Before there was OPEC, lipstick and nylons, Iran and Alberta and even Titusville and Colonel Drake there was Petrolia and OIl Springs Ontario Canada. Here is where the world's oil industry started. In an age when few people traveled past the borders of their own counties, the pioneer oilman went out from the wilderness of Southeastern Ontario to discover most of the major oil fields of the world. They were on the Gobi Desert and in the Arctic, in Iran when it was Persia, Indonesia, Australia, and Russia+87 counties in all. In the 1920s, HarOilers brought home Alberta tar sands to pave the main street of Petrolia.
Petrolia
Discovery is a one-of-a-kind
glimpse into the early days of the world’s oil
boom. From the first, hand-dug wells of the
1850s, to the great refineries and machine shops
which abounded at the turn of the century,
Petrolia’s Oil Heritage runs old and deep as the
wells themselves. See an authentic 1860s
oilfield in action.
The gem of Petrolia Discovery is
The Fitzgerald Rig, in continuous service
since 1903 this marvel of ingenuity and
engineering serves as a central
power source to operate multiple oil wells
which are connected by the jerker
line system.
In an age when few people traveled
beyond the borders of their own home town, the
pioneer oil men of Lambton County went out
from the wilderness of Southwestern Ontario to
discover most of the major oilfields of the
world. They were on the Gobi, and in the
Arctic, in Iran when it was still Persia,
Indonesia, Australia, Russia… 87 countries in
all. In the 1920s, Hard Oils brought home
Alberta tar sands to pave the main street of
Petrolia.
See the little known story of these
amazing men at the Petrolia Discovery, a
one-of-a-kind museum combining history and
artifacts from the world’s first Oil Industry
within the framework of an original and still
operational oilfield, established in the
1860s.
Petrolia Discovery is a centre to
learn, experience and enjoy the stories of
Canadian ingenuity, talent and the pioneering
spirit of Lambton County and its people –
Canadians who influenced the global oil
industry.
PETROLIA
DISCOVERY
4281
Petrolia Line
Petrolia ON
COME AND SEE THIS AMAZING AND MAGNIFICENT LIVING MUSEUM
On the way in on the West side one sees a view of the Bear Creek covered bridge.
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 editor's collection Marthaville church ca.1880 and moved to Discovery |
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 The Discovery Store with Betty Popelier
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 editor's collection Exterior of the Fitzgerald Rig |
 editor's collection View shows Jerker Line entering F. rig |
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 editor's collection The working Fitzgerald Rig as seen today |
 editor's collection Another view of the Fitzgerald rig which illustrates the talent of the last centuries Woodwrights. |
 editor's collection This view is to show the flat drive belts in action. |
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washed, and repainted and windows reglazed by Leo Bradshaw a tireless volunteer .  July 07 The church facade done These 3 pics are from a walk that I took through Discovery recently. As you can see this place is awesome . Come and see it for yourself.  July 07 3 pole rig  Tanker with 3 pole rig in background |
 editor's collection Sheila Rose, formerly of Petrolia. was working with Kathy Webster and her grade 5/6 class producing a movie, she was invited to Kathy's beautiful log home for dinner where conversation turned to hometowns. Kathy realized she had something from Petrolia, the desk! The desk had been purchased for Kathy as a Christmas present from an estate sale in Toronto in 1979 and traveled with Kathy to Whitehorse, Yukon. In 1982 she moved to Dawson City and brought the desk to her new log home. At the time of discovery Ms. Webster was not ready to part with her treasure, which had been appraised at $900.00. Ms. Rose asked her for first option if she ever decided to sell. Liz Welsh, Chairperson of the Petrolia Heritage Committee, had an opportunity to see the desk at Ms. Websters in November of 1999. Five years later the Petrolia Heritage Committee purchased the postmaster desk. Kathy Webster had generously reduced the price to$300.00 as it was going to a museum. Canada Post agreed to ship the desk at no charge to the Heritage Committee and the desk arrived back home in Petrolia Monday, June 4/01. Its permanent home will be in the Blanche House at Petrolia Discovery. |
All of these pics and more are from my own collection and am always looking for pre 1920s Petrolia pics of anything to buy or borrow for copying. If you have pictures that I can borrow I only need a few minutes to scan them.