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Sistersville in Tyler County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
 

"Big Moses" Well / Polecat Oil Well

 
 
"Big Moses" Well Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, January 11, 2015
1. "Big Moses" Well Marker
Inscription. Side A
"Big Moses" Well
Drilled on Joshua Russell farm 2 mi. North on Polecat Run. Almost abandoned because of presence of salt water, the well was made producer by Ludwig and Weeter's introduction of technology to siphon off water. Drilled to Big Injun sand, it proved the Sistersville anticline, led to Sistersville's boom and to recognition of field as greatest producing area at the turn of the century.

Side B
Polecat Oil Well
Drilled on Moses Spencer farm on Indian Creek 2 mi. east of Sistersville and attributed greatest in W. Va. Brought in on 6 Sept. 1894, with estimated daily capacity of 100 million cu. ft., Big Moses blew until 28 Nov. Controlled for 3 months, pressure burst casing and well blew until 27 Aug. 1895. Twice fired, reductions in pressure by waste and excessive drilling, led to abandonment.
 
Erected 1980 by West Virginia Department of Culture and History.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 6, 1894.
 
Location. 39° 33.878′ N, 80° 59.913′ W. Marker is in Sistersville, West Virginia, in Tyler County
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. Marker is at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Catherine Street, on the right when traveling south on Riverside Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sistersville WV 26175, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Little Sister (a few steps from this marker); Sistersville (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fly Landing of the Sistersville Ferry (approx. 0.3 miles away in Ohio); George Washington (approx. 0.3 miles away in Ohio); Wells Family Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Matamoras World War I Monument (approx. 4.6 miles away in Ohio); James Riggs Family (approx. 4.8 miles away in Ohio); Sardis Veterans Monument (approx. 6 miles away in Ohio). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sistersville.
 
Polecat Oil Well Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, January 11, 2015
2. Polecat Oil Well Marker
"Big Moses" Well Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, January 11, 2015
3. "Big Moses" Well Marker
Polecat Oil Well Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, January 11, 2015
4. Polecat Oil Well Marker
"Big Moses" Well image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Mike Wintermantel, January 11, 2015
5. "Big Moses" Well
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2015, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 766 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 11, 2015, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Mar. 28, 2024