Field Trip #5 – The City of Santa Paula’s California Oil Museum

Saturday, 3/8/2014

Field Trip #5 – The City of Santa Paula’s California Oil Museum   

Prologue

            Driving down Highway 101 on my weekly trip doing errands, from Thousand Oaks to Ventura, it’s a pretty scene with the seemingly endless fields of strawberries, onions, broccoli, and lettuce.  On the distant horizon, a few oil rigs with hammer nose up and down motion was barely visible when you drive 70+ miles speed on California Highway.  But, there are there, interspersed with the crops on the rich agricultural land surround by the rolling hills and rugged mountains.  It’s simply an odd incongruous note to the scenery.

            I decided to do what the locals do – learning the city history – Oil Dig in Santa Paula around 1888.  I packed up with my camera; writing pad and lunch, off I went to visit “The City of Santa Paula’s California Oil Museum.”

VISTA –Highway 126

            The comfortable bus run by Ventura Intercity Service Transit Authority or VISTA Highway 126 Eastbound, took me to Santa Paula City Hall bus stop, 12 miles in 30 minutes - $.85 Medicare Card fare.  The bus driver, a young lady, with Hispanic accent kindly told me, “just walk one block, you’ll see the old red brick building.   That’s the one.” when I asked her where I wanted to go.   

Santa Paula City Hall

            I crossed the park across the City Hall, where small groups of Hispanic seniors gathered together socializing.  I paused a little trying to take some pictures, but decided against it.  It’s a warm afternoon.  I felt a bit awkward walking past them to disturb their nice gathering.   

The California Oil Museum

            The oil Museum is located on 1001 E. Main Street, Santa Paula. 

The Ground Floor Exhibits

            The docent of the museum, Mr. Will Richard from local Santa Paula, about 70-year-old, who nicely greeted me.  He gave me a copy of floor map and explained to me that he would conduct the museum tour in one hour after my self-guided tour on the ground floor with all the permanent exhibits.  I saw the oil and gas industry equipments, heavy- duty iron and wood operating drilling rigs, product containers, and historic vintage gas pumps –Texaco, Richfield, Conoco, Shell and Red Crown - I only recognized a few logos.   I had no idea that Santa Paula had such Oil History.  So, I kept him within my sight lest browsing through the display rooms lead me lost.

            I jotted down the questions I would like to ask him later.  Since Santa Paula is a small town and the museum is an intimate size.  I was able to take time to study the history of the black gold found in 1888 in Santa Paula.  I joined about 10 visitors, all men and one young couple; all with their comfortable shorts for Sunny California weather to start with Mr. Richards’ guided tour upstairs.

 

            The Santa Paula Historical Society run by Mary Alice Orcutt is the descent of William W. Orcutt, one of the three pioneers who played a major role in Union Oil’s geology and exploration in Santa Paula.  The organization is responsible for training all the docents.

The Union Oil Company Office - Upstairs

            Mr. Richards guided us through a different entrance that lead to upstairs where the Union Oil Company office was housed.  Based on the dingy yellow photos preserved, he informed us that Santa Paula is the birthplace of the Union Oil Company on October 17, 1890 after the oil was discovered.  The building was originally the Santa Paula Hardware and Post Office on the ground level.  The upstairs where we stood was the Union Oil Company’s office.  The building was restored to its original appearance in 1990 for the Centennial Celebration.  It was designated as the history landmark of Ventura County.

         The pictures of black crude oil gushing out of the ground reminded me of the movie “Giant” that James Dean, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor were on.  That was quite a powerful image when James Dean found the black oil gushing out at Rocks Hudson’s Texas ranch.  Of course, the geographical location in California and Texas is different, but, America the bountiful with the abundance of land and natural resources, many early explorers of America found the black gold in their territories almost around the same time.  

Three Heroes of California Oil Digs

            These were the three heroes who lead the formation of the company.   

            1. Lyman Stewart (1840–1923) was born in northern Pennsylvania where the first successful oil wells –Titusville was drilled in 1859.  He had two disastrous attempts in the same areas.  He eventually was introduced to Wallace Hardison, a relative of his friends and the 2^nd hero of this museum.  With the pioneering spirit and business acumen between them, they purchased some land in this region.  The joint venture ‘Hardison and Stewart Oil Company’ took off and was moderately successful.  Both of them sold their interest to Standard Oil, which was founded by John D Rockefeller, the wealthiest man in the world.

            2. Wallace Hardison (1850-1909) was born in Main.  He followed his brother to Pennsylvania trying to find some work in the oil field, but eventually befriended with Lyman Stewart.  The successful story ended in Santa Paula, California.

            3. William W. Orcutt (1869-1942) was born in Minnesota, but grew up in Santa Paula where as a youth he sometimes worked at odd jobs at the Union Oil refinery before Stanford University to study engineering and geology.  He used the scientific knowledge to explore the petroleum technology.  From his desk, I saw his original notes and early works in Geology measurement for rocks and terrain.  He eventually became Union Oil’s chief geologist, land department manager, superintendent and vice president of Union Oil Company. The pictures showed his calculated math formula and Stanford track team certificate in 1895.

La Brea Tar Pit Discovery - William W. Orcutt

            Mr. Richards recommends that we should visit La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.  William W. Orcutt, known as the “Dean of Petroleum Geologist,” discovered fossils embedded in the black asphalt deposit.  He was the one with the study in paleontology, which brought this Pits to the attention of the scientific community in US.   

Historical Records and Penmanship

            Look at the big books displayed.  It recorded different oil pits, fields, and number of barrels dug out per day.  Mr. Richards pointed out the beautiful penmanship on the journal and accounting ledger books.  It indicated the importance of note taking and communication before the advent of typewriters or computers.

            I saw the superintendent’s living quarter, which reminds me of the TV series “The Walton’s” – simple, plain and no luxury.  It’s next to the office where the superintendent worked day and night.  It’s the era of black gold rushes.  The spouse from the superintendent did complain the lonely life of a workaholic husband.   True or not, it’s just the offhand comment from the docent.

Afterword

            I walked out of the building feeling loaded.  Before the trip, I do not know in details how they get the oil out of the ground and how they make gasoline for cars.  Now, I do.  It’s not just fascinating to really seeing the original artifacts in person, but it’s also stimulating to imagine this part of land where the pre-historic mammals used to roam.

            It’s definitely well worth the visit with $3.00 senior rate.   I was also lucky to have a guide who is full of interesting knowledge.  I will make it to LA museum one day, maybe with my grandson. 

            P.s. this journal was delayed due to my allergy episode past week.  My back is not cooperating either.  Baby Forest, over 6-month old and a ball of energy, is wearing me out. 

1                              Santa Paula, The Citrus Capital of the World – on the way home from the museum.