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AS THE STORY GOES, IT ALL BEGAN WITH AN EMPTY WHISKEY BOTTLE. AFTER A FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR
WITH AN EMPTY WHISKEY BOTTLE. AFTER A FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR OIL, THREE PENNSYLVANIA MEN
AFTER A FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR OIL, THREE PENNSYLVANIA MEN DECIDED TO DRILL ONE LAST WELL
OIL, THREE PENNSYLVANIA MEN DECIDED TO DRILL ONE LAST WELL AND PICK ITS LOCATION WITH THE
DECIDED TO DRILL ONE LAST WELL AND PICK ITS LOCATION WITH THE TOSS OF A BOTTLE.
AND PICK ITS LOCATION WITH THE TOSS OF A BOTTLE. WHAT THEY HIT WAS ONE OF THE
TOSS OF A BOTTLE. WHAT THEY HIT WAS ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST OIL FIELDS.
HI. I AM JIM WILHELM. IN 1906, THAT DISCOVERY LED TO
I AM JIM WILHELM. IN 1906, THAT DISCOVERY LED TO THE BEGINNING OF AN OIL BOOM IN
IN 1906, THAT DISCOVERY LED TO THE BEGINNING OF AN OIL BOOM IN CRAWFORD COUNTY.
THE BEGINNING OF AN OIL BOOM IN CRAWFORD COUNTY. TODAY, THE INDUSTRY THAT SPRANG
CRAWFORD COUNTY. TODAY, THE INDUSTRY THAT SPRANG FROM THAT WELL IS REMEMBERED
TODAY, THE INDUSTRY THAT SPRANG FROM THAT WELL IS REMEMBERED HERE AT THE ILLINOIS OIL FIELD
FROM THAT WELL IS REMEMBERED HERE AT THE ILLINOIS OIL FIELD MUSEUM IN OBLONG, NOT FAR FROM
HERE AT THE ILLINOIS OIL FIELD MUSEUM IN OBLONG, NOT FAR FROM WHERE THE FIRST WELL GUSHED.
MUSEUM IN OBLONG, NOT FAR FROM WHERE THE FIRST WELL GUSHED. INSIDE AMONG THE TOOLS ON DAY
WHERE THE FIRST WELL GUSHED. INSIDE AMONG THE TOOLS ON DAY DISPLAYS ARE SIGNS FROM
INSIDE AMONG THE TOOLS ON DAY DISPLAYS ARE SIGNS FROM COMPANIES ONCE LOCATED HERE,
DISPLAYS ARE SIGNS FROM COMPANIES ONCE LOCATED HERE, INCLUDING MUSKIE.
COMPANIES ONCE LOCATED HERE, INCLUDING MUSKIE. IT WAS FOUNDED BY THOSE MEN FROM
INCLUDING MUSKIE. IT WAS FOUNDED BY THOSE MEN FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND WE WERE TOLD
IT WAS FOUNDED BY THOSE MEN FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND WE WERE TOLD THE NAME IS INDIAN TERM MEANING
PENNSYLVANIA AND WE WERE TOLD THE NAME IS INDIAN TERM MEANING "MORE MONEY."
THE NAME IS INDIAN TERM MEANING "MORE MONEY." SOMETIMES TO GET THAT MONEY,
"MORE MONEY." SOMETIMES TO GET THAT MONEY, THESE CANISTERS WERE USED.
SOMETIMES TO GET THAT MONEY, THESE CANISTERS WERE USED. THEY WERE FILLED WITH
THESE CANISTERS WERE USED. THEY WERE FILLED WITH NITROGLYCERIN AND LOWER DOWN THE
THEY WERE FILLED WITH NITROGLYCERIN AND LOWER DOWN THE WELL BORE, THEN THE
NITROGLYCERIN AND LOWER DOWN THE WELL BORE, THEN THE NITROGLYCERIN WAS DROPPING BY
WELL BORE, THEN THE NITROGLYCERIN WAS DROPPING BY DROPPING A GO DEVIL DOWN THE
NITROGLYCERIN WAS DROPPING BY DROPPING A GO DEVIL DOWN THE BOARD T WOULD CREATE UNDERGROUND
DROPPING A GO DEVIL DOWN THE BOARD T WOULD CREATE UNDERGROUND CAVERN IN WHICH THE OIL WOULD
BOARD T WOULD CREATE UNDERGROUND CAVERN IN WHICH THE OIL WOULD FLOW.
