Big wheel
This photograph shows Pittsburgh bicyclist Frank Lenz on Route 40 with Washington in the background. It was taken by C. H. Petticord, president of the Alleghany Cyclers (Lenz was captain). Lenz and other Pittsburgh wheelmen toured on their high-wheel bikes as well as raced them. He left his accounting job in 1892 and set off on a bicycle trip around the world (riding a safety bike with equal size tires), subsidized by Outing magazine. So, this photograph would have been taken before 1892. Lenz did not complete his trip; he was murdered in Eastern Turkey. A book by David V. Herlihy on Lenz, his adventure, and the aftermath is due to be published this June.
I won't attempt to say what is in the photo, though it would be well if somebody does. Because of the date, I would think the well would have been drilled for gas, not oil.
(Submitted by Jim Herron)
Labels: Herron
posted by Park Burroughs at
8:41 AM
1 Comments:
I think I can date this photo to late spring or early summer afternoon in 1885. Gas was being drilled at the time, but more to the northwest of the city. The derrick is most likely that of the Gantz well, the first well to strike oil in the Washington field. The derrick went up in October 1884 and oil was brought up Dec. 31. It was never a high producer, but it was worked for 30 years; it was the first oil well and the start of the great oil boom. The well was near what is now the intersection of West Chestnut and Mill streets. Zoom in on the photo and the previous courthouse is visible just to the right of the derrick. The same view of the city can be seen by standing near McKean Plumbing today. There is one other derrick visible in the photo - there would be nearly 500 in the city by 1895. I'm guessing at the date by the fact that there is only one other derrick, that there is full foliage on the trees, and by the angle of the shadows.
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