Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-06-16
Strange Story of a City.

Q
The visitor to what was once the
focus of Oildom, Pithole, will naturally
fall into a train of thought like the one
that inspired Goldsmith TO sing of
Sweet Auburn, loveliest village Of the plain"
Not that Pithole ever was "lovely
village" but its utter decay from what
was once bustling place, running
over with life aud excitement, will
suggest the simile The fungus growth
of towns is a salient feature OF Ameri-
can life. They are the result Of yari-
ous causes the discovery of a mine of
precious metal the inceptivo point OF
some great national work-a railroad,
perhaps; the discovery of remarkable
oil "indicationsS or any great popu-
lar furore that calls men together with
\ its irresistible attraction. They cause
towns, and even cities TO spring up in
single night as it were-some OF
them 10 achieve permanency, and
stand as a perpetual wonder in the
eyes of the world; Others TO crumble
away with the speed of their growth,
like tho once famous Pithole. The
picture that this town presents is sadly
unlike its old self II was orce the
headquarters OF the oil King; and the
amazing swiitness Of its growth has
hardly a counterpart in this land
One cause after another, however
sapped its prosperity the decrease
| in the production of oil the discovery
of petroleum in new localities, and 1
terrible visitation by fire, have almost
hlighted Pithole out Of existence. A
person who knew the town in the days
Of its prosperity, viii experience :uri
Gus sensations, if he visits It now
The crowds that once thronged it
streets; the oil teams. almost count
less the elegant hotels-save one
that were once its pride, and the peer
in some respects, of those of the Nc
tropolis itself-all are gone. Th'
"Morey Farm Hotel was erected a
cost of 100000, sumptuously fur
nished, and supplied with gas, an'
al the cunning works for comfor
and convenience that distinguish tn
choicest hotels in the most iashionabl
cities The very nabobs Of Shodd,
1 and Luere were wont 20 give win
dinners here, and revel in everything
! that plethoric pockets could command
The "Morey' was set on fire by al
incendiary, in 1865, and destroyed
' Then there were the Chase an
"Bouta" Houses. The first was
4 favorite headquarters for the ''aristc
4 cracy" of Pithole; and writer in th
Titusville Herald says that the name
OF some OF the wcalthiest and wises
men Of the country, as well as som
. of the greatest villains, can be foun
r upon its register. 1t was moved {
Pleasantvile last spring. Sir Morto
Peto and party were entertained d
this house during their tour throug
z the oil regions. The "Bonta" was Il
It elegant affair, and its proprietor at on
time proposed TO dispose of 1t by lo
terry. Ii has been taken down an
lugged away. The only hotels r,
! naming are the "Danforth House
and the Omitted States Hotel" th
former, only, is in use.
The once lively banking house
Wadsworth is now doing duty as
drug store and the postotiice tn;
once ranked as the third in Pennsy
vania, has wasted away TO the dimel
sions Of such as can be found at dive
! cross roads in the country. AT Oh
4 time," says a correspondent. "grel
{ wagon loads of mails were receive
1 and so great was the rush to get nev
}, from home, that we have frequent
seen line extending from the deli
4 cry window for ten rods down Holr
! den street. and individuals who we
! fortunate enough TO be near the hes
i of the column, have frequently so
q out their chances to impatient lett
seekers near the foot for one doll
and upwards
A locality known as the "Flats
shows the change that has come ov
nd Pithole, the most vividly. 1t was be
he that the great wells sent forth the
- oleaginous streams, TO enrich tbepoc
R cts of their owners-among the
the celebrated "United States" q
aGmnt," the "Homestead," the "E
I reka," and the "Pool." Once IL
=" spot resounded with the buzz
to strange occupations; now nothil
be remains to Indicate its former chara
Of ter, except a few ghostly derrick
re and the uDsightly holes that mark {
oH spot where once were paying wells.
nr s This, in brief, is the story of Il
nd singular town-one case in mai
ire that have occurred, and may occ
~ again, in this country. Much of I
ith town has already relapsed into
iu' original state, and is being used
yt farming purposcs.-Cl ClsucldRd HGra