The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1873-06-07
Gold at l p. m. ll8

onr iormer townaman, Mr.. J. D. Bartlett,
in town to-day. Mr.. B. now resides at
Abbo't's Corners, Erie county, N. Y. The
sight Of this gentleman recalls TO mind the
early days Of Petroleum Centre, and Incl
dents connected Herewith. ffIe landed frst
in this place early In 1862, after residing in
TitusviIle about year and q Lalt when
there was only two bulldogs on the fats
wh.re the town OF today now stands, one OF
which was the old Wash McCliutock bome-
stead, and tho other was shsn.y stA ndiug
near where Robson's Billiard Room is at
present located. sod occupied a. ssioon.-
He secured lease Of two acres of land OF
Wash McClintock, the original owner o.
the farm, upon which he erected what wss
known as the Bartlett & Newton Refinery,
now occupied by Fairfield, Preston & Co.,
in the winter OF 1862 A. that time the
only wells completed was the old Esbsr,
we'll, the hrst we'll strnck on the Egbart
farm, which was flowing at lively rate, and
the Swamp Angel we'll. on the Wash Nc.
Clintock farm, 10 Wild Cat Hollow. which
was flowing 200 to 800 barrels daily. After
the refinery was completed, the first run Of
oil was made the, 10th day OF February,
1853. The only means OF getting the oil to
the refinery was by pumping II by hand
into large hogshsa sads, banling it across the
Creek from the Esbsrt farm, sometimes BY
team but oftensr by hand, and then pump.
ing Il into the stills. AZ . matter of course
this primitive mode Of transportation crea.
ted the use Of many new, and strange "cuss
words" not to be found 10 the latest edition
of Webster, on the part Of those early pio
neers OF OH Creek-the teamsters. All Mr..
Bartlett expected to receive from the crude
product, which cost 81, 90 per barrel q. the
well and 8 cents per barrel for h,uling, was
fifty per cent. the balance going to waste 10
The Greek or made bonfire OF by tho team
stera. The redusd oil was teamed to Titus
vile at q heavy cost, whsnos it was sbip/
ped to other points Of the counlry.P The
price OF refined oil at that early date was
20 C9 q cents in barrels, and bsnziue so Id
at So per barrel. Shortly after we'll was
asrrck on an island, In the middle of the
creek, almost directly back of Wsrner's iced
store, which flowed upwards OF 200 barrels
per day ior.some time. At the present day
nota vestige OF the island remains. Mr..
b. relates that the only way of communica-
ton With the island was by narrow foot
bridge irouI the main land 10 the we'll, and
the uaiu channel was 90 the Egbert side.
although dat boats aud RATS could psss u
either side. A raft came down during q
pond fresh aud the steersmau who was steer.
Ing eho craft with 40 old fashioned oar stem,
unfortunately took the wrong tslde Of the
channel and sticking the bridge carried it
away the force with which It struck driving
the handle OF the oar completely through
his body aod killing him Instantly. We
ccnld relate many instances learned from
him bu; deter i, to another time. Tbers \.
DO doubt, however, but that be is a,mcst
the is,nsr of tho oil seaoing interest be,
tween Titusvile and what was then known
as The story farm, the only rsaneries be>
tween 'bese piaces being a very small one
on BaunehoG Run, the Bartlett d Newton
fshre'y scd'ors 90 the Story farm. Thsss