McClintock No. 1 Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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McClintock No. 1 was originally drilled by J.D. Angier and owned by Brewer, Watson, and Co. Various owners kept the well in production until it was turned over to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1999. The famous well is tied to one of the region's most interesting characters: John W. Steele, known as Coal Oil Johnny, who lived near the well and enjoyed its spoils.
Steele was the adopted son of Culbertson McClintock and his wife. McClintock died before the oil rush began and it fell to his wife to open the land for speculation after Edwin Drake had struck oil nearby. She leased a portion of the farm for drilling, and No. 1 and other producing wells soon became the news of the Oil Creek valley. By 1862, McClintockville became the center of the oil region, located twelve miles from Titusville. Observers described the area as similar to gold rush settlements in California. Hundreds of rough-board shanties were quickly erected and carpenters constantly worked to build more. No thought was given to permanence.
Widow McClintock rapidly accumulated a fortune. Upon her death in 1864, Steele inherited the farm and $200,000. His income from the well was estimated at $2000 per day. Steele traveled extensively and squandered his inherited fortune. The tale of foolishly spent wealth became an archetype for oilmen. Since his wealth had derived from petroleum, the press referred to Steele as Coal Oil Johnny.This is the oldest well in the world that is still producing oil at its original depth. Souvenir bottles of crude oil from McClintock Well #1 are available at the Drake Well Museum, outside Titusville.
This geo cache is part of the Venango-Forest Kidz Kache geotrail, a grant funded event designed to introduce youth to the interpretive, physical, and recreational benefits of geocaching. This geotrail is very kid-friendly and beginner oriented and each cache location contains historical, cultural, geological, or natual value. The Kidz Kache geotrail consists of twelve geocaches, six each in Forest and Venango counties. This cache contains a unique self-inking rubber stamp, which you use to stamp your Venango-Forest Kidz Kache passport to verify that you found it. When you have found a minimum of eight Kidz Kache caches, you will be eligible to have your passport validated and receive a gift bag with locally donated prizes and a commemorative pathtag. You must have your official Kidz Kache passport with you when you find this cache in order to stamp it. The event starts on July 15th, 2011. For complete details and to pick up a passport, visit these locations: in Forest county - Forest County Visitor’s Bureau and Marienville Ranger District; in Venango County - Lifelong Learning Programs and Oil Region Alliance.
There is no longer a Kids Cache Stamp in this cache.
Whoever stole the original ammo box took everything with it including the Kids stamp and a TB. The cache is now a small lock and lock.
Placed with permission from Drake Well Museum
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Guvax bs gur Xrroyre ryirf znlor jvgu n fgbar ung.