pittsburgh, pennsylvania, and august 27, 2009, at the drake well museum in titusville, pennsylvania, during the 150 th anniversary of the discovery of oil by edwin drake. Like many other americans, booth was allured by the possibilities of wealth in pennsylvanias oil region. Smith discovered that the hole located close to the creek and below the level of the stream kept filling with water. Campground details oil creek state park, pa pennsylvania.
Chief cornplanter lost the area in a land deal in 1818, and prospectors soon built a furnace, mill, and foundry on the site. In april 1865 booth solidified his role in history by assassinating president abraham lincoln at fords theater in washington, d. Development of the pennsylvania oil industry national. John wesley owen wrote in 1975, in his volume, trek of the oil finders, the inception of the modern petroleum industry can be fairly said to have occurred at oil creek. Aug 08, 2011 when titusvilles last railroad was about to be abandoned, the oil creek railway society formed and saved the line. Read about the early history of pennsylvania, its oil history, its cultural evolution, and much more. Indian eve and her descendants an indian story of bedford county, pennsylvania source. We hope this upgrade provides a more enjoyable and efficient avenue for you to experience library services. Were always looking to improve our services and identify better ways to meet community needs. Oil creek state park oil city 2020 all you need to. Maps of pennsylvania 16731878 ancestor tracks has posted free, downloadable images of the 1857 map of venango county, pennsylvania compiled from official surveys by r. He went on to explain that he and his fellow soldiers had felt the need of a summer outing, and thought we would take it at the north. What is now a wild second growth forest with several cold water fishery creeks flowing through it, was once the site of the vast oil industry that changed the landscape and water quality of the oil creek valley. Using vintage images from the unmatched collection of the drake well museum, oil boom architecture.
Twelve years before crawford county was partitioned from allegheny county, david mead and his nine adventurers arrived in french creek valley and camped on the shore of mill run. From the two green posts at drake well downstream to the oil creek state park hiking trail footbridge public ownership. Oil creek township was formed when a petition from citizens of the northern part of cornplanter twp. Western pennsylvania refers to the western third of the state of pennsylvania in the united states. Western pennsylvanias oil heritage postcard history. The phillips well was the most productive oil well of its time, initially at a rate of 4,000 barrels of oil per day in october, 1861.
Though oil is found in many places around the globe, this network of streams in pennsylvania introduced it to america. The pennsylvania railroad museum, in strasburg, pa, houses the historical equipment of. Erie, altoona, and johnstown are its other metropolitan centers. They leased land along oil creek, a pennsylvania site known for oil seeping to the surface of the water. Todays exploration and production industry was born on august 27, 1859, near titusville when a well specifically drilled for oil found it. Titusville and other towns on the shores of oil creek expanded rapidly as oil wells and refineries shot up across the region. The oil creek valley is the site of the worlds first commercial oil well. American oil history began in a valley along a creek in remote northwestern pennsylvania. Pretty little park we found this pretty park while driving around the area looking for.
Oil creek state park oil city 2020 all you need to know. These vintage postcards provide a glimpse into the wideranging history of western pennsylvania s oil region, from the cradle of the industry at oil creek, to the immensely productive bradford oil field, and on to cities and towns like oil city, built largely by the black gold. The volume is part of the pennsylvania history series published by the pennsylvania historical association in partnership with temple university press. Titusville, pithole, and petroleum center documents the rich architectural history of these three boomtowns. Prior to drake striking black gold in oil creek near titusville, other investors had. My friends, he began with good cheer, how do you like this way of coming back into the union. Backpackers delight in the 36 mile long gerard hiking trail. Seeking to meet growing demand for kerosene, the petroleum industry began in northwestern pennsylvania. Biographies of cornplanter 10821099 biographies of oil creek 11041111. Stocked brown and rainbow trout northeast corner venango county just south of titusville. Within weeks, oil derricks and boom towns sprouted. True, oil creek might not be the most beautiful of pennsylvanias state parks, but it is quite lovely, and the regions amazing history propels this park to mustvisit status.
His worldfamous well was drilled in titusville, pa, a small town in crawford county. Refined as kerosene for lamps, a lubricant for home and industrial needs, and ultimately as a fuel for transportation in the form of gasoline, oil literally changed the world and defined global economics and politics. Through vintage photographs, oil creek and titusville railroad relives the railroad history of a valley that has become a lovely wilderness served by an important railroad. List of books and articles about pennsylvania history. If you happen to be in northwestern pennsylvania, fly fishing oil creek is a very worthwhile adventure. The pennsylvania center for the book edwin drake and the. The landscape of americas first oil boom creating the. The story farm consisted of 501 acres, all but 100 acres being on the west side of oil creek, venango county, pennsylvania. A threehour round trip along oil creek takes riders through oil creek state park through what was probably one of. In fact, western pennsylvania produced half of the worlds oil until the east texas oil boom in 1901. News soon spread along oil creek and into titusville, but drake did not get the word until monday morning when he arrived at the well and saw smith surrounded by barrels, tubs, and jars of oil.
