Norwood Historical Society Talk: History Of Oil-August 2, 1956

Norwood Historical Society Features Films on Bahamian Wildlife and the History of the Oil Industry at Day House Meeting

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At the regular quarterly meeting of the Norwood Historical Society, held at the historic Day House on July 25, James M. Foley of Natick presented two interesting and most unusual sound and color films for members and guests. The first film, entitled Island Oddities off the Bahamas, showed pictures taken by a man and his wife who cruised for months off the Bahamas in their yacht Luray, landing frequently to photograph wildlife on the rocky shores. Among the most interesting pictures were those of various birds, such as oystercatchers, black-necked stilts, Bahama mockingbirds, yellow tropic birds with long slender tail feathers, sooty terns with their sleek black coats and white vests, and nodding terns that greet each other with friendly nods. Tiny baby stilts were also seen; although they were about the size of one’s thumb, they soon learned to heed the various calls given by the parent birds, and on one occasion the photographer saved a group of baby birds from a school of fish.

Huge hermit crabs, protecting themselves with unusual shells used as portable houses, were shown, alongside a termite’s nest and lizards feeding on termites, tiny jellyfish of strange shapes, spiny sea urchins, an octopus, and large starfish. Several of the photos were secured at risk of life and limb, allowing those present to view marvels of nature which it would be impossible to see in real life. The second film, which was a decided contrast to the first, was produced by the American Petroleum Institute and detailed the beginning of the oil industry in the United States. In this motor age of 1950, it is hard to realize that a century ago oil wells were unknown. In 1855, a Yale professor reported that many valuable products could be secured from a type of oil discovered in Titusville, Pa. Only three to six gallons a day were being obtained by the crude method of skimming oil from the surface of the water, until Dr. Breuer of the Brewer Watson Co. of Titusville thought another method was possible.

It remained for Edwin L. Drake of New Haven, Conn.—who was financed by New Haven interests and given the honorary title of “Colonel”—to prove that oil could be obtained in large quantities through drilling operations. Although Colonel Drake was initially ridiculed and scoffed at, he started his men digging. After making an excavation several feet deep, they were almost drowned when water rushed in, leading them to decide that a drill would prove to be the solution. Drills were already being used near Pittsburgh for mining salt, so Drake ordered a similar drill and engaged a man to work it, though that man and several others failed to appear after being hired. After many months filled with disappointment and frustration, Drake secured the services of a driller known as “Uncle Ben” Smith, who agreed to work for $2.50 a day. Drilling started on August 4, 1859, and by the 27th, a depth of sixty-nine feet had been reached. Suddenly and almost miraculously, oil appeared, and soon the well was producing four hundred gallons a day.

Thus, a new industry was born due to the patience, perseverance, and faith of Colonel Edwin Drake. The news spread rapidly, resulting in men crowding into the area, leasing land, and beginning to drill wells—marking the beginning of the petroleum industry that furnishes the lifeblood of industrial and economic life today. Following the showing of the films, a social hour was enjoyed during which refreshments were served by Mrs. Katie Hunt and Miss Helga Peterson.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Norwood Messenger