Oil City in Venango County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
McClintock Well #1
Producing Oil Since 1861
In the early 1800s, Hamilton McClintock sold oil gathered from a spring in Oil Creek on his farm to neighboring settlers. Drilled in 1861, McClintock Well was drilled with leg power (''kicked down") in a wood-cribbed, 14'' deep pit formerly used by Seneca Indians to gather medicinal oil. The well has traditionally produced more salt brine than crude oil.
Continuous Production
In 1862, McClintock produced 175 bbls/day but had slowed to 85 by 1869. It was down to half bbl/day in 1920 , when oil sold for $6.10/barrel. A year later, McClintock Well was "shot" at a depth of 500' (Third Venango Sand) to increase production. Today . it averages about 50 bbls annually for the Drake Well Museum.
Friends of McClintock Well #1
Jack "Augie" Holtz, Quaker State Corporation, retired and volunteer operator
Layton Matchulet, Superintendent, Oil City Schools, and volunteer groundskeeper
Mike Savage, Jack Master, Mike Perrett, Bob Hurrelbrink and Max Hurrelbrink, PA Independent Petroleum Producers
Stan Thompson, Devonian Industries
Mike Thompson, Mid-East Oil Company
Elwood "Sparky" DeLong, Pennsylvania Brine Treatment
Dave Goss, Goss RN Gas Products Company
Brian McCarrier, Interstate Pipe Supply Company
Chuck Whitton, JCK Services Brine Hauling
Roy and Rebecca Wells, R and R Ventures Ltd.
Attorneys Herbert Butcher and Richard Winkler, Butch and Winkler
Bob Murray, R.L. Murray Real Estate Appraisal Services
Tom Rockavitch, Oil City Manager
Erected by Oil Region Alliance, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 41° 27.609′ N, 79° 41.491′ W. Marker is in Oil City, Pennsylvania, in Venango County. Marker is on Waitz Road, on the right when traveling west. 250 yards off of PA 8 just past the railroad tracks. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oil City PA 16301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. McClintock's Story (here, next to this marker); H. McClintock Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); Oldest Producing Oil Well (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Henry R. Rouse (1823-1861) (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rynd Farm (approx. 1˝ miles away); Col. Francis "Gabby" Gabreski (approx. 1˝ miles away); McClintock-Steele-Waitz House (approx. 1.6 miles away); Charles Lockhart (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oil City.
Additional keywords. Petroleum Industry
Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 382 times since then and 107 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 8, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.