Muddy Creek Oil Field
Moraine State Park
Butler County, Pennsylvania
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Award winning restoration site of antique oil well. The Bessemer Gas Engine and Marshall- Barr No. 19 oil well equipment was substantially completed and opened for visitors during the Lake Arthur Regatta in August of 2000. Since then the site has been operated six periods of two days each during the year, the months of May through October.
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THE SITE IN 1995
This metal building, containing the antique Bessemer engine appeared to be a daunting task to assume when the volunteers first saw the site. It had been over forty years since anyone had worked here to run the engine and pump crude oil from the wells. Many days of hard labor were required to remove vegetation, cut down trees and rebuild the old corrugated steel engine house before restoring the antique Bessemer engine and other operating equipment. Continuing restoration and operation is conducted entirely by volunteers. Volunteers are welcome.
Muddy Creek Oil Field Fall 2006    fall 2007   fall 2007 Muddy Creek Oil Field
FALL 2007
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A 35-page history is available with illustrations and text describing the Muddy Creek oil field history from geological data to present and including ownership events, property owners, western Pennsylvania area oil industry history and some local lore. Ordering information

DCNR AwardThe Muddy Creek Oil Well site volunteers received the 2005 DCNR Bureau annual award from the Director of the PA State Parks. The award is granted each year for restoration a site and developing it into a valued State Park attraction.
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PHOTOS OF THE SITE TODAY
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Click on photo to enlarge. Top left photo: Site from No. 19 oil well, Museum building and Engine house in background; Center and right photo: Restored Bessemer Engine from side and front.
More photos
Operating dates for the 2008 year:

Closed during winter
The site will be open on the following dates from 10 AM through 4 PM
  • May 8 & 9
  • June 7 & 8
  • July 5 & 6
  • August 2 & 3 during Annual Moraine Lake Arthur Regatta
  • September 6 & 7
  • Oct. 4 & 5
    Note: The site operation is also available for special group visits by arrangement.

    • For other operating dates and times call the park office at 724-368-8811

     

    MUDDY CREEK OIL FIELD

    Pennsylvania crude oil was first discovered in the Muddy Creek Field of Butler County on the Dan Shanor Farm, next to this property, approximately two miles northwest of Prospect Borough, in 1890. For over seven decades the oil industry prospered here until the 1960's when the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania built Moraine State Park. Muddy Creek is the main source of water for Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park.
    The oil field is bounded on the north by what is now Nealy’s Point, Davis Hollow and Baird Point and covered the area southward to Muskrat Cove and the northern properties of Prospect Borough. Historical data shows that over 242 oil wells were drilled by 16 different owners, or leasers, on more than 1500 acres of land, some of which are now beneath the waters of Lake Arthur. The well sites were closed and filled during the construction of the lake and Moraine State Park. One site was plugged, circa 1966, and retained for constructing a demonstration well at the location of the Marshall/Barr tract and #19 well site. Well #19 was one of 38 operating wells on the Marshall-Ball property of approximately 150 acres.
    The oil well, engine house and most of its original equipment were retained and, after many years of weathering, were restored and re-installed on the original site. Included, from the oil field of yesteryear, is a Bessemer Type OC Gas Engine, with belt driven power transmission equipment, operating four well head pumping jacks, including one over the original Barr #19 well. From the wells, the crude oil was pumped into wooden tubs, located at each pumping site, and then transferred by pipelines to holding tanks of the National Transit Company, located at the Liesy pumping station along old Whippoorwill Hill road, now under the waters of Lake Arthur. The crude oil was then transferred through another pipeline to a transfer station near Carbon Center east of Butler, PA. From there the oil was sent to refineries at East Butler. Karns City, Cleveland and through a 4" pipeline to a refinery at Brilliant near Pittsburgh.
    This restoration was conducted by the park staff and volunteers, with private donations and assistance from the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Society, Butler County Historical Society, and the Moraine, McConnells Mills, Jennings Commission.

    PARTIAL MAP OF MORAINE STATE PARK SHOWING OIL FIELD AND BARR NO. 19 WELL SITE.
    The site is accessible from Route 422 (lower portion of map) by following old highway 422.

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    HISTORY BOOK ORDERING INFORMATION
    The history book is available by sending check or money order, in amount of $7.50, payable to "3MJC", to Moraine State Park, 225 Pleasant Valley Rd., Portersville, PA 16051. The book is also available at the park office and at the well site during operating days.

    Ongoing expenses are funded by history book sales, donations and grants. Contributions should be forwarded to the Park office C/O McConnel's Mills, Moraine, Jennings Commission, a non profit organization. Designate all contributions for the "Muddy Creek Oil Field Project".
    For further details call Moraine State Park office. (724-368-8811)

    LINKS TO OTHER SITE OF INTEREST

    Moraine State Park    |   Antique Engines
    updated 11/04/07