150 years of oil

By Staff
Published on May 7, 2009
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A 25 HP Titusville-Olin engine owned by Bill Ritts of Meadville, Pa. The engine is powering a working triplex pump made by the National Transit Company of Oil City, Pa., and owned by the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society.

In July and September, Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society will host two events to participate in the year-long Oil 150 Celebration.

On July 17-19, as part of the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society’s annual show near Saegertown, Pa., we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Colonel Edwin Drake drilling the first successful commercial oil well. This achievement launched today’s modern oil industry and the rapid acceleration of the industrial revolution in the United States.

As part of our celebration we are co-featuring sideshaft engines, and oil field engines and equipment. We have lots of room for these engines and would like to see how many of these usually large engines we can get together at one time. Please come and join us and help celebrate this significant anniversary.

The July show will be the Society’s 42nd annual show, the 22nd at the current location, just off the Saegertown exit (exit 154) of I-79 in northwestern Pennsylvania. In addition to gas engines, the show features displays of steam engines, farm tractors and construction equipment. Our saw mill is often powered with a Rumely OilPull and runs much of the day all three days. We have threshing and baling demonstrations each day, and antique tractor pulls on Saturday and Sunday. We also have a gas engine powered machine shop in operation throughout the show. In addition, there are many other related displays and a large flea market. We have primitive camping, permanent restrooms and showers on grounds. Admission and camping, as always, is free to exhibitors.

Also, on Sept. 19, we will again host a fall gas up at Drake Well State Park & Museum in Titusville, Pa. This will be a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to take part in the Oil 150 Celebration at the historic site where it all began.

For more information, contact Society President Dave Goodwill at (814) 663-1291 or visit the Society’s website at www.little-mountain.com/pioneer.
For more information on the Oil 150 Celebration visit the website at www.oil150.com. For information on Drake Well State Park, visit the website at www.drakewell.org.

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