Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 61

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1) > Part 61

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development of the two cities. The new com- pany also bought the surface of sixty acres of the Park lands, including the springs, large auditorium, restaurant, pavilions, and other amusement features, with certain reservations, and changed the name to Monarch Park. It also extended the railway to Rouseville, and to Siverlyville. In 1910 practically all the stock of the new company passed into new hands. Mr. Joseph Seep was made president ; the power plant was enlarged, furnishing elec- tric current for motors industrially ; the rail- way route from Reno to Rocky Grove was abandoned. The properties are now owned and operated by the Municipal Service Com- pany of New York.

DISASTERS BY FIRE AND WATER

Oil City has suffered more from fire and flood than from the common misfortunes of other cities, such as riots, panics and epi- demics. The ice gorge of Dec. 7, 1862, was occasioned by the low water in the river, which caused a gorge of loaded oil boats, filling the eddy or river front. About two hundred boats were frozen fast in the ice when a heavy ice dam up the creek broke and came down with great force. The loss was fully sixty thousand barrels of oil, having a value of five hundred thousand dollars.

The oil fleet fire, Dec. 12, 1863, afforded a grand spectacle of burning oil and boats. Most of the fleet was saved, after a loss of one hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars.

On May 31, 1864, about thirty thousand barrels of oil were lost by oil boats becoming jammed and crushed in the narrow creek dur- ing a pond freshet. The price of oil here was then seven dollars a barrel. During these three years there was also a loss of a num- ber of buildings by fire.

The greatest flood ever known in Oil City was that of St. Patrick's Day in 1865. The full force of the river and creek swept clean the oil yards of the Third ward and the east side was flooded. The loss was estimated at five million dollars.

The flood of April, 1866, destroyed a num- ber of houses on the east side. Many boats, ten thousand barrels of oil, and nine lives were lost. On May 26, 1866, a building used as a laundry caught fire, which extending to the dry buildings was soon beyond control. The principal business center of the town was burned over, with a loss of fully one million dollars.

In 1873 and 1883 there were destructive

floods, and in 1885 an ice gorge which did much damage, but neither were so disastrous as the preceding ones.

The fire and flood of 1892 occurred on Sun- day, June 5th. This was the most destructive fire and most disastrous flood that have ever occurred here. A heavy rainstorm had raised the creek to an unusual height on Saturday night, carrying away the Spartansburg dam. The flood from this came through Titusville. Tanks of oil, distillate and naphtha were up- set into the stream. A portion of Titusville was flooded and great damage was done. The wreckage came down Oil creek on a high wave of water from the dam. The banks over- flowed and undermined tanks of oil, and one holding thirty thousand barrels of naphtha, on the Clapp Farm. The contents of these, added to that already floating on the water, created a sinister condition. This volatile liquid was carried on the flood down the creek along upper Seneca street, where the houses were then flooded to the second story, down under the railroad bridge and into the river. The gas arising from the naphtha and oil permeated the houses and buildings for a mile. Seneca street was by this time a rushing river. At least five thousand people were gathered on the hillsides and along the river front look- ing with interest at the strange spectacle. The odors that came to them had an intoxicating effect and the crowds began to fall back as fear dawned upon them. The air was filled with a yellowish vapor which gave an uncanny cast to every object. Suddenly there was a flash and a loud detonation was heard up the creek. This was closely followed by two others. In- stantly fire appeared everywhere, from a point above the railroad bridge, along Seneca street. and below the mouth of the creek along the entire Third ward front, to a point below the Suspension bridge. Flames mounted higher than Clark's Summit and above them smoke in great waves and billows blackened the air and added terror to the scene. This fire was not like any other. It did not run from house to house, one building kindling the next. The first explosion lighted a half mile of fire above the creek bridge and in the houses on the banks. The second explosion set all Seneca street on fire, on both banks of the creek down to the tube mills, instantly, the gas inside igniting with that outside. The third flash ran through the Third ward. Buildings filled with a mixture of gas and air literally exploded. They disappeared while one gazed awestruck at them. This was the case with Paul's large furniture store and the "Bellevue House" and

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Oil City, Pennsylvania, July, 1918 Seneca Street, Looking South From Sycamore Street

