Have you ever wondered how small towns got their names?
Olean, NY. for instance.
Olean, NY got its name from the Latin word "[oleum]
Summary
(Google Search),"
meaning “oil,” because of the discovery of oil deposits in the area. The name reflects the region’s history and its connection to petroleum production, which was a significant industry in the area’s early development.
Olean, the 29th largest town in Cattaraugus County, was purchased from the Indians by the Holland Land Company in 1787. In 1804, Adam Hoops, an agent of the Holland Land Company, purchased the acreage of Cattaraugus County which today encompasses both the Town and City of Olean, originally known as “Hamilton” and " Olean Point". His settlement (followed by a sawmill (1807), a tavern (1808), grist mill (1809), store (1811), post office (1816, 1st session of court (1817), paper Hamilton Recorder - 1919) was not only the first in Olean, but also the first in Cattaraugus County.
U Union street, late 1800’s
The discovery of oil properly dates back to when the Seneca Indians gathered it by means of hemlock boughs from springs, upon which the oil appeared. It was called Seneca oil and was used by the Indians for medicinal purposes. Up until 1874, oil development in Olean was limited. A few wells in the State Line area were producing small quantities of what was known as “slush oil” (heavy lubricating purposes). In 1874, J. H. Dills organized the Olean Petroleum Company, (succeeded by standard oil company in 1877), and constructed a pipeline which pumped oil from the Olean wells to New York City.
T This is an old and retired Jack Pump, used to pull crude oil
out of the ground.
All though well (Oh, no, a pun) retired. I remember seeing them active and monotonously pumping 24/7. They could be found in fields, hill, even on people’s lawns.
Some can still be seem, like silent sentinels, unused for over half a century.
Olean trivia- Some interesting facts about Olean include: 1) In 1807 a terrible illness plagued the City causing the death of both whites and Indians.
An Indian squaw, absent from the area for some time, upon returning to visit friends who had become ill, made the statement that her friends would die. Because of “prediction”, as her native family called it, when was denounced as a witch
Summary
and tortured to death by fire.
I’ve run out of steam, just like Olean ran out of oil.
Blessed be
Garnet – Adept Witch