The Phillips and Woodford Wells on Tarr Farm, north of Oil City, Pennsylvania, in 1873.

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    The Stench of Neglect in Petroleum Centre (1869)

    The Stench of Neglect in Petroleum Centre (1869)

    Jun 1, 2025

    by

    Ryan Hilton

    —

    in This Day in Oil History

    An 1869 editorial pleads for cleaner streets in Petroleum Centre, warning of disease as the town suffers from alarming neglect and unsanitary conditions.

    Read more

  • This Day in Oil History
    Clarion County Wells Strike Oil in May 1865

    Clarion County Wells Strike Oil in May 1865

    May 10, 2025

    by

    Ryan Hilton

    —

    in This Day in Oil History

    Early oil wells in Clarion County show strong production in 1865. The Whitehill and Fiscorn Wells lead the region’s rise in petroleum activity.

    Read more

  • This Day in Oil History
    Titusville Citizen Responds to Judge’s Defense of Oil Monopolies

    Titusville Citizen Responds to Judge’s Defense of Oil Monopolies

    May 8, 2025

    by

    Ryan Hilton

    —

    in This Day in Oil History

    In 1869, a Titusville citizen rebukes Judge Chase’s defense of a pipeline monopoly and supports free oil transport for all producers.

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Boomtown Legacy

Blogging about 19th-century oil fever in Pennsylvania.


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About the author

I’m Ryan Hilton, a petroleum engineer with Chevron.

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