Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Oesterlen Well Site / Old Mill Stream Fairgrounds

Oesterlen Well Site Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Baker, July 7, 2014

1. Oesterlen Well Site Marker

Inscription.
Oesterlen Well Site
The site of the natural gas well generally credited with the beginning of the "Gas Boom" in Hancock County is approximately 300 feet west of this marker. German physician, Dr. Charles Oesterlen drilled the well on his land in 1884. In Dec. 5 of that year the well reached a depth of 1092 feet and produced 250,000 cubic feet of gas in a 24-hour period.

Old Mill Stream Fairgrounds
The Hancock County Agricultural Society was organized on March 26, 1938. The Society soon purchased an 80 acre farm once owned by Tell Taylor, composer of the song "Down by the Old Mill Stream," and held its first fair on this site October 13-15, 1938. The county fair has been held here every year since then except for 1942 during World War II.

Erected 1989 by Hancock County Agricultural Society, Historic Preservation Guild of Hancock County. (Marker Number 16- 32.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1872.

Location. 41° 2.127′ N, 83° 37.879′ W. Marker is in Findlay

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, Ohio, in Hancock County. Marker can be reached from E Sandusky St (Ohio Route 568) south of in Hancock County Fairgrounds. Ohio Historical Marker #16- 32 is on the main driveway through the Fairgrounds. The Boulder w/plaque and the well are west of the Marker in a small fenced area at the west edge of the Fairgrounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1017 E Sandusky St, Findlay OH 45840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Forest G. Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Fair Board Directors (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hanneman Funeral Home Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Riverside Park / Old Mill Stream (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Riverside South Entry Plaza - 1999 (approx. half a mile away); Hull's Army (approx. half a mile away); Allen P. Dudley Bandshell (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Findlay.

More about this marker. this is a dual marker, noting two separate subjects.

Regarding Oesterlen Well Site / Old Mill Stream Fairgrounds. There are multiple other markers and monuments in the Findlay area regarding the gas and Oil Boom.

Old Mill Stream Fairgrounds Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Pfingsten

2. Old Mill Stream Fairgrounds Marker

Oesterlen Gas Well image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Baker, July 7, 2014

3. Oesterlen Gas Well

the actual Oesterlen gas well, still producing

Oesterlen Well original marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Baker, July 7, 2014

4. Oesterlen Well original marker

this boulder w/plaque is in a small fenced area, adjacent to the actual well. This is on the west side of the Fairgrounds

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2014, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 646 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 7, 2014, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 2. submitted on July 16, 2014, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3, 4. submitted on July 7, 2014, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.