RECOGNIZING THE OIL CITY DERRICK

RECOGNIZING THE OIL CITY DERRICK

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2683-H2684] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE OIL CITY DERRICK (Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Oil City Derrick, which published the final print edition of The Derrick and The News-Herald on March 20. The Derrick opened at 1871 under its prior name of the Daily Derrick by C.E. Bishop & Company. The publication covered the latest stories in Oil City. [[Page H2684]] When Edwin Drake struck oil in western Pennsylvania, The Derrick quickly became a national news outlet, and it was best known for its coverage of oil prices. The newspaper was a key source of information for journalists like Ida Tarbell, who reported the oil wars of the 1870s. Patrick C. Boyle, a prominent figure in the oil industry, bought The Derrick in 1885. Patrick helped to establish other newspapers, including the Bradford Era and the Oil and Gas Journal. The newspaper was owned by the Boyle family for four generations. Patrick Boyle passed away in 1920, and ownership of the newspaper was passed on to his son, Edward Boyle, who served as a publisher until his death in 1938. For more than 100 years, the Boyle family was influential in the newspaper's success. From Patrick Boyle's purchase of the outlet in 1885, the family's stewardship ensured that for 154 years The Derrick never once missed a day of publication--an incredible accomplishment. The pages of The Derrick served as the record for the region's history. Major events included President Ulysses S. Grant's visit to the area and the Great Fire and Flood of 1892. The Derrick didn't just witness change. It lived through it. Through every win and loss of the oil boom to the dawn of the industrial revolution to the emergence of the digital age, this newspaper adapted and prevailed. The Derrick stood as a constant for 154 years, capturing the evolution of our community and the very way that we share the news. Mr. Speaker, it is never easy when we see our local institutions close, especially those that have played such an important role in our communities like The Derrick has for more than a century. My heartfelt thanks go out to the staff who have worked diligently over the years to deliver the news to the people of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District. For 154 years, The Derrick has been there, and we are all grateful for that. ____________________