Page "Lima, Ohio" Paragraph 26

With the discovery of oil in Lima in 1885, Ohio began what came to be called the " Oil Boom of Northwest Ohio.

" Discovery actually began in Findlay, Ohio, a city forty miles north of Lima.

The discovery of natural gas deposits there in 1884 led to national marketing efforts advertising free gas, as Findlay's business leaders tried to " boom " the town.

In 1885, Benjamin C. Faurot of Lima was one of hundreds of businessmen who visited Findlay to see the seemingly unlimited supply of natural gas burning day and night.

Faurot owned the Lima Paper Mill.

He spent $ 2, 500 on energy consumption annually.

Water for his operation was also a problem.

So Faurot decided to drill in Lima – for gas or water.

Faurot's first oil, found along the Ottawa River on May 19, 1885, was more accidental discovery than deliberate scientific experiment.