CAVERN IN WHICH THE OIL WOULD FLOW. ONCE OIL WAS HIT, TO KEEP IT
FLOW. ONCE OIL WAS HIT, TO KEEP IT FLOWING, PUMPS WERE PLACED AT
ONCE OIL WAS HIT, TO KEEP IT FLOWING, PUMPS WERE PLACED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL BORES.
FLOWING, PUMPS WERE PLACED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL BORES. THEY WERE CONNECTED TO THE
THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL BORES. THEY WERE CONNECTED TO THE SURFACE BY A DRILL SPRING,
THEY WERE CONNECTED TO THE SURFACE BY A DRILL SPRING, SERIES OF CONNECTING PIPES WHICH
SURFACE BY A DRILL SPRING, SERIES OF CONNECTING PIPES WHICH AT THAT TIME WERE MADE OF WOOD.
SERIES OF CONNECTING PIPES WHICH AT THAT TIME WERE MADE OF WOOD. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT
AT THAT TIME WERE MADE OF WOOD. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT PETROLEUM WHICH FIEWLTSES ON
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT PETROLEUM WHICH FIEWLTSES ON MODERN AGE WAS ONCE DELIVERED BY
PETROLEUM WHICH FIEWLTSES ON MODERN AGE WAS ONCE DELIVERED BY HORSE DRAWN WAGONS.
MODERN AGE WAS ONCE DELIVERED BY HORSE DRAWN WAGONS. OH, AND ANOTHER WHYS AT THIS
HORSE DRAWN WAGONS. OH, AND ANOTHER WHYS AT THIS CONNECTION: OIL IS SOLD BY THE
OH, AND ANOTHER WHYS AT THIS CONNECTION: OIL IS SOLD BY THE BARREL BECAUSE IN THE MID
CONNECTION: OIL IS SOLD BY THE BARREL BECAUSE IN THE MID 1800'S, IT WAS STORED IN WOODEN
BARREL BECAUSE IN THE MID 1800'S, IT WAS STORED IN WOODEN WHISKEY BARRELS, THE ONLY THING
1800'S, IT WAS STORED IN WOODEN WHISKEY BARRELS, THE ONLY THING AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.
WHISKEY BARRELS, THE ONLY THING AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM IS SURROUNDED
AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM IS SURROUNDED BY LARGER PIECES, INCLUDING
OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM IS SURROUNDED BY LARGER PIECES, INCLUDING ANOTHER HORSE DRAWN WAGON.
BY LARGER PIECES, INCLUDING ANOTHER HORSE DRAWN WAGON. THIS ONE IS A PULLING UNIT.
ANOTHER HORSE DRAWN WAGON. THIS ONE IS A PULLING UNIT. OCCASIONALLY THE PUMP AT THE
THIS ONE IS A PULLING UNIT. OCCASIONALLY THE PUMP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL WOULD FAIL,
OCCASIONALLY THE PUMP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL WOULD FAIL, AND THAT'S WHEN THIS WAGON WAS
BOTTOM OF THE WELL WOULD FAIL, AND THAT'S WHEN THIS WAGON WAS USED.
AND THAT'S WHEN THIS WAGON WAS USED. ONCE IN POSITION, THE PULLING
USED. ONCE IN POSITION, THE PULLING UNIT STOOD STRAIGHT UP, CREATING
ONCE IN POSITION, THE PULLING UNIT STOOD STRAIGHT UP, CREATING BLOCK AND TACKLE FORM.
UNIT STOOD STRAIGHT UP, CREATING BLOCK AND TACKLE FORM. THEN A CABLE WAS STRUNG
BLOCK AND TACKLE FORM. THEN A CABLE WAS STRUNG THROUGHOUT PULLEY AT THE TOP,
THEN A CABLE WAS STRUNG THROUGHOUT PULLEY AT THE TOP, AND HORSES WERE USED TO PULL UP
THROUGHOUT PULLEY AT THE TOP, AND HORSES WERE USED TO PULL UP THE ENTIRE DRILL LINE AND THE
AND HORSES WERE USED TO PULL UP THE ENTIRE DRILL LINE AND THE OLD PUMP.
THE ENTIRE DRILL LINE AND THE OLD PUMP. IT WAS A TOUGH JOB BACK THEN
OLD PUMP. IT WAS A TOUGH JOB BACK THEN WORKING IN OIL.
