Gas-Oil-Exploration

1882-Natural gas was discovered near Paola. Kansas Oil and Mining
Company was formed and made borings on the farm of A. Westfall 7
miles east of Paola “Gas was found of sufficient quantities to light a
city of one million people.”

March 3, 1886-“Paola was lighted with Gas” The pipeline was
completed from the Westfall farm to the square and a grand
illumination was held.

February 4, 1887-“The city council held a meeting Friday night and
among other important matters attended to was one instructing the
light committee to purchase 50 lamps to be placed on the main
thoroughfares, at the cost of $8.75 apiece, said lamps will be
illuminated by natural gas. This is what we have waited for, for
sometime and we are glad the improvement will be made. It speaks
well for the enterprise and push of Paola and is a move in the right
direction.”

March 18, 1887-“Natural gas is Paola’s Mascot.”

April 15, 1887-“T. S. McLachlin adapts a plan for using natural gas
as fuel at the Roller Mill, the first mill west of the Mississippi to use
natural gas as fuel.”

April 22, 1887-“Paola has the cheapest fuel in Kansas. Natural gas
is superior to anything for convenience and cheapness, and we
have it in immense volume, sufficient to supply all the manufactories
that can crowd into the county. We earnestly invite inspection and
comparison.”

April 29, 1887-“A street car line will be built from the Gulf depot to
the east limits of the purchase, a boulevard established throughout
its entire length.”

May 6, 1887-“The abandoned well in the Boon Field still remains a
wonder. The well is full of mud and water and the gas flow is so
strong as to cause the water to flow out at the top of the pipe,
which is ten feet above the surface and when the gas is ignited it
will blaze at least forty feet high.”

May 6, 1887-“Paola has seven hotels, seven churches, gas street
lamps, seven miles of water mains, and sixty hydrants.”

May 13, 1887-“A GUSHER- The Paola Gas Company strikes a
phenomenal supply of natural gas in the Boon Field. The most
remarkable flow of natural gas ever found in the west was struck in
well No. 2 in the Boon Field.”

May 20, 1887-“Paola in known as the great gas center of the west.
Our friends up at the Gate City are realizing the fact Paola is a good
substantial place in which to invest capital.”

May 27, 1887-“The Paola Gas Company furnishes their gas to
Paola and run it seven miles into town. They have the whole town
lighted with it, and now furnish two hundred stoves in the city with
fuel, and also a large flouring mill, which is supplied by six half inch
burners. The capacity of this mill is one hundred barrels of flour a
day. This Paola business seems to be one of the most wonderful
achievements made with natural gas west of the Mississippi River.”-
Missouri & Kansas Farmer

May 30, 1887-Quote: What?! A City of 10,000; Yes, Paola will be a
city of 10,000 in less than five years!”

June 20, 1887-“Bond elections for the Paola Glass Company
passes with virtually no opposition. Building to commence
immediately.”

June 24, 1887-“NATURAL GAS JUBILEE: Grand preparations being
made to celebrate on Tuesday, June 28, 1887. The first natural gas
celebration ever held in the west will take place in Paola next week.”

June 24, 1887-“Natural gas arches will be built across the four
corners of the square, which will be illuminated with natural gas.”

June 24, 1887-“The Paola Gas Company makes a liberal offer to
manufactories that cannot fail of good results. They will give natural
gas free for one year to any manufactories locating in Paola that will
employee one hundred hands.”

June 28, 1887-Paola celebrated its first Natural Gas Jubilee.
Excursion trains brought nearly 2,000 people to town to witness the
wonders of natural gas by visiting the Boon gas wells just east of
town, attending an auction of new town lots, feasting on a free
lunch provided by the townspeople, and enjoying an evening “grand
illumination” of gas street lights, specially-built gas arches and home
displays, like the one of S. D. Condon.. the gas was attached to a
yard sprinkler by a rubber hose, and when it was ignited there
appeared nests of small blazes which were beautiful and attractive.

July 8, 1887-“A Grand celebration was given in Paola last Tuesday.
It was a general jollification of the grand achievement that has been
accomplished in the city with natural gas. The streets were greatly
illuminated and the great day was one that will remain in history as
the acme of a great demonstration. Paola has many enterprising
and wealthy citizens and she is bound to build up.”- LaCygne
Leader.

June 25, 2005-The Citizens of Paola will again celebrate a Natural
Gas Jubilee as part of its four Sesquicentennial events. The one-day
festival, located on Paola’s Historic Park Square, will focus on the
events surrounding the natural gas fever of 1887, including re-
enactment of the town tour through free carriage rides, visiting
dignitaries, 500 free box lunches, and a walking tour of displays that
tell the story of
Paola’s Natural Gas heritage from 1882-1887. The day concludes
with a free performance by the 35th Military Band, also celebrating
their 150th year of National Guard Service, dressed in military
uniforms ranging from the Civil War to Iraqi Freedom and playing
music and sharing love letters from the same period. Additional
highlights include a display of early gas artifacts (courtesy of Kansas
Gas Service) held at the Miami County Historical Museum, tours of
the Washburn designed 1898 Miami County Courthouse, a display
at the Sheriff’s Office of 150 Years of Miami County Law
Enforcement, and including period demonstrators and vendors.

IAMI

OUNTY

ANSAS

ISTORY

Miami County Historical Museum

Swan River Museum

Miami County Historical & Genealogy Society