Murrysville in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Haymaker Gas Well
Photographed by Bradley Owen, April 9, 2025
1. The Haymaker Gas Well Marker
In 1877, two Murrysville brothers Michael (center) and Obediah Haymaker built a wooden drilling derrick along Turtle Creek similar to the ones seen above. They chose the site of a natural gas seep used by a local farmer. It took a year of pounding through hard sandstone to a depth of 1400 feet before the well finally 'blew in' with a huge roar on November 3, 1878.
Instead of oil, the well had tapped into a natural gas reservoir so enormous that it shook the ground and rattled windows in the area for months. Years later, the gas ignited into a 100-foot high flame that burned for eighteen months. It was eventually capped and piped to Pittsburgh, beginning an era of commercial natural gas operations around Murrysville.
Use this QR code to obtain more information about the history of this site and about the Westmoreland Heritage Trail, a Chapter of the Regional Trail Corporation.
Erected by Westmoreland Heritage Trail and Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is November 3, 1878.
Location. 40° 25.498′ N, 79° 41.757′ W. Marker is in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, in Westmoreland County. It is on Braun Avenue
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Laurel Highlands and in Greater Pittsburgh. 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 Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Murrysville Historical Panels (a few steps from this marker); Haymaker Well (within shouting distance of this marker); Haymaker Community Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Murrysville Gas Well (approx. 0.2 miles away); Forbes Road (approx. Ό mile away); 9/11 Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Murrysville Military Monument Plaza (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Forbes Road (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murrysville.
Another marker is no longer nearby. World Wars Honor Roll (was approx. Ό mile away but has been confirmed missing).
Photographed by Bradley Owen, April 9, 2025
2. The Haymaker Gas Well Marker
A second marker describing the Haymaker Gas Well is located just to the right of the marker. It is in the distance on a boulder in the center of the photo.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 276 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 14, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