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barns. Nearly seventy-five houses were burned. Many of the inmates reached places of safety by means of boats ; heroic endeavors were made to rescue them. A few escaped by swimming. Of a number in the second stories who were seen to leap into the water to avoid the flames, some were drowned, including sev- eral of the rescuers. The number of those lost by the flood and fire has been estimated at over sixty, including some of the rescuers. Some twenty buildings below Paul's furniture store, including the "Petroleum House," were burned. Below the "Petroleum House" the flames swept in by the current of the river and by the breeze from the south burned sev- eral buildings, among them the Oil City Coal and Lumber Mill. Immediately after the ex- plosions people were terrorized and fled to the hills. Many ran without stopping from the vicinity of the railroad bridge to the ceme- tery. A crowd in the Third ward watching from the Center street bridge up the creek saw the fire coming, and many ran down Main street ; looking back they saw the street behind them filled with flames, and the fire on the riverside seemed to accompany them in their flight. Many climbed up the steepest part of Clark's Summit and stayed there until late in the afternoon, when the fire had died down, where they were found by their friends. Those who had lost all they possessed were speedily helped, and so numerous were they that for the first time in its history Oil City received aid from the world outside. Governor Patti- son came with members of his staff to offer assistance and everything possible was done to relieve distress.

At the present day the grades of upper Sen-

eca street and of the west side are such that , twelve-inch main across the river to supply the water as high as that of 1892 would not flood the houses.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

This was organized soon after the borough was formed. A steam engine was purchased after the fire of 1866. But after the comple- tion of the water works in 1873, with a pres- sure of 130 pounds on the flats, hose companies were all that were needed. From that time until July 27, 1887, four or five volunteer companies composed the force. A paid de- partment was formed under Chief Daniel Fisher, at a salary of five hundred dollars. The department has grown until the present time. In 1918 it has a chief and fire marshal, A. G. Dolby ; assistant chief, T. A. Owens; drivers,

No. I auto truck, R. W. Anderson ; No. I hook and ladder, auto truck, R. G. Rayner; No. 2 auto truck, Frank Simpson ; No. 3 auto truck, Frank Curran; No. 4 auto truck, F. E. Nichols. Firemen, No. I Company : William Rayner, H. B. Bispham, A. J. Ryan; No. 2 Company : U. M. Latshaw, George Akins; No. 3 Com- pany : S. P. McKain, Ralph Shanefelter; No. 4 Company : Herbert Hannah, E. A. Smith. There are four hose houses, well equipped with all modern means for fighting fire, two on each side of the river. The city has thirty-five fire alarm boxes, Gamewell system.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The police department was organized May 16, 1861. It consisted at first of a chief and two regular officers, increasing to five in 1890, and six special officers. The present force comprises a chief, Edward Nugent ; captain, J. S. McNerney ; patrolmen, M. G. O'Brien, B. W. Eisenman, O. J. Skelly, O. W. McKen- zie, J. G. Hobaugh, D. S. Nichols, C. W. Aikens. This department is supplied with a motor car.

WATER WORKS

The subject of water works was brought up in council by J. H. Evans in 1872. The double reservoir system was adopted. Two reservoirs were . built with a capacity of seventy-five thousand barrels, about a mile and half above State street and nearly three hundred feet above the river. An engine house was built on the river bank, a brick and iron structure 40 by 100 feet. It had three pumps and one

north side lowlands. Later two tanks were erected on Hasson Heights, supplied from the pump house by two eight-inch lines crossing the river and carrying the water against three hundred pounds pressure. One tank was also erected on Clark's Summit, supplied by an eight-inch main from Summit street, which is about half way up to the tank. There are two tanks on Rich Hill supplied by an eight-inch line direct from the pump house, carrying water against two hundred pounds pressure. The high parts of the city are certainly well supplied with fire protection. The first three pumps have been replaced by three more powerful ones capable of supplying eight mil- lion gallons of water daily. and one high- service power pump of five hundred thousand gallons daily, as well as several high-pressure

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pumps for occasional use. The power house is well equipped with all that makes for suc- cessful service.

