Lima in Allen County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Solar Refinery
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 9, 2009
1. Solar Refinery Marker (Side A)
Inscription.
Solar Refinery. . Oil became a valuable resource in Ohio when significant quantities were discovered in Lima in 1885. The discovery brought an economic boom to Lima and northwest Ohio. News of the Lima oil field spread, attracting the attention of John D. Rockefeller, co-founder of Standard Oil. Against the advice of his board, Rockefeller invested heavily in Lima crude, despite its high sulfur content and foul odor. Storage tanks and pipelines for the crude sprung up rapidly. Having great faith in the ingenuity of his engineers and scientists, Rockefeller stockpiled the crude and sent Standard's chief refining specialist, J. W. Van Dyke, to Lima to construct and manage the new Solar Refinery. Together with Herman Frasch, a German chemist, the two men perfected the technique to desulphurize the crude and turn it into quality kerosene and fuel oil., From 1886 to 1900, the Lima Oil Field was the leading producer of oil in the world yielding 190 million barrels. Lima also became a significant pipeline center and by 1893 a trunk line carried oil to light the buildings at the Chicago World's Fair. While the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 eventually led to the 1911 break up of Standard Oil's monopoly, the company continued to play an important role in Ohio. In the year 2000, Ohio had more than 62,000 active oil wells and produced 6.5 million barrels of crude. Although the current Lima refinery imports its oil via pipeline, the complex is the oldest, continuously operated oil refinery site in Ohio.
Oil became a valuable resource in Ohio when significant quantities were discovered in Lima in 1885. The discovery brought an economic boom to Lima and northwest Ohio. News of the Lima oil field spread, attracting the attention of John D. Rockefeller, co-founder of Standard Oil. Against the advice of his board, Rockefeller invested heavily in Lima crude, despite its high sulfur content and foul odor. Storage tanks and pipelines for the crude sprung up rapidly. Having great faith in the ingenuity of his engineers and scientists, Rockefeller stockpiled the crude and sent Standard's chief refining specialist, J. W. Van Dyke, to Lima to construct and manage the new Solar Refinery. Together with Herman Frasch, a German chemist, the two men perfected the technique to desulphurize the crude and turn it into quality kerosene and fuel oil.
From 1886 to 1900, the Lima Oil Field was the leading producer of oil in the world yielding 190 million barrels. Lima also became a significant pipeline center and by 1893 a trunk line carried oil to light the buildings at the Chicago World's Fair. While the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 eventually led to the 1911 break up of Standard Oil's monopoly, the company continued to play an important role in Ohio. In the year 2000, Ohio had more than 62,000 active oil wells and produced 6.5 million barrels
Click or scan to see this page online
of crude. Although the current Lima refinery imports its oil via pipeline, the complex is the oldest, continuously operated oil refinery site in Ohio.
Erected 2003 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Premcor Lima Refinery, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 3-2.)
Location. 40° 43.333′ N, 84° 6.805′ W. Marker is in Lima, Ohio, in Allen County. Marker is at the intersection of Metcalf Street and Paul Street, on the right when traveling south on Metcalf Street. Marker is at the refinery entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1150 S Metcalf Street, Lima OH 45804, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,304 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.