Oil City, PA

[Doug T.]

Hi All!
I just finished a nice little book about the history of the Oil industry in Pennsylvania.
I know it sounds a bit dry, but it is a fascinating story, and well worth looking into.
If you search for oilcity.org, and click on the nostalgia link on the right side of the page, there are a lot of very neat photos.

I think that next, I'm going to read up on the Slavic immigration into the PA coalfields. My grandfather came to the US from Poland ca.1900, worked in the mines as a "Breaker Boy", and started a family in Scranton, PA before moving to upstate NY in the late 1940s.
Just another subject that I find interesting

The last book I read before that was about the "Lost City of Z"

I read a lot ;D

Doug

[Randy]

Did you ever visit Drake's Well and ride the train? It's a great way to spend a day.

[Doug T.]

Hi Randy!
I drove through the area a few years ago, but unfortunately didn't stop to take in the sights
From what I understand, there are quite a few "ghost towns" out in western PA, and Barb and I are planning a trip out there .
Sometime after the leaves change I think.

Doug

[daveh]

Doug, "..the history of the Oil industry in Pennsylvania.
I know it sounds a bit dry,..." - you mean the wells have dried up? ;D

There's is just too much interesting stuff out there. A visit to the website you point to is on the way.

Randy, I've always thought trains are the best way to travel. I don't do enough of it these days and when I do it's mainly the underground. As you say a great day out.

Dave.

p.s., Doug, how are your neighbour's doors holing up? Are there any more joinery projects on the go?

[Doug T.]

Dave,
There was no pun intended
The wells haven't dried up, but aren't used much anymore.
Now they are drilling natural gas wells. There's a big controversy with the method they're using to extract it though.

Those blasted doors are LONG gone, and I'll be sure never to take on a job like that again!
It wasn't the work that was so bad, but the constant complaining about dust getting on everything that made it difficult.
I won't mention any names, but a certain member of my two person household really gave me the business

Doug

[daveh]

Doug, you mean you gave yourself a good talking to!


I've heard talk about the new types of extraction processes. They, the experts, say it's absolutely safe - but they would say that, wouldn't they.

[Randy]

The first well dug my Col. Drake is still pumping oil to this day. They cut down on oil processing years ago in that area because of containment issues. It's all a National Park now.