The greatest improvement in the water de- partment was made in 1893-94, since which time the water has been taken from drilled wells upon Seneca Farm, one mile above the pump house. These wells were drilled near the bed of the river and to a distance of two hundred and fifty feet toward the bank. They were drilled through a gravel bar which here extends from bank to bank of the river. This bar is thirty-five feet thick and under it is several feet of sand to the rock beneath. The wells are drilled through the gravel and sand into the rock below. Of the sixteen which have been drilled, fourteen wells are now in use. Tubes are settled down into the rock having openings equal in area to the capacity of the tubes. Through these tubes the water flows into a settling well, from which it is siphoned to the well at the pump house. The water thus obtained is almost chemically pure, as frequent chemical analyses show. M. F. Johnson, superintendent of the department, and A. M. Breckinridge, clerk, have proved faithful officers, serving many years to the complete satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Johnson probably knows the location of every joint of water-pipe in the city. His son, Fred C. Johnson, is the efficient assistant superin- tendent.

CITY LIGHTING

City illumination was agitated in 1875. On Jan. 26, 1876, a charter was granted to a com- pany to supply the city with gas. The capital stock was $75,000. The laying of pipe be- gan in May, and on its completion, July 10th, the city was illuminated for the first time. The cost was $70,000. After a few years the gas lamps were replaced by torches burning natu- ral gas. These were replaced in turn by elec- tric lights, furnished by the Citizens' Light and Power Company, which company as a part of the Citizens' Traction Company still lights the city. The boulevard system of light- ing the business streets is sustained by the business men, making this city one of the best lighted in the country.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Oil City has an active and strong Chamber of Commerce. It was incorporated in 1912. Its president in 1918 is W. S. Paca ; vice presi- dent. E. R. Boyle ; second vice president, W.

S. McCuen ; third vice president, Abe Silber- berg ; fourth vice president, C. L. Suhr ; treas- urer, Joseph W. Barr; secretary, James G. Hardy ; directors, J. W. Barr, E. R. Boyle, W. L. Freeman, James Hasson, Joseph Levi, J. H. McClure, W. S. McCuen, W. S. Paca, G. F. Rowland, Abe Silberberg, C. L. Suhr.

From its earliest days those who have car- ried on the business of the city have been men of vision. They studied the needs of the people. The merchants who began in a small way, and who certainly overcame difficulties of transportation, were almost uniformly suc- cessful. To-day the stores of this small city have metropolitan virtues. They cater to all tastes and all incomes. So varied and rich are the stocks that no one needs to buy else- where, and consequently trade is stimulated and Oil City's reputation is well earned. The merchants do much to make this a city of homes of contentment.

CITY BUILDING

Until 1890 the city offices were housed in a plain wooden building of two stories. That year the corner stone of a new building was laid and the present structure of brick, three stories and basement, on Seneca street, was erected. The Second ward hose house joins the city building on the back part of the lot, leaving an open space in front which may be used in future should the building be enlarged. In the basement are cells for the detention of prisoners. There are also shops for the use of the city employes in the water, fire and other departments. The other floors have commodious offices for the city officials and a city hall which accommodates several hundred. While it is not an imposing structure it is creditable in its general appearance, and it has upon its front to-day an adornment that any city might regard with envy and admiration, the names of a thousand sons who have served their country in the world war and of many who have made the supreme sacrifice.

OTHER BUILDINGS

The first theatre in Oil City was called Bas- com's Hall, which stood in the Third ward, where Main street turns to the west. It was finally abandoned. The first opera house was built in 1872 at the head of Center street, by John Love. It was remodeled in September, 1878, and reopened under the management of Samuel T. Jack. This was used until it was burned in February, 1884. In the summer of

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1885 M. Geary (president), W. J. Young, Thomas B. Simpson, C. M. Loomis, and M. Lowentritt purchased the old site and in July began construction there. The spot was again visited by fire, but as before energetic citizens determined not to let Oil City suffer for amuse- ment. The building has been practically made over several times, and many of the best known theatrical stars have appeared upon its stage. Mary Anderson, Joe Jefferson, Modjeska, Rhea, Robert Mantell, and hosts of others have found appreciation and have given de- light here. Besides the opera house, during the last fifteen years, amusement seekers have had a choice of three high-grade moving pic- ture theatres.

HOTELS

Some of the early hotels of the city have been mentioned, the Halyday, Bannon, Moran and Dickey taverns, and the "Petroleum House," one of the most noted, on the west side. The "Meade House" and the "Parker House" were two others on that side built in the first two years of the sixties. The "New York Hotel," also in the Third ward, is a brick building, and William Dwyer was its proprietor for many years. It is still owned by the Dwyer estate.

