'#1 R.H. Gratz, BLW 1743, 7/18/68, 15x18" 44 0 21 ton. Ancient engine, the Gratz, one of the two engines which operated on the Laurel Fork and Sand Hill Rail Road. Taken around 1880-1890. Two persons on the tender are unidentified, but Swearingen said the two others were David Reece, engineer, and C. M. Jones, master mechanic. The engine was scrapped in 1897, along with th railroad system. (Picture to accompany Parkersburg News article, July 10, 1960).'
'Concrete oil tank, probably only one built. The remants of two tanks (concrete) are visible from the top of Petroleum Road. These tanks, and the one in this photo, appear to be water tanks. Water was needed for the steam engines. (Note the water in your tank) Oil tanks were either wood, or metal. The metal tanks could be moved from one site to another. When the gushers first came in there was labor unrest because the coopers were making more money than the oil workers-barrels could not be made fast enough to meet the demand.'--Mike Naylor, 03/2006
'Protestant Episcopal Church, Volcano, later moved to Kenova. There is quite a story behind this church. Mrs. William C. Stiles, Jr. missed her church in Philadelphia. The community of Volcano built an Episcopal Church for $3000. Mrs. Stiles was very well liked. Red Neck Nellie owned a bordello in Volcano aptly named the Golden Horn, Nellie, especially when drunk, liked to preach and Nellie wanted to contribute to the new church. Mrs. Stiles refused Nellie's money. Nellie, being an enterprising business lady, went to Parkersburg and enlised a minister to make her donation. Nellie and Mrs. Stiles were both happy.'--Mike Naylor, 03/2006.
'The horizontal boards on the pumping station are called walking beams. Walking beams converted the horizontal energy to vertical(up and down motion)energy to pull the oil to the surface. Volcano had two newspaper: a) Volcano Lubrication and b) West Virginia Walking Beam.'--Mike Naylor, 03/2006
'The Episcopal Church that Red Neck Nellie helped to build. This picture was taken from an oil well derrick, another can be seen on the left, and at least 15 others are in the background.'