Wellsville Daily Reporter from Wellsville, New York • Page 20

Page 4-C WELLSVILLE DAILY REPORTER, Saturday Ctrtttfnhtol Edition Steam Turbines Have Played Big Role in Local Industry Worthington Products of Today Recall Growth ol Indusfry Since 1902 The steam turbine has long played a vital role in the history of Wellsvllle. In fact it has been part of this community's economic and industrial life since 1902 when Prof. Charles V. Kerr, head of the mechanical engineering department of Armour Institute, established Kerr Steam Turbine Corporation here. Prof.

Kerr had been part of the pioneer development of the steam turbine as a prime mover. After a few years of progress, the interests were purchased by Charles Adsit and F. P. Merrill of Hornell and Paul B. Hanks Wellsville.

They operated the plant from 1906 until 1923 when it was sold to the Elliott Company. During those years came birth of business which today is known as the Steam Turbine Division of Worthington Corporation. Turbine generators are built up, The giant aircraft carriers Sara to 15,000 KW, the generators being toga and Forrestal -use Worthing supplied Worthlngton's wholly ton turbines for many of their nump drives. Worthlngt-an turbine generators ery Manufacturing, Company of Minneapolis, Mln. J.

L. Moore Kerr staff and chief engineer. had joined the had become its In 1916, Mr. Moore decided to go Into the turbine business on 1 own and organized the Moore Steam Turbine Corporation. He died in 1924 and Maynard D.

Church of the firm became its president with S. F. Booth as vice president and treasurer and William R. McEwen as secretary and assistant treasurer. The Moore Turbine plant continued to grow and additions were built in 1920.

1930, 1935 and 1936. In the meantime the Elliott Company continued its operations here Until 1928 when its operations were moved to Jeannette, Pa. The next big change came in 1937 when the Worthington Pump Machinery Corporation of Harrison, N. J. acquired controlling interest in the business and it became part of the Worthington empire.

Worthington has since passed its own Centennial. It was founded in 1840 by Henry Worthington who was inventor of the direct acting steam pump. In 1952 the company shortened its name to Worthington Corporation, and in 1955 when it went onto a division organization basis, this plant became the Steam Turbine Division. This division has enjoyed continuous growth since its founding in 1916. Additions were made to the- plant in 1920, 1930, 1935, 1939 and during World War II.

Today it manufactures steam turbines up to 24,000 HP in capacity which are used to drive pumps, fans, blowers, compressors, paper machines, sugar machines, and various other kinds of machinery. Speed reducing and speed In- ore Installed at the Atomic Ener creasing gears are made up to gy Commission plants In Oak 4000 HP capacity. Hidge, Tennessee. Los Alamos To build this broad line of steam NeW Mexico, and Hanford, Wash- turbines and gears, the Steam Tur- mglOn, and in such well known bine Division employs approxl- schools as the University of North mately 650 people. Most of these Carolina, University of Oregon, men and women are highly skilled Purdue University, Iowa State engineers draftsmen, machinists College, U.

S. Naval Academy and and administrative personnel. the' tj. S. Military Academy.

Manufacturing facilities are ex- The Steam Turbine Division also tensive: over 200,000 square feet supplied the turbines for the first of floor space are provided In the all turbine driven sugar mill in the main shop buildings, which in- world, constructed at Refinadora elude for machining, weld- Paullsta. Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1951. ing, inspection, test, assembly, pat- Today the Steam Turbine Divi- tern making, shipping, receiving sion continues its efforts to supply and storage. The Division has Its the best possible turbines and own power plant for supplying gears to meet industry's and gov- electrical power to the shop build- ernment's modern requirements, ings and for providing steam to Higher speeds and horsepower rat- test the turbines before shipment, ings are being developed. Produc- The boiler' house supplies I tion facilities are continually im- steam at 925 pounds per square Proved, and personnel training pro- inch pressure and 850 degrees Fah- grams are provided for developing renheit total temperature.

The and up-grading employees. plant as a whole covers 32 acres Sleam Turbine Division is proud of ground. Other facilities Include of its past and looks forward to a a cafeteria, parking area for over promising future. 500 cars, a first aid dispensary Executives of the Sleam Tur- with a nurse on full time duty, bine Division are: A view of the saw mill and lumber yards of the Duke Company operated by Charles DukeY Esq. The company featured hemlock lumber and lath.

Sinclair's Sprawling Plant Grew From Small Wellsville Refinery and an employees' garden. Arthur F. Reinking, General The steam turbines and gears Manager. made at this Division have been L. E.

Hammer, Manger of Man- shipped to installations near and ufacturing. far. Right in Wellsville there are Robert S. Shprwood, Manager of three at the Water Light Plant. Engineering.