The first hotel on the east side was the "Edmunds," on the site of the Transit block. The name was changed to the "Ohio Hotel." There were many others, chiefly on Main and Center streets.

On the south side was the "Laytonia House," corner of Central avenue and Front street. This building was used as a hotel un- der various names until it was demolished to make way for the Carnegie Library. There were other hotels on the south side, notably the "City Hotel," which is still running and largely patronized. Later, more pretentious hotels were the "Imperial" on Seneca street, now a rooming house, the "National Hotel," "American," "Central," "Cottage Hotel," and "The Arlington" (built and for many years known as the "Collins House," now being re- modeled by citizens who have formed a stock company). Others that were famous in their day but have passed on were the "Windsor," "Perry Hotel" and "O'Conner's Hotel."

HOSPITAL

As Oil City grew the need for a general hos- pital became imperative. People and press made public the general feeling that this was

an institution that must be built. In 1892 the idea had gained such force that steps were taken to convert the intention into a reality. A subscription list was started, and daily ad- ditions were made to it. When a sum suffi- cient to warrant it had been promised, work was begun. The gift of six and a quarter acres of land on Bissell avenue by Capt. Wil- liam Hasson roused enthusiasm. From that time the success of the project was assured. The beautiful building was erected in 1893- 94, and while it has been enlarged and im- proved as the years have passed it retains all the features which made it notable. Its grounds are kept with care. The magnificent trees make summer days delightful for the convalescent, and give comfort to those with- in doors. Through the generous thought of Mr. H. H. Rogers a home for nurses has been added, and this has made possible a more ex- tensive training department. Mr. Rogers, pre- vious to this, had given an endowment fund of $25,000 to the hospital. In 1896 a contagious ward was built. A separate cottage was erect- ed and paid for by funds raised by the women of Oil City, who issued a Woman's Edition of the Derrick in their campaign. Mr. P. C. Boyle, always interested in the hospital, made this work possible, giving all the printing, paper and, in short, everything except the lit- erary work of the women and the business management of the various departments.

The hospital has always been a popular in- stitution. Various societies as well as indi- viduals have furnished rooms and given the oversight which great interest inspires. The surgical department of the hospital has been carefully considered by the management. Its equipment has kept pace with modern ideas, and "the best is none too good" has been the urgent thought of those in authority. The appropriations from the State have made this feasible. For many years Mr. P. C. Boyle has served on the State Board of Charities. He has given careful attention to the need of the home hospital as well as those of other sec- tions' and has been able to speak convincingly in behalf of the needs of Oil City.

The board that organized the hospital and superintended its construction consisted of the following citizens: President, Kenton Chick- ering ; vice president, T. B. Simpson ; treas- urer, J. R. Campbell ; secretary, B. F. Brun- dred ; and George P. Hukill, J. B. Maitland, M. Geary. The cornerstone was laid July 4, 1893. and the hospital was completed and occupied May 1, 1894. At this time the board was in- creased to fifteen members as follows: K.

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Chickering, J. R. Campbell, M. Lowentritt, P. C. Boyle, H. H. Rand, W. R. Barr, George Lewis, T. B. Simpson, B. F. Brundred, M. Geary, J. H. Fulmer, G. P. Hukill, J. B. Mait- land, William Hasson, Joseph Seep. After a few years the number of directors was de- creased to eleven, as at present. The present officers are: President, S. Y. Ramage; vice president, Joseph W. Barr; secretary, E. P. Theobald ; treasurer, S. R. Ball; assistant sec- retary and treasurer, A. G. Frye ; superintend- ent, Mrs. C. Dice, R. N .; directors: S. Y. Ramage, William Hasson, Joseph W. Barr, Thomas R. Weymouth, Joseph Love, E. O. Theobald, S. R. Ball, J. H. Chickering, J. B. Crawford, Lewis S. Mckinley, T. B. Judge.

The Oil City Hospital has the honor of being the first one in this part of the State. The year of its organization, 1892, before it possessed a building or the means necessary to relieve suffering, it was met by the horror of the "fire and flood of 1892." A storage room was vacated, and furnished from gen- erous homes. There the victims of the disaster found care and relief. Here the hospital worked for nearly two years before entering its home on the hill. It is the city's monu- ment to the white soul of charity.

