Community to Celebrate 174th Birthday of Coal Oil Johnny on December 12

| December 2, 2017

OIL CITY, Pa. – Venango Museum in downtown Oil City will be the site for a public celebration on the evening of Tuesday, December 12, of the 174th Birthday of John Washington Steele, who is better known as “Coal Oil Johnny.”

In addition to typical birthday refreshments, guests will be treated to a presentation entitled “Coal Oil Johnny’s Times,” delivered by oil historian Neil McElwee of Oil City. Attendees at this and other related programs during the next 12 months will also receive complimentary keepsakes depicting some of the stories often repeated about this prodigal prince of petroleum. Several descendants of his adopted family will be in attendance for this festive occasion.

John Steele was born in 1843 in Mercer County, the son of James David Steele and Maria Foulk. John and his sister Permelia were adopted by Culbertson McClintock and his wife Sarah McKnight McClintock who built their saltbox-style farmhouse on the west bank of Oil Creek. Their basic farm became a strong-producing oil farm after oil wells were drilled there following Drake’s initial successful well approximately 11 miles upstream.

Admission of $5/adult will be collected at the door; students accompanied by an adult are welcome to attend without charge. While advance reservations are not required, it would be helpful if likely guests would RSVP to the attention of Mrs. Marilyn Black at the Oil Region Alliance office, 677-3152, Extension 105, mblack@oilregion.org. Such notifications will ensure that sufficient seating and tasty treats are available on site.

This program kicks off a year-long series of public programs and activities focused on this flamboyant and famous true character from the early oil boom along Oil Creek. The series is being coordinated by the nonprofit Oil Region Alliance, which owns and operates the Coal Oil Johnny House located today in Rynd Farm at the south tip of Oil Creek State Park, just east of Route 8 north of Rouseville, Pennsylvania. Proceeds are being earmarked for the ongoing maintenance and operation of this circa 1850 farmhouse.

For more information about the McClintock family or to schedule a private tour of the COJ House, please contact Mrs. Black.


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