Hyde & Egbert Farm, and the McCray Tract

Hyde and Egbert Farm, and the McCray Tract. . , Two of the most notable farms at Petroleum Centre – the richest producing area in 1866 – were the McCray Farm on the high bluff behind the Oil Creek State Park Office , and the Hyde and Egbert Farm at its base. Companies and individuals strained to secure even the smallest lease. , In the spring of 1870, a 300 barrel well drilled near the McCray Farm caused James McCray to be besieged for leases, Derricks quickly appeared. Every well tapped the underlying pool. Within four months, the daily production was 3,000 barrels – an income for McCray of $9,000 a day. For this farm,, he refused $1,000,000 in 1871. , Dr. A.G. Egbert, a young physician at Cherrytree village, bought the Davidson farm of 38 acres in 1860 for $2,600 and ½ of the oil. Because he could not pay for the farm, he sold half the interest to Charles Hyde, naming their tract the Hyde and Egbert Farm. , The farm was proficient in wells. The Jersey Well completed in 1863 began flowing 350 barrels a day. The famous Coquette Well, marked by the wooden derrick located behind the Oil Creek State Park Office, was drilled on the site according to a dream. , Dr. Egbert’s residence itself was famed for being the first in the oil regions to utilize natural gas for lighting and heating. , Probably no parcel of ground of equal size yielded a larger return. At one time, there were over 23 flowing wells on the 38-acre farms. , This is the beginning of the Oil Creek State Park bicycle tour. Along our scenic ten mile trail, you will find 14 additional signs like this at various intervals.