IT WAS A TOUGH JOB BACK THEN WORKING IN OIL. THOUSANDS HAD FLOODED THE AREA
WORKING IN OIL. THOUSANDS HAD FLOODED THE AREA SEEKING EMPLOYMENT AND INSTANT
THOUSANDS HAD FLOODED THE AREA SEEKING EMPLOYMENT AND INSTANT WEALTH.
SEEKING EMPLOYMENT AND INSTANT WEALTH. THERE WERE NO UNIONS, PAY WAS
WEALTH. THERE WERE NO UNIONS, PAY WAS MINIMAL, AND IN THE DAYS OF
THERE WERE NO UNIONS, PAY WAS MINIMAL, AND IN THE DAYS OF HORSES MOST OF THE WORK WAS DONE
MINIMAL, AND IN THE DAYS OF HORSES MOST OF THE WORK WAS DONE BY HAND.
HORSES MOST OF THE WORK WAS DONE BY HAND. PIPELINE DITCHES WERE DUG
BY HAND. PIPELINE DITCHES WERE DUG MANUALLY, AND IT TOOK THREE MEN
PIPELINE DITCHES WERE DUG MANUALLY, AND IT TOOK THREE MEN CONSTANTLY TURNING THEESE LARGE
MANUALLY, AND IT TOOK THREE MEN CONSTANTLY TURNING THEESE LARGE TONGUES TO SCREW ONE SECTION OF
CONSTANTLY TURNING THEESE LARGE TONGUES TO SCREW ONE SECTION OF PIPE INTO THE CONNECTING COLLAR.
TONGUES TO SCREW ONE SECTION OF PIPE INTO THE CONNECTING COLLAR. MEANWHILE, IN THE FIELDS, MORE
PIPE INTO THE CONNECTING COLLAR. MEANWHILE, IN THE FIELDS, MORE WELLS WERE BEING DRILLED AND
MEANWHILE, IN THE FIELDS, MORE WELLS WERE BEING DRILLED AND MORE PUMPS WERE BEING SET TO
WELLS WERE BEING DRILLED AND MORE PUMPS WERE BEING SET TO WORK.
IT WAS NEAR HERE IN 1906 THAT ONE OF THE LARGEST OIL FIELDS IN THE STATE WAS DISCOVERED.
ONE OF THE LARGEST OIL FIELDS IN THE STATE WAS DISCOVERED. THAT FIRST WELL CAME IN AT
THE STATE WAS DISCOVERED. THAT FIRST WELL CAME IN AT 1500-BARRELS A DAY MAKING
THAT FIRST WELL CAME IN AT 1500-BARRELS A DAY MAKING ILLINOIS ONE OF THE LARGEST OIL
1500-BARRELS A DAY MAKING ILLINOIS ONE OF THE LARGEST OIL PRODUCING STATES.
ILLINOIS ONE OF THE LARGEST OIL PRODUCING STATES. THAT TITLE HAS PASSED, BUT THE
PRODUCING STATES. THAT TITLE HAS PASSED, BUT THE OIL FIELD IS STILL PRODUCING AS
THAT TITLE HAS PASSED, BUT THE OIL FIELD IS STILL PRODUCING AS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMEROUS PUMPS
OIL FIELD IS STILL PRODUCING AS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMEROUS PUMPS DOTTING THE LANDSCAPE.
EVIDENCED BY THE NUMEROUS PUMPS DOTTING THE LANDSCAPE. TODAY THEY ARE POWER BY ELECTRIC
DOTTING THE LANDSCAPE. TODAY THEY ARE POWER BY ELECTRIC MOTORS. BUT TURN OF THE CENTURY
TODAY THEY ARE POWER BY ELECTRIC MOTORS. BUT TURN OF THE CENTURY THEY USED A COMBINATION OF OLD
MOTORS. BUT TURN OF THE CENTURY THEY USED A COMBINATION OF OLD AND NEW TECHNOLOGY.
BACK THEN, EACH PUMP WAS CONNECTED BY STEEL RODS TO A LARGE WHEEL TURNED BY A SINGLE
CONNECTED BY STEEL RODS TO A LARGE WHEEL TURNED BY A SINGLE ENGINE.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE UNITS. IN ADDITION TO THE OIL, MOST WELLS ALSO PRODUCED SOME NATURAL
IN ADDITION TO THE OIL, MOST WELLS ALSO PRODUCED SOME NATURAL GAS, AND THAT GAS WAS USED TO
WELLS ALSO PRODUCED SOME NATURAL GAS, AND THAT GAS WAS USED TO POWER SOME OF THESE ENGINES.
