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Titusville in Crawford County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Tidewater

 
 
Tidewater Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, May 4, 2019
1. Tidewater Marker
Inscription. In 1865, Titusville residents Byron Benson, Robert Hopkins and David McKelvy started a sawmill in Enterprise (located just outside Titusville) to finance their drilling operation; which they named the Enterprise Oil and Lumber Company.

In November 1878 they formed the Tidewater Pipe Company and began building the first pipeline that would transport oil across hundreds of miles over the Appalachian mountains in a six-inch pipe to "Tidewater” (i.e Atlantic Seaboard)

The vision and hard work paved way for an expansion beyond pipelines and renamed it as Tidewater Associated Oil Company in 1881.

Tidewater was best known for its Flying A-branded products and gas stations, and for Veedol motor oil, which was known throughout the world.

Titusville's Benson Library was built by Byron Benson's children in memory of their parents.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1878.
 
Location. 41° 37.095′ N, 79° 40.27′ W. Marker is in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in Crawford County. It is on Smock Boulevard (Pennsylvania Route 8), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Titusville PA 16354, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northwestern Pennsylvania and in Greater Erie. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Oil Creek (here, next to this marker); Atlantic Motor Oil
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(here, next to this marker); Amalie (here, next to this marker); Ida Tarbell (here, next to this marker); Wolf's Head Oils and Lubes (here, next to this marker); Valvoline (here, next to this marker); Standard Oil Company (a few steps from this marker); Penn-Drake Motor Oils (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Titusville.
 
Also see . . .  (Et)4Pb. (Submitted on May 21, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.)
 
Tidewater Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, May 4, 2019
2. Tidewater Marker
Tidewater Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, May 4, 2019
3. Tidewater Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2019. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 666 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on May 21, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
 
Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?
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Jun. 22, 2026