Come join us on the last Sunday of June, 2011 for the 129th anniversary of the great 1882 Oil Excitement in Cherry Grove, Pennsylvania. Shown above are images from past celebrations.

Located in southern Warren County, in the Pennsylvania Wilds, the hilltop settlement of Cherry Grove saw national history in the Spring and Summer of 1882 when the 646 Mystery Well ushered in a great oil boom. In a matter of months, hundreds of oil wells were drilled and a town sprang up in this isolated township in the hills.  Before the railroad could lay a new line to Cherry Grove, the boom went bust. Thousands of people moved on. Those who remained kept the memory of the Oil Excitement alive with reunions that became known as “Old Home Day”.

In 1982, a group of Old Home Day regulars volunteered to build a replica of the historic 646 Mystery Well. That spring and summer, the volunteers completed a life-size 1882-style oil derrick and shanty in time for the Centennial celebration. In preparation for the 125th anniversary in 2007, volunteers came together once again to rebuild the Replica of the 646 Mystery Well. The volunteers worked with the township supervisors to secure grants and bring in a work crew from the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps.

All those who either live in Cherry Grove or have lived there, or who have family ties to Cherry Grove are encouraged to participate to keep the history alive. The public is also welcome to come, to learn and to contribute. There is no admission fee. If you have any questions, please contact Ed Atwood, Treasurer for the Cherry Grove Old Home and Community Day via e-mail or by calling him at (814) 726 - 2774. You can also contact the local tourism office if you want to look up travel and lodging information.

Special thanks to Cherry Grove Township, Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Cherry Grove Old Home and Community Day Committee officers and all other volunteers who make these events possible.

Visit the Directions page on this site to find the Cherry Grove Fire Hall campus.

-- text prepared by Walt Atwood

Cherry Grove Old Home and Community Day President