GAS, AND THAT GAS WAS USED TO POWER SOME OF THESE ENGINES. EACH ONE OF THEM HAS A MARKER ON
POWER SOME OF THESE ENGINES. EACH ONE OF THEM HAS A MARKER ON THE EXHAUST WHICH GIVES OFF A
EACH ONE OF THEM HAS A MARKER ON THE EXHAUST WHICH GIVES OFF A LOUD NOISE EVERY SO OFTEN.
THE EXHAUST WHICH GIVES OFF A LOUD NOISE EVERY SO OFTEN. AND THAT'S SO THEY CAN MONITOR
LOUD NOISE EVERY SO OFTEN. AND THAT'S SO THEY CAN MONITOR THE ENGINE FROM AFAR.
THIS UNIT HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION SINCE 1909, AND LIKE THE MODEL WE SAW IN THE MUSEUM,
OPERATION SINCE 1909, AND LIKE THE MODEL WE SAW IN THE MUSEUM, IT, TOO, TURNED A LARGE WHEEL
THE MODEL WE SAW IN THE MUSEUM, IT, TOO, TURNED A LARGE WHEEL WHICH MOVES THE ROD LINES BACK
IT, TOO, TURNED A LARGE WHEEL WHICH MOVES THE ROD LINES BACK AND FORTH WHICH OPERATES THE
WHICH MOVES THE ROD LINES BACK AND FORTH WHICH OPERATES THE PUMPS.
AND FORTH WHICH OPERATES THE PUMPS. A LOST FOLKS WHO GREW UP IN THIS
PUMPS. A LOST FOLKS WHO GREW UP IN THIS AREA REMEMBER GOING TO SLEEP
A LOST FOLKS WHO GREW UP IN THIS AREA REMEMBER GOING TO SLEEP WITH THOSE BARKERS COUGHING ALL
AREA REMEMBER GOING TO SLEEP WITH THOSE BARKERS COUGHING ALL NIGHT LONG.
WITH THOSE BARKERS COUGHING ALL NIGHT LONG. IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO THE
NIGHT LONG. IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO THE ENGINE, THE SILENCE WAS ENOUGH
IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO THE ENGINE, THE SILENCE WAS ENOUGH TO WAKE THE FOR MAN.
ENGINE, THE SILENCE WAS ENOUGH TO WAKE THE FOR MAN. AND THE ROD LINES RUN MORE THAN
TO WAKE THE FOR MAN. AND THE ROD LINES RUN MORE THAN JUMPS.
AND THE ROD LINES RUN MORE THAN JUMPS. SOME INVENTIVE PERSON DESIGNED
JUMPS. SOME INVENTIVE PERSON DESIGNED THIS WOODEN BOX COULD BE HOOK
SOME INVENTIVE PERSON DESIGNED THIS WOODEN BOX COULD BE HOOK TODAY A LINE WHICH WOULD ROCK IT
THIS WOODEN BOX COULD BE HOOK TODAY A LINE WHICH WOULD ROCK IT BACK AND FORTH AND IT BECAME A
TODAY A LINE WHICH WOULD ROCK IT BACK AND FORTH AND IT BECAME A CLOTHES WASHER.
BACK AND FORTH AND IT BECAME A CLOTHES WASHER. SOON THE MUSEUM HOPES TO
CLOTHES WASHER. SOON THE MUSEUM HOPES TO RELOCATE TO A LARGER FACILITY.
SOON THE MUSEUM HOPES TO RELOCATE TO A LARGER FACILITY. AND THEY HAVE PLANS TO
RELOCATE TO A LARGER FACILITY. AND THEY HAVE PLANS TO RECONSTRUCT A WOODEN OIL DERRICK
AND THEY HAVE PLANS TO RECONSTRUCT A WOODEN OIL DERRICK OVER THE FIRST WELL THAT STARTED
RECONSTRUCT A WOODEN OIL DERRICK OVER THE FIRST WELL THAT STARTED THE BOOM.
FOR DIRECTIONS TO OR FROM TIMES THE MUSEUMS ARE OPEN CALL (618)544-3087.