TRANSPORTATION OF OIL IN 1864

The accompanying cut is made from a photo- graph taken March 14, 1864, from the east span of the wooden bridge over Oil creek at Center street, Oil City, Pa., looking south, and gives a typical view of the manner of trans- porting oil when Oil creek was the center of the oil-producing region, and before the ad- vent of railroads and pipe lines. It shows the mouth of Oil creek and north side of the Al- legheny river, covered with oil boats. The boats loaded with barreled oil were called flat- boats ; the decked boats were called oil barges and carried oil in bulk. These boats were towed up Oil creek by horses, and after being loaded on the banks of the stream from near- by oil wells were floated down by a crew of two or three men. In the river may also be seen "keel boats" loaded high with empty oil barrels, which were towed to this point by river steamers from Pittsburgh, two of which are shown in the view. The barreled oil in the smaller flatboats was dumped out of the barrels into bulk barges holding from nine hun- dred to fourteen hundred barrels. The loaded bulk barges on the larger flatboats were usually towed by steamer towboats to Pittsburgh, at which place were located many oil refineries.

When these towboats were scarce the loaded oil boats were floated down by a crew of sev- eral men, including a river pilot. The empty boats were towed back by the steamers. This navigation could occur only when the waters were at boating stage, which was in the spring; in the fall; two or three rises in the summer; or during a breakup in the winter.

When lumbering was in vogue in the vic- inity of Titusville, before the discovery of oil, the water in the several sawmill dams there was released simultaneously for the purpose of causing a temporary rise in Oil creek during periods of low water. These rises, called pond freshets, were used to float down lumber; and in 1862 and 1863 they were produced every week or so for the purpose of floating down oil boats. They were gradually discon- tinued in 1865 because the practice of towing boats by horses both upstream and down be- came constant, and the lowering of the water in Oil creek during the time of filling the dams was detrimental to the traffic. In the view are also seen coal barges, in which great quantities of Pittsburgh coal were towed up from Pittsburgh and sold throughout the oil region.

That part of the view beyond the Allegheny river is now a part of the Fourth, Fifth and Ninth wards in South Oil City. Snow that fell the previous night covers the scene .- (This article on "Transportation of Oil in 1864" was furnished by Mr. J. B. Smithman, of Oil City.)

The boats shown in the picture of the "pond freshet" and the steamboats waiting to load with oil and to take a tow of oil boats down the river are in the "harbor" at Oil City, or, as it is generally called, Moran's Eddy. Since 1828, when the first stern-wheeler came to Oil Creek Furnace, steamboats of various sizes, and shapes, until the coming of the railway, were the usual means of transportation, when the water was sufficient. The boat landings and oil wharves extended nearly a mile, along the north shore of the river, and were located as follows :

Bushnells Landing, foot of Chestnut street. Benny, Baylis & Company, No. 244 Main street. Cochran's. No. 264 Main street. Conkle's, No. 298 Main street. Dilworth and Ewing's, foot of Robson street. Ellison and Baxter's, foot of Walnut street. Fisher's, foot of Hanna street.

Fisher's No. 2, foot of Chestnut street.

Fawcett Brothers, foot of Chestnut street.

Gallager and Danver's, foot of Walnut street. Holdeman and Murray's, No. 242 Main street.

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Transportation of Oil in 1864

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Jackson's, No. 290 Main street. Lucesco Oil Company's, foot of Oak street. ' Munhall's, foot of Chestnut street. McKelvey and Miller's, foot of Walnut street. Mawhinney's, No. 262 Main street. Oil City Storage Co.'s, foot of Oak street. Parker and Castle's, foot of Parker street. Porteous', foot of Walnut street. Phillips and Company's, foot of Hanna street. Vandergrift's, on Chestnut street.

This list of the wharves, and the picture of the boats in, on one run, present the best sum- mary of the immense business transacted here.

of man do not combine into results of utility or of beauty, unless they are controlled by Thought, sitting supreme somewhere in the midst of seeming confusion.

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Venango County, Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People (Volume 1), Part 61

Author: Babcock, Charles A. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Babcock, Charles A.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: