davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17
Noble County Court House News

vehicle filed in the estate of A. J..
Lorenz.
Petition for authority to trans
fer certificate of title to motor
vehicle filed in the estate of
Minus Goodwill.
Petition for authority to trans
fer certificate of title to motor
vehicle filed in the estate of
Marion Khune.
First and final account filed
by guardian Henry Reitler.
Testimony of witness, waiver
of notice, consent to probate filed
in the estate of Martha Morris.
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17
-. Noble County can boast of the oldest oil well.
SCIENCE STUDENTS VIEW WELL FOR PROJECT

Grace Dennis, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Raymond Dennis, of
near Belle Valley, on the left, and Joyce Cain, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Paul D. Cain, of near Sharon, are shown as they are
measuring the followed out sycamore tree casing of the oil
well near Olive which can be seen at the John Morris farm,
junction of State Routes 70 and 54.
Mr.. John Wargos science class at Belle Valley high school
is making a study of the oil we'll as part of a project for the
science day which will be held in Athens at a later date.
The remaining tree casing extends above the ground approx
imaely Is inches while the diameter is an estimated % inches.
The edge has become ragged thru the years because of the
effects weather and age has upon it. The evidence of oil is
still very apparent on the water, although a certain amount
of silt and filament has developed in the original well.
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17

Stephen Yadrnak (deceased) to
George and Sophia Grywalski,
Florence, lots l40, 142, 143 and
l44, administrative deed.
Veronica H. Kress to Mary G..
Polling, Caldwell, part of lot 60,
administrative deed.
Howard f. and Elsie K. Zim-
norman to Hill and Clair Smith,
Elk township, COLT acres.
Gilbert and Goldie MILESTONE
to Mary Jordan, Jackson town
ship, 2.75 acres.
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17
CHURCH NOTICES

Rev. A. G. Riggle, pastor of
the Pleasant City Lutheran
charge, has announced the fol-
lowing services for the week:
st. Paul's Lutheran church,
Pleasant City - church service,
Oils a. m. and church school,
1918 a. M; Mt. Zion Lutheran
church, Pleasant City route, -
church school, $50 a. m, church
service, l0:l5 a. m, and Mid
week Lenten service, Thursday,
7:30 p. m; Harmony Lutheran
church, Buffalo - church school,
1000 a. m, church service, 1l:15
a.. m. and Luther league, 1880 pm.
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17

in the state, and, among the
oldest in the country.
1t can also freely state that it
was the 1lrSt to clam an oil well
of any kind N the state and mus.
step ASIDE only for Pennsylvania
10 nave the second in the Worlo
as far as commerciaIization is
concerned.
Colonel E. l.. Drake, a Con-
nectlcut Yankee, VINO was work
ing tor a private party, struck
Oil at a depth of II feet be4ow
the surface on August %, 1859.
his was the StarCIng point OF
one of the greatest OF al modern
industries.
some Pennsylvania pioneers
discovered Oil while boring for
salt near the town OF Butler, Pa,
In 1911. Though Noble county
can scarcely Substantiate the
claim Wnicn she has advanced
OF having the Oldest Oil well in
the Worlu, her title to the first
IN Ono is inoisputable.
Three years following the
Pennsylvania find, some Olive
SaltmakerS struck oil while bor-
ing a salt well in 1914. Inc two
men who were responsible for
this tind were Silas IhorIa and
Robert Mckee. They struck both
OIL and gas at the same time. AS
.ong is they pumped this well for
,alt water, the well would con-
.lnue to produce both of these
Natural resources.
The gas pressure in this we'll
would become SO powerful that
at intervals of a week to ten
Jays, continuously, the pressure
would force SO rapidly from the
well that water was thrown 40
1eet or more into the air and
alter the blowing" would cease,
mere would not be a sufficient
amount of pressure 10 force tne
water back up to the surface.
The flow of oil was also found
to be intermittent, and at times
the oil was pumped from the
well and thrown away, thus,
many many barrels of the ''black
golo' vas thrown inlo the creek
and wasted because it interterred
with the salt-maklng process.
Later on they found that they
could sell the oil to the Indians
for medicinal purposes. This pro-
cess of retrieving the Oil was
oone through the use of blankets
which we're placed on the water
and then wrung out, catching the
oil in a conta.ner.
The Caldwell salt we'll on Salt
Run, above Olive, also produced
salt and gas abundantly. BY
draining the salt water off from
beneath the oil, the brine could
be used for the manufacturing
of salt, while the petroleum, like
the other well, was principally
allowed to 60 to waste.
The land that the first oil well
was on was sold some years later
to an oil company from Penn
sylvania for a sum of $4,000.
This was, and still remains, the
highest price ever to be received
for a piece of property in Noble
county. Later the same company
sold the property back to the
original owners for half the
amount that they paid for it.
The oil we'll still remains
today and it can be seen on the
John Morris farm at the junction
of SR 70 and SIR 564. The casing
of the we'll was followed out
from a sycamore tree, but very
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OF H
AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE
1871 Avenue of the Americas - New York 20, NY.
March IL, 1860
MIR. John w. Wargo
Belle Valley High School
Science Denarfment

Mr.. John W. Wargo
Belle Valley High School
Science Department
Belle Valley, Ohio
Dear Mr.. Wargo:
This is in response to your recent inquiry concerning
the we'll which was bored in Noble County, Ohio, in 1914.
We have located several authoritative references to the we'll
which, as you know, was dug as a salt well. AS far as we
are able to determine, the Noble county well is the oldest
in existence in the United States and probably in North Amer
lea.
1t was not until 1859, however, that the first successful
well was drilled in the United States for the specific purpose
of finding crude oil Cat Titusville, Pennsylvania). Although
a number of salt wells which produced oil were dug long
before the advent of commercial petroleum production in
1859, the Ohio well was probably the first of notable depth
(475) to be bored in the United States.
The Derrck's Handbook of Petroleum, published by the
Derrick Publishing Company in Oil City, Pennsylvania in
1898, contains a fairly complete chronology of events in oil
history prior to 1859, and mentions this well as having the
greatest quantity of oil of any in the region.
Very truly yours,
Edward j. Mulligan
Assistant Manager
Economic Research Section
The above is a printed copy of the letter Mr.. John Wargo,
science instructor at Belle Valley high school, received from
what can be considered the headquarters of the entire oil
industry. This letter establishes final and exact data on our
we'll and can be considered the last word" on any and all
disputes that might have arose over the questionable first
in oil wells.
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17

, Little of it can be seer above the
ground now.
1t was mentioned in the begin
ming of this article that some
thing should be done to preserve
these historical materials. Be
cause of the fact that so many of
these things are slowly decaying
because no one is caring for
them has brought to the attention
Of many of the citizens of our
community the need for action.
Exactly what action to take is
the question that must be con-
fronted. 1t has been suggested
that a park be erected at the
site of the well. An arch way,
naming the site, could be placed
at the entrance off of SIR 564.
The we'll would be fenced off SO
that it would be protected from
souvenir seekers. A plaque might
be erected with the oil well story
placed on it. A parking area
could be made available, also a
few picnic tables might be put in
the nearby area.
This is but one thought per-
tanning to the preservation of
this historical spot. Perhaps the
readers have another and would
like to air their opinions on the
subject.
For those of you who are
money minced, it has been stated
in a recent survey that 20 mil
lion dollars are paid each year
in the USA by eager s~ightseers.
One of the fastest developing
businesses in the nation is the
tourist business. 1t has been esti-
mated that American tourists,
traveling in, through and around
the various parts of our nation
! will spend around SIS to $40
DILLON in 1860. Why shouldn't
noble county get in on a portion
of this jackpot? The amount that
he county could receive of this
sum is entirely dependent upon
the community Itself.
In oruer to interest tourists in
our area we 40 not have to boast
OF luxurious hotels, multi-million
d ollar airports, sun-drenched
beaches, or fountain of youth
resorts. 1t is a we'll known fact
that four out of five tourists earn
less than $1,000 per year, so it
means we do not have to cater to
and rely only upon the wealthy.
Wolf Run lake will be a major
attraction within a few years,
not only industrial wise, but also
for recreation purposes. 1t has
been pointed out that a couple
dozen tourists per day thruout
the year is compared economic
ally to acquiring a new m%anufac-
turing industry with an annual
payroll of 100000.
There it is in a nutshell. In
other words we of Noble county
are sitting in the middle of the
pot at the end of the rainbow and
haven't realized it. The first oil
we'll in the world would certainly
be an educational delight for
families, but if they don't know
it is here or where to find it, it
might as we'll not have happened.
Here is a chance for a wide
awake county to place itself in
the eyes of the sight-seer, give
itself an opportunity to prosper
financially without going into
debt, and at the same time pre-
serve for the generations to come
the great history of their kin
and county.
This is certainly a challenge
not to be ignored, not to be filed
away for later reference. The
time has come, opportunity is
knocking on the door of Noble
county. Will the rap be ignored
Or will we take advantage of it?
The question has been asked
only the spirited, interested, and
eager-minded Noble countians
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17
CENSUS TAKERS TEST

A test was given Wednesday
morning to a group of applica-
tons for census takers on the
enumeration of the 1860 popula-
ton census. The test was given
by Mrs. Mildred Day, crew lead
er, from Quaker City, in the court
room of the Noble county court
house.
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17
CAR RAMS DRIFT

Mrs. David King, Is, of near
Caldwell, was given emergency
treatment at Guernsey Memorial
hospital III Cambridge Thursday
afternoon after her auto went out
Of control and hit a snow bank
north of here. She reported that
her brakes grabbed causing the
mishap.
The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-03-17
Country's First Oil Surfaced
Thru followed Sycamore Tree
Evidence Of First Well Still Remoins
At Site, Located East Of Caldwell

Noble county has in its midst a multitude of history and we
fall over it every day that we walk out into the outof-doors. The
trouble is no me has ever taken the time to pin point it for others
from different counties and states o even for the natives of Noble
county.
It has been made aware to the present population that the
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
Mrs. Lillian POOre,
'73, Cheswold, Dies

Mrs. Lillian M. Poore, 73
wife of John Poore and daugh.
ter of the late Joseph and Mary
Truitt, died last Thursday, May
az, at her home at Cheswold
Funeral services were held Sun
day, May Is, at FAIRIES Funeral
Chapel with the Rev. ]. w. Res
sler, pastor of the Church oil
the Nazarene, Smyrna, in charge,
Interment was in Odd Fellows
Cemetery here. Mrs. Poore is
survived by her husband; a sis
ter, Mrs. Lena Poore, of Dover
and the following children: Da-
vid James Rose, Dover; Mrs
Vida Nabb, Leipsic; Earl Prose,
Smyrna; Edward F. Rose, Bos-
ton, Mass; Mrs. Mary Goldiner,
Philadelphia, Pa; and Presley
]. Rose, st. Petersburg, Fla, and
9 grandchildren.
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19

intendent of schools, stated,
1--WE are definitely handicapped
in Delaware this year in our re-
cruitment procedures because of
inadequate salaries. The starting
salary of $500 is wholly un-
realistic. Nevertheless, we in
Smyrna are doing all within our
power to obtain the very best
teachers possible, and we have
extended our recruitment pro-
cedures greatly this year. We
have contacted a total of 80
teacher placement agencies and
teacher colleges in our search
for recruits for the coming year.
Smyrna District has much to
offer a teacher: 1t is a pleasant
community with a fine student
body. Teacher morale is high
and there is a cooperative feel
ing between teachers, admins
tration and school board. All in
all, it is pleasant place for a
teacher to work"
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
Williams Talk
Scheduled Tonight

The program of the Smyrna
Special District School Parent
Teacher at the final meeting of
the new year will feature talk
by Charles V. Williams, high
school principal; a visit by Cor
RADIO Melega, Italian-born ex-
change student sponsored by
the American Field Service; and
the installation of new officers
by Mrs. Lawrence c. Ellery,
state vice president. Mr.. Will
liams will tell of his impressions
during the two-month visit dur
ing the winter when he partici-
pated in the second annual For
eign Seminar in Europe, speci-
fically of his visit to schools in
Finland and France. The meet
ing will be held today, Thurs
day, in the Smyrna Elementary
School at s p. m. The business
session will include committee
reports and new business. Par
ents are urged to register for
the Parent Attendance contest.
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
Grover c. King, 60.
Retired Trooper,
Buried Yesterday

Grover C. King, go, of Smyr-
ma, president of the Association
of Retired Delaware State Po-
lice, died Sunday in The Mem.
orial Hospital after brief ill.
ness. A native of New Jersey,
he had been a resident of Smyr-
ma for the past 40 years. His
wife died in February. MIR. King
was distributor of amusement
machines for several years fol
lowing his retirement from the
state police. He was past mes
ter of Harmony Lodge ID, A. F.
and A. NJ, a member of Asbury
Methodist Church, the Citizens
Hose Company, No. l, Inc, OF
Smyrna, and of Morning Star
Lodge No. 8, IOOF. He is sur
vived by his mother, Mrs. Ida
Donovan, Smyrna, two daugh'
tiers, Mrs. Frederick Williams, OF
Wilmington; and Mrs. William
6. Roe of Smyrna; and five
grandchildren. Funeral services
were held Wednesday at l:3O
p. m, from the FAIRIES Funeral
Chapel in Smyrna, with the Rev
j. Howard Link, pastor of AS.
bury Methodist Church officiat.
ing. Interment was made in the
Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
designations
Continued from Page ~
M xJ.1- VI

sons, Magnolia, Viola, WOOD
side, Cordova, Md, Cheswold,
and Milton. She began her teach
ing career here in 1923. The
Smyrna Board of Education ac-
cepted Miss Matthews retire
ment, commenting on the al
most half-century of servic e
which she has given to pupils of
Delaware. The three new resig-
nations swell the list for this
year to five. Others previously
announced have included Hunt
er j. Clark, physics and general
science teacher for the past two
years; Miss Patricia Killalea,
ninth grade teacher of English
since 1857; and Miss Mary B.
Amo, teacher of senior English
since 1855. In addition to the
five designations, the district an
ticipates the need for three ad-
ditional teachers for the 1960-6l
school year, bringing to eight
the total number of new teach
ers needed. During the previous
school year only two resigna-
tions occurred, those of Miss
Miriam Brown, high chool
math teacher, and Mrs. Doris
Smith, who retired. Five addi-
tional teachers were hired last
summer due to increased enroll
ment. DR.. George V. Kirk, super
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
Advertisement
Deaf Man Perfects
Smallest Hearing Aid

WILMINGTON, DEL. (SpecaD-A remarkable midget
hearing aid has been perfected by who
of hearing for nearly ten years.
This smallest aid has dangling Cords or separate
transmitting units and represents idea and
design in product for the hard of hearing
1t is made for those people who hear but do
derstand This instrument provides eve hearing
radio at his rather than transmer located in the
wearer's clothing.
Due to the of transistors the users ex-
tremey low and the instrument weighs approximately
quarter ounce. 1t is about the size of thimbe
Write to Galen W. Jordin 100 Kenwood Lane Whining
ton or call WYman 43541 You will full information
without any obligation.
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
Smyrna Pre-SchOol
Enrolment Rises
Above SO Figures

The results of last weeks pre-
school enrolment of first grade
youngsters resulted in a total
of l08 boys and girls being reg
istered. This was II higher than
the 1859 total of 96. Of the to-
tai of l08, 5 colored pupils were
enrolled in the first grade. Last
year 6 colored pupils enrolled
in first grade. The pre-school
enrolment held in May assists
the Smyrna District in adequate
ly preparing sufficient rooms,
supplies, and teachers for the
coming year. The pre-school en-
rollment usually falls short of
the actual September ENROLL
ment. Last year the pre- school
enrolment of SO increased to a
total of l40 by September, and
it is anticipated that the pre-
school enrolment of l08 will
increase to at least this level by
September 1860. At the present
time the Elementary School has
three sections of grades 4, 5,
and 6; four sections of grades
2 and 3; and 5 sections of grade
l. 1t is expected that an ad-
ditional section of grade A will
be necessary next year as the
l2l students of grade 3 move
forward, and that probably an
additional section of grade 2
may be necessary. Over the
past four years the Smyrna
Schools have added a total of
20 teachers to their staff as a
result of increased enrollments.
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
Mrs. William Kirk
Gains Presidency
OF Century Club

A tea with members of the
executive committee as hostess
es followed the final business
meeting of the Twentieth Gen.
tury Club. Mrs. Joseph w. En-
mis-, former president of the
State Federation, presided over
the installation of new officers
during a candle-lighting service,
with candles arranged in the
form of a wheel, signifying the
president as the hub; the off
GERS, the spokes, and the mem
bers the rim. Officers installed
were Mrs. William D. Kirk, pres
ident; Mrs. ]. Everett Lofland,
first vice president; Mrs. George
v. Kirk, second vice president;
Mrs. William Rundell, cores
ponding secretary; Mrs. Law
renee c. Ellery, treasurer; Mrs.
Harold E. Wickham, director.
Mrs. Robert Bamberger, elected
recording secretary, was not
present. Mrs. Richard c. Bobzin,
who had served during the year
as president following the resig-
nation of Mrs. Kenneth d. Mi
hills, was presented a silver
bowl by Miss Mary Holland, in
tribute to her services to the
club. Delegates and alternates
were named to attend the con-
vention of the State Federation
to be held in Wilmington May
22-28: Mrs. William D. Kirk,
Mrs. Richard c. Bobzin, Mrs.
Harold E. Wickham, delegates;
Mrs. Andrew D. Cole, Mrs. Will
liam Rundell, alternates. In OBJ
servance of Federation Week
members Of the club will attend
services at st. Peters Episcopal
Church on Sunday, May %, in
a group. A history of the club
written by Mrs. Robert H. Den
ney was read by Mrs. Clark M.
Knotts, secretary. Miss Bertha
Smithers read an original poem
in free verse of the early days
of the club and the town of
Smyrna as it was when the club
was formed in 1898. She had
served as president during 1911
IL. The club voted to support
the Music Camp scholarship and
to make a contribution to the
Children's Bureau. Mrs. Bobzin
presented the presidents pin to
Mrs. Kirk. Reports were heard
from officers and committee
chairmen.
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
SMYRNA Chairman
Directing Farley
OF Delaware BPW

Miss Ruth Ellen Reihm of the
Smyrna-Clayton Business and
Professional Women's Club is
serving as general chairman of
the 23rd annual convention of
the Delaware Federation of
Business and Professional Wom-
ems Clubs, Inc, meeting May
20 to % in the Hotel Dupont,
Wilmington. Miss Reihm, a
past state president, was ap-
pointed by the present president
Mrs. Rosella T. Humes of Harr-
ington. Honor guest at the con-
clave and banquet speaker on
Saturday night will | be Miss
Katherine Peden of Hopginsville,
KY, second vice president of
the National Federation of B.P.
w. Clubs. Another national fed
Grafton guest will be Mrs. Hat
tie B. Trazenfeld, Office manager
and legislation staff director at
the national groups headquar-
tiers in Washington, D. c. Gov.
]. Caleb Boggs, Senator and
Mrs. John ]. Williams, Senator
and Mrs. ]. Allen Frear, and
Congressman and Mrs. Harris B.
Mcdowell have accepted invita-
tions to attend the banquet. AT
the beginning of the business
session on Saturday morning,
greetings will be extended by
the Mayor and the Delaware
State Chamber of Commerce.
The local clubs scholarship re-
cipients will be honored during
the Saturday luncheon in the
Gold Ballroom. Miss Kay Bulg-
er, who has received the Smyr-
na-Clayton Clubs awards, will
be their guest at this event.
Mrs. June c. Anthony of the
local organization is serving as
convention credentials ch air
man. Other chairmen include:
Reservations, Miss Audrey King,
Penny Hill Club, Wilmington;
registrations, Mrs. Helen Eng
land, Brandywine Club, Wilm-
ington; manual, Mrs. Pauline
Money, Mid-County Club, Mid
dletown; resolutions, Mrs. Jess
Gooding, Mispillion Club, Mil
ford; rules, Mrs. Margaret Hast
ings, Seaford Club; and badges,
Mrs. Bert Boyd, Capital City
Club, Dover. Miss Terry Wood
and Mrs. Elizabeth Stafford,
both of the Christiana Club of
Wilmington, are in charge of
publicity and entertainment re-
spectively. New state officers
will be installed at the Sunday
dinner in the DuBarry Room.
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
ZOO Youngsters
Held Spellbound
By E-52 Players

Seven hundred young child
rem filled the auditorium of the
Smyrna Elementary School last
Wednesday afternoon and were
transported for one hour to the
make-believe world of fantasy
when they were completely in
volved and entranced by the
play, "Snow White and the Sew
en- Dwarfs," staged by the E-52
Players, Childfen's Theatre, Uni
versity of Delaware. In addition
to all of the children in the
local school, a class of twenty
children and their teachers had
been invited from the Clayton
School, as well as fourteen boys
and girls who had attended the
kindergarten held at the Youth
Center during the present school
year. The elegant blue and gold
set formed the background to
the perfect presentation by the
college students of the we'll
loved fairy tale. The beautiful
costumes added to the perfec-
tion of the production, and the
acting was of the highest quail
ity. Mrs. Julia w. Slaughter,
principal of the Smyrna Elemen-
tary School, was in charge of
arrangements and seating of the
large audience, assisted by mem
bers of the teaching staff. The
director of the college group
remarked that the Smyrna chill
dren were the most responsive
audience they had played to on
their tour, and also paid tribute
to the excellent cooperation of
local school officials.
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
Republicans Set
Open Meet May Is

An open meeting for all in
terested Republicans will be
sponsored by the First District
Republican Com m tie e next
Wednesday evening, May Is, at
g p. m. in the Legion Room
over Town Hall. Mrs. Jacque-
line P. Bamberger is chairman
of the local program. Robert L,
Bamberger will speak on the or
ganization of the Kent County
Republicans.
Smyrna times., 1960-05-19
IOwman Youth Rites

Vernon A. Lowman, b, son OF
MIR. and Mrs. Lloyd E. Lowman
of Clayton, was buried Satur-
day in Odd Fellows Cemetery,
Smyrna. The youth died May
IL at Kent General Hospital.
Services were held Saturday at
FAIRIES Funeral Chapel with the
Rev. Frank o. Baynard, pastor
of Ewell's-St. Paul Methodist
Church, officiating. In addition
to his parents the youth is sur.
vived by two brothers, Lloyd
E., Jr., and Alvin, and two sis.
tiers, Shirlyn and Mary Frances