One is a 1500 KW turbine genera-1 Paul R. Darling, Manager tor installed in 1932, another a 500 KW generator drive installed 1953. In addition to generating electric power, these units are constructed so that steam is extracted from the casing for heating the Wellsville Central High School. There is also a small mechanical drive turbine for driving a boiler feed pump. The Sinclair oil refinery in Wellsville has two Worthington turbine- generators and a large number of mechanical drive turbines.

Other Worthington turbines are operating throughout the United States, and in the following countries: Africa, Alaska, Arabia, Argentina. Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, Holland, Honduras, India. Italy, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Ri Russia, Spain, Syria and Venezuela. Worthington turbines also travel the high seas on ships of the U. S.

Navy and Merchant Marine. Many were installed during World' War II, when the Steam Turbine Division was awarded the Army- Navy and Maritime Commission for production effort, turning out turbines 24 hours around the clock. Sales. Arthur R. Foreman, Comptroller.

Donald N. Gent, Purchasing Agent. Kenneth A. Field, Manager, Service and Erection. Churchill L.

Ward. Manager, Order Department. WELLSVILLE NAMED The postoffice was established officially DS Wellsville postoffice in 1835. The name had previously been agreed upon at ah informal meeting of the settlers one cold dismal night in the log schoo.l house at the corner of State and Main. This was in 1832.

Gardiner Wells, after whom the village was named, did not' attend the meeting, but he was the largest landowner including all of the land upon which the business district now stands. He built the first log cabin on Main St. It is said that later Gardiner Weils sold his property and moved away, and died a poor man. Community Has Prospered On Service to Penn Grade Rather Than Production Was Wellsville named for its oil wells? That question, even in this year of 1957, is more commonly asked than it 1 has been since oil was first discovered in the Allegany County field. The truth, of course, is that the answer is negative.

Wellsville was named in honor of Gardiner Wells one of its pioneer citizens. Turning to the subject of the Pennsylvania Grade Crude i 1 industry, it must be admitted that Wellsville has prospered not by producing oil but by serving oil. That, of course, takes the historian back to the Nov. 1, 1901 when the Wellsville Refining Company was incorporated. It was, according to historians, a rather inauspicious beginning.

The plant was small. Its first' officers were James H. McEwen, president; James Macken, vice president; W. J. Richardson, treasurer; A.

C. Woodman, secretary. The refinery had a capacity of 700 barrels per day and occupied only two of the 15 acres it owned on the West bank of the Genesee River where the present Sinclair Alexander M. Boyd, son of Jos- Refining Company's sprawling op- seph, was born in Italy, New York in 1844. He settled in Wellsville in 1867.

In 1866 he married Theoda A. Moore of Angelica and they had four Herbert Fred' Charles A. and Walter. F. eration is located.

There were a few tanks and a building or two. The little plant turned out 1 benzene, kerosene, steam-refined cylinder stocks and neutral oils. They were marketed by the Union Petroleum Company of Philadelphia which owned substantial stock interests in the firm. The Union company gradually out other interests until by 1918 it owned all the stock. The refinery went through a crisis which started in 1915 and continued until 1920.

Production of Penn Grade Crude Oil was reaching the lowest ebb in the history of the field. Then came secondary and the new boom which followed. Production was saved and the oil business started to boom. For three years the Union Pet roleum Company operated the re finery with A. C.

Woodman as president; Otto W. Wachli as vice president; W. J. Richardson as treasurer and R. A.

Lish as sec. retary. In 1919 came the next change in the operation. The local industry was acquired by the Sinclair Refining Company but operations continued the same. It was not until 1923 that the Sinclair took over active operation of the plant.

Sinclair officials, however, had to be convinced that the flooding process would assure a big enough production fro make operations profitable for the next 30 to 35 years. Finally convinced of the future, Sinclair in 1927 started a huge modernization program. Therein lies a story of interest. The dark days of depression swept across America. There were the bread lines, the soup kitchens and the apple vendors.

Wellsville had none of But these. Sinclair's modernization o- gram kept the local economy on a level keel. Men had jobs. More men were brought in to fill jobs. Today many of these men who came as strangers grew into active citizens leaders.

The older ones are beginning to retire. But Sinclair saved Wellsville from the depression. As the years have rolled by, modernization has continued to be a keyword in this vast local industry. Technical research in the ol industry is the life blood of thi highly competitive business. Another article in this edition tells the story of the oil man's worst enemy fire.

There have been other fires much more minor but out of each has come advancement. But fire alone has not been the moving factor. Progress is the word. While the local plant once held claim to being the largest refinery operation on Penn Grade.Cr.Ude Oil, that picture has changed today. True, the highly valuable Penn Jrade still flows through -I the alant but' the operation also handles a huge supply of Mid-Western or Mid Continent crude which is carried here by pipeline.

There'have been periods of rumor that the day might be near when Sinclair would leave Wells- ille. But, as this Centennial edition, written plant seems just as Goes fo England William D. SjMcerV fin tearly settler In the town of Wellsvllte was born at North Conn, and died inrWellsvllte 1846 or '45. He was by profession a Cabinet maker and musician. Wns a carpenter and builder.

