Wamsutta Oil Refinery
It was sometime around 1861 when Henry Huttleston Rogers founded the Wamsutta Oil Refinery in McClintocksville, Pennsylvania, near the fabled Oil City. Rogers, along with his friend and business partner, Charles H. Ellis was among the first people to realize that petroleum was on the verge of becoming the the major source of fuel within the United States.
Whale oil had previously been the dominant source of fuel, but the discovery of this natural resource was set to blow the market wide open. Rogers and Ellis worked tirelessly to make the plant operational, and following their first year in business they had managed to make a profit of $30,000.
By 1874, Ellis had left the business, but Rogers' efforts were noticed by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. Rogers was asked to join with Rockefeller's company, Standard Oil. He did so, and with hard work and the right investments he soon became one of the wealthiest men in the country.
Over the years, workers at the McClintocksville plant faced many hazards. These included dangerous work conditions, the presence of a chemical called Benzene which can cause diseases such as leukemia, MDS or cancer and a threat that came in the guise of useful refinery products. This threat was asbestos, a naturally occurring material that was used as a base ingredient for many standard products that were found all throughout refineries all across America. It was originally heralded as one of the most useful resources for industrial settings because it is capable of enduring the hot temperatures that are a part of the oil refining process.
Ongoing studies revealed that while asbestos was a very beneficial construction material, it possessed the unfortunate side effect of being extremely toxic. People who are exposed to asbestos can breath it into their systems, where it can remain for many years. The asbestos will attack the respiratory system and leave victims with serious respiratory health issues, and it is also a leading cause of the cancerous disease, Mesothelioma.
Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos will be in need of medical attention. If you, or anyone you know worked at the Wamsutta Oil Refinery, contact your doctor for an appointment.
Last modified: December 09, 2009.
