The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1873-10-10
A Visit to PithOle City.

latiOn. Men were TO be found there from
all parts Of the Union. At one ting IN the
summer OF 1865 it was impossible for the
crowd Of strangers TO obtain acccommeda-
tion. Every evening they came marching
into Pitb0ls in bstslIions, over the read
leading from Tiiusville. During the warm
weather men camped out, or paid dollar
each for sleeping sheds on piles Of sbavings
Large hotels were built with the utmost
rapidity. The bill on the Holmden farm
wa, soon covered with buildings. A bor-
ough was formed early 10 1866, and bor-
ough government elected, Alexander J.
Keen an being the first burgess and Col onel
David Gardner being the first Chief OF Po-
lice. These were tho halcyon days Of Pitt
hole. The new city was then in her glory.
10 the valley aud on the flats there were
spouters larger than any now 10 the Butler
oil field. Everybody ran wild with the
speculative fever. Thousands OF dollars
daily changed hands. The streets were
thronged every day and long into the night.
=
hole bad Its rise, It's period Of prosperity, so
It had iis period of decline aud fall. 1t is
not now the Pithoe of former times. The
buildings have nearly ell been eith.r deet
.royed BY Gre or removed to other portions
of the oil region. The Duncan House,
which was once one OF the large hotels OF
that place. now stands in Oil City. The
old Chase House, around which clustered
many interesting traditions Of the early days
Of Pithole, was removed to Pleasautville
and afterwards destroyed. pithole is now
q small hamlet, where you will meet few
old familiar faces Of !boss who have stuck
By the old borough through oil these years.
But the place hes dwindled away, and
person who left It six or seven years ago
would not recognise It now. 1t is no larger
than small cross roads couutry village
10 the days when Pithole was 10 its heigh,
OF her glory, q travelling agent of New
York mercantile house visited it, and took
large number OF orders, imm edistely after
which he took bis leave Of the place. He
never visited 1t again until yesterday. He
WAS here 10 company with another msrcan-
tile traveller, who halls from Rochester. At
the PsrshaIl House they met gentleman
from New York, but who had formerly re-
sided ct Pithole. He extended 40 invita-
iiou to the two commercial travellers to ride
across the country TO Pitbole. The CONNER
cial gen.lemsu who had uformerIy visited
The place gladly accepted the Invitation,
and pursuaded bis Rochester friend to ac/
company them, assuring him that ths place
was once one of the liveliest In the oil re.
gion. He thought he was correct. The
party started out, stopping at Pleasantville
on the way, aud ulso at the Bean farm. All
the way over our New York Commercial
traveller wss dissenting on the glories of
Pithole, assuring bis Rochester friend that
they were sure to sell large bill of goods.
The old Pitholeau, who knew the present
condition Of the "city," was oil the while
to himseif On they drove and
into PithoIs. They proceeded down Holm
oou oh0os w suo 0OuS6. WuUF6
they stopped. This New York commercial.
traveller did not recognize Pitbola. He
thought 1t was further away. The Trio
stopped at the Daniorth House to take din
ner. After dinner was over the New York
commercial gentlemnn proposed that they
hurry up and get into Pi,hole. "Get into
Pithole, ,"said the gentleman who had takeo
them on their journey, "wby you ore In
Pitbole now." "The devil we are," said
he. "Pi,hols IL no such place as this; youN
can't fool me that way" It was some time
before the bew ilJered commercial traveller
could be made to realize that "old times
had changed, old manners gone" When
be came TO a realizing eense OF the true
condition OF things, his language was far
more forcibe than elegant. The party re/
turned o Titusville last evening, but our
friend had not hing to say about what CAV
and lively city Pilhole was..-TitusvilIe.
Courier. n
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