Beginning with nearby pits by native americans in the deep past, infrequent gathering of it. Pennsylvania oil rush news newspapers books scholar jstor august 2019 learn how. The route along oil creek is beautiful and i loved seeing. Oil quickly became one of the most valuable commodities in the united states and.
As production moved elsewhere in the 1870s, both cities were abandoned and soon vanished completely. Choose our history of pennsylvania books at arcadia publishing. Oil creek state park tells the story of the early petroleum industry by interpreting oil boomtowns, oil wells and early transportation. Drakes well on oil creek, near the little town of titusville. Drakes well of 1859, many attempts to retrieve oil at a seep site on the east side of oil creek near titusville, pennsylvania, had taken place. The oil rush in america started in titusville, pennsylvania, in the oil creek valley when edwin l. Across susquehanna at gap of second mountain showing massive ledge below retaining wall and lack of ridges in river in line with this ledge. Along oil creek, just south of titusville, colonel edwin drake struck oil at a depth. Edwin drake first hit oil in titusville in august of 1859, signaling the start of the oil boom in pa that would last until the beginning of the 1870s.
Edwin drake was born on march 29, 1819 in greenville, new york. The history of oil creek state park is tied to the rise and fall of the oil industry in northwestern. In petrolia, brian black offers a geographical and social history of a region that was not only. These seeps were well known to the seneca indians, one of the iroquois nation tribes, who used the oil as a salve, mosquito repellent, purge and tonic. Oil creek township venango county pennsylvania genealogy. Local history books on pennsylvania arcadia publishing. The oil business was wide open, especially for those determined to strike it rich. The history of oil creek state park is tied to the rise and fall of the oil industry in northwestern pennsylvania.
This beautiful park had a great view of the sunset and a lot of geese and ducks. It was composed of extensive bottom flats and the hillsides of the valley flanks. Titusville, to the north of oil creek state park, was a slow. History of the petroleum industry in the united states ohio oil rush texas oil boom north dakota oil boom.
Like many other americans, booth was allured by the possibilities of wealth in pennsylvania s oil region. Drake oil wells the pennsylvania center for the book. Oil creek and titusville railroad relives the railroad history of a. Their exhibits feature an industry that brought kerosene to lamps, gasoline to autos, and. Books on oil oil wells in the woods 1905 by john oday, md. The worlds first commercially successful oil well struck black gold on august 27, 1859, in titusville in venango county.
Pennsylvania s oil boomtowns of 150 years ago built on fuel of industrial age. Scenic oil creek carves a valley of deep hollows, steep hillsides and. Fly bargain bin fly rod clearance fly reel clearance fly tying clearance fly box clearance rod blank clearance books cddvd misc weekly specials pennsylvania. The landscape of americas first oil boom creating the north american landscape. Oil creek in western pennsylvania abounds in oil seeps that ooze thick black crude into the stream. The stream is approximately thirty miles in length and has a good population of trout. Pennsylvanias oil boomtowns of 150 years ago built on fuel of industrial age. Apr 05, 2020 ive been to a lot of state parks in pennsylvania, and one of my favorites has been oil creek state park in venango county. Pennsylvania geological survey historical photographs. Fly fishing oil creek pennsylvania oil creek begins at canadohita lake in northwestern pennsylvania. It was within the oil region that, in 1859, colonel edwin drake drilled the worlds first commercial oil well, initiating a chain of events that literally changed the world.
When titusvilles last railroad was about to be abandoned, the oil creek railway society formed and saved the line. Edwin drake and the oil well drill pipe pennsylvania. Books on oil venango county pennsylvania genealogy. These vintage postcards provide a glimpse into the wideranging history of western pennsylvanias oil region, from the cradle of the industry at oil creek, to the immensely productive bradford oil field, and on to cities and towns like oil city, built largely by the black gold. For this reason, oil creek 100 trail runs will allow headphones on the course only if it does not pose a safety risk. Historical photography from the collection of the pennsylvania historical and museum. Smart news keeping you current oil companies first built pipelines in the 1860s. Western pennsylvaniaas oil heritage profiles the history of. Jonathan titus made a permanent settlement of oil creek four years before the division. Pennsylvania museums offer a trip to the very beginning of u.
Discover librarianselected research resources on pennsylvania history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Theyve been contested ever since in the 19th century, reformers were happy to have oil come out of the ground. Venango county vital records can be found at the pennsylvania office of vital records has copies of birth and death records since 1906 and death records. Pittsburgh is the regions principal city, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.
As of the 2010 census, western pennsylvanias total population is nearly 4. Petroleum centre, a company town of the central petroleum company, was staked out in. Oil city began as a settlement of the seneca tribe in the early 1600s. Plumer, pithole, and oil city pa images of america 9780738504940. The institute stipulated that when the commonwealth of pennsylvania took ownership of the site during the diamond jubilee of drake well in 1934, it was to be made a state park. The rail station in titusville has a great gift shop with lots of good local history books as well as railroad related items. The discovery of oil flowing from a well in the wilds of northwestern pennsylvania shook the modern world in 1859. Oil region alliance the valley that changed the world. The landscape of americas first oil boom creating the north american landscape black, prof brian on.