
c.1883 Allegany Oil Field
c.1883 Oil Section Map Contributed by Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad Historical Society from their Archives.
Airhead Jack
"Admittedly, since I receive a lot of photos and most are sent digitally to me, I lose the identification of many.....Sorry, that is what happens when you get…

Oil01
Above photo labeled "Triangle #1; Drilled by O. P. Taylor; Photo from Jennie Taylor Riggs; June 12, 1879." (Grand-daughter of O. P. Taylor). Photo is property…

Oil02
"Seated: Jim Gardner (my dad), Jim Sexton (?), & either Bennie Wilcox or Bob Price; Back row: Bill Gardner (my uncle), (either) Bennie Wilcox or Bob Price,…

Oil03
May, 1951 Photo Employees of Empire Gas & Fuel and Bradley Producing Corp. (From Wellsville Daily Reporter, "Yesteryears".) Kneeling, L-R: M. Phillipson, Murray…

Oil04
The gear drive used to pull the rodlines from power house to oilwell.
From Dick Fitch Collection

Oil06
The "hook & eye" system used to hook and unhook rod lines from the power house.
From Dick Fitch Collection

Oil09
Power house along route 417 East of Allentown and across from the end of Drum Road.
From Dick Fitch Collection

Oil12
An Oklahoma jack used to pump oil from ground...one of most popular style jacks in the Allegany region.
From Dick Fitch Collection

Oil14
A well along Route 417 near Vosburg and sawmill. This well was left standing "high and dry" when the roadway was built sometime in late 1940s/early 1950s. It…

Oil16
Next 11 pictures are of Terry Collins lease in Allentown. This lease has been pumped for many years. I remember jumping over the rod lines when traveling from…

Oil17
Terry shown hooking on or off a rod line. This simple chore was one of the many dangerous tasks on an oil lease...many fingers lost. From Dick Fitch Collection

Oil18
A circle eye allowing either direction change of rod line or two wells to be pumped from one hook. I can't see what Terry uses for an engine, but, the flywheel…

Oil21
Every oil storage tank is given a number by the refinery....#3237 Terry hopes will be filled very quick!
From Dick Fitch Collection
From Dick Fitch Collection

Oil22
"Lower power house on the McDermott/Taylor lease at east edge of Bolivar Village. My Dad sat many hours in one of those chairs waiting for wells to 'pump off'."…

Oil23
"Tripods set up to support rod lines. My Dad built these during the 1970s and 1980s."-- Ron Taylor.
Photo from Dick Fitch

Oil24
"Another view of lower power house. The power was an early (1800s) McEwen Bros. Engine built in Wellsville. Dad converted it to electric by pulling one flywheel…