'He "possibly" served earJy In life as a sailor and was In the War of 1812 as a bugler, He was Nov. 11, 1819, at Saco, Maine to Naomi, daughter of Andrew ana Eunice Tarbox who was born July 21, 1804, at Biddeford, and died In Wells- vllle Mnv 12, WllHiim D. came with his 15 year old brldt to the town of Alfred In a one horse wagon. They lived here In a log cabjh with a blanket for a door and where they had to keep the fire burning all night" to keep the wolves away. They, "soon moved Strong or stronger on the basis of the economic boost it Wellsvllle.

Its products go by tank car, ship and trucks to many corners of the world. Its products hold prestige where ever they are marketed. While the Wellsville operation may appear small In the total operation of the Huge 'Sinclair Empire, it is a big operation in Wellsville. Many of its men hold public office and civic office; It Is a vital part of the community and a name' 'which much to many families individually and the community 'as a whole. Like other huge' corporations in this Centennial Year of 1957 in Wellsville, Sinclair is getting Its feet wet in the.field of research.

It can be safely said that is, keeping, in close touch with the of atomic energy as a fuel for peacetime purposes. Sinclair was born In the rough and tumble day? Harry S. Sinclair" battled odds to build an empire and then grew the research it has conducted in the petroleum industry. This writer Is going to be conservative. He will not predict that the Sinclair OH Corporation will be operating as such one hundred years from "now.

This cautious outlook' goes for any of" Wellsville's prime industries. But, predictions are easy to nake when the writer looks a- lead to another 100 years. 'won't be here in 2057. So, here goes it. is the prediction of this writer that Sinclair will still hold'; a place in the of energy 100 years rom today.

Of course, this prediction must ie tempered by one thought. What may replace atomic energy in the coming century? to Wellsvftle." The Spicer family Is unUsilat In having Its lineage traced back in ah unbroken line to the yedr 1273. "Who's Who In Allegany County" edited in 1937-38 by Sidney Hlxon, says, "fn research by a Spicer genealogist (employed in England in 1908) the unusual record was revealed that the mayorshlp of the City of Exeter was held' almost exclusively by members of the Spicer family from 1273 to the name and date of office of each mayor being recorded. The family of arms Is -still displayed in a painted glass window in the Exeter Town Hall. Thomas Spicer was the first of the family to come to Airerlca and settled in Gravesend, on Manna ttnn Island Ifi43," Miss Florence Spicer of Wellsville has the chart shewing the line In England from 1273 to the time of also owns a copy of the Spicer Genealogy and the Supplement to the Genealogy.

The coat of arms is shown i color. It is Interesting to note that the families of Shubael and Seth Spicer of Independence are in the same family. The complete records of all these families are given In detail in the genealogy. The original Spicer home in Wellsvllle Was on the slight hill where Woodlawn Cemetery is how located. It was painted pink and was called "the pink house on the hill." The house was mo.ved across the street.

Miss Spicer also has a pair of pictures of William D. and Eunice Tarbox Spicer taken while they at the pink house. Their children were all born Allegany County and those living in Wellsville were three sons, William Miner (1824-1894) who married Maria Brocket. 2. Samuel Delancey, b7 Aug.

20, 1832 who married Elizabeth O'Brien and. 3, Wayne D. b. 1826, whose-wife was Harriet Lowell. He was listed in the 1850 census as a lumberman but he later became a Baptist minister and lived in Hornell.

William Spicer built and owned the' Spicer House in Wellsville. During the time that he ran the hotel he was listed also, in the census as a stage proprietor. He sold the hotel in 1868 to George Howell who changed the name to the Howell House. William and Marie had no children. Samuel Delancey and Elizabeth O'Brien Spicer have many descendants in this area.

He was a carpenter and there are many buildings still standing in Wellsville that the work of his hands. His children were, i Ethel, Anna, Stanley and Elmer. is some mention of W.D. Rpicer in the of the county, and the 1895 History says ha was Wellsville's first fiddler. WELLSVILLE and WORTHINGTON A FINE PAST A BRIGHT FUTURE Aerial view of the Worthington Steam Turbine Division showing construction of the new administration building, The Steam Turbine Division employs over 650 people, who design and manufacture steam turbines up to 24,000 Horsepower and 15,625 Kilowatts.

These turbines are used throughout the United States and abroad to drive machines in power plants, petroleum refin- eries, chemical plants, paper and sugar mills, and many other industries. Worthington turbines are also found on modern U.S. Navy destroyers and the giant aircraft carriers "Forrestal" and "Saratoga." The Steam Turbine Division is one of thirty Worthington Corporation plants which make many kinds of machinery to serve industry. WORTHINGTON CORPORATION STEAM TURBINE DIVISION WEUSVIUE, N. Y..