History of Olean, New York, USA

Name: Olean, New York, USA
Address: Olean, NY, USA

Journey back in time to Olean, New York, USA

Visit Olean, New York, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.

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The area was first settled by Europeans around 1765, called by the Indian name Ischua. Officially, this was illegal, as the British had declared the land in the Allegheny River watershed to be part of the Indian Reserve after conquering the territory in the French and Indian War two years prior... During the American Revolutionary War, the 1779 Sullivan Expedition established the first road to what would become Olean, blazing a trail to what is now Kittanning, Pennsylvania along the path of what is now New York State Route 16.

Originally the entire territory of the county of Cattaraugus was called the Town of Olean, formed March 11, 1808. As population allowed, the county was split in half and the top half was called "Hebe", and was taken off in 1812, a part of Perrysburgh in 1814, then Great Valley in 1818. Hinsdale formed in 1820, and Portville in 1837, leaving the current boundary of Olean that lies upon the south line of the county, near the southeast corner.

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There is MUCH more to discover about Olean, New York, USA. Read on!

1854 - Olean
Olean, a post-village of Olean township, Cattaraugus co., New York, on the Alleghany river, at the southern terminus of the Genesee canal, and on the ...Read MORE...
1868 - Water is sold at fifteen cents a barrel to the housekeepers of Olean, N. Y.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
January 18, 1868
1881 - Wagon Shop Fire
At a little past 8 o'clock Tuesday morning there was an alarm of fire and a hurrying to and fro, as it was announced that in Conlkin's wagon shop was ...Read MORE...
1883 - Fire in Olean
OLEAN, N. Y., June 8 - The United Pipe Line tank 1,477, with a capacity of 85,000 barrels, was struck by lightning. While the employes were engaged...Read MORE...
1884 - The city fathers at Olean, N. Y., have instructed the police to compel all boys under the age of fifteen years to vacate the streets after 8:30 o'clock p.m.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 14, 1884
1895 - Olean
Olean, a post-village in Olean township, Cattaraugus co., N.Y., on the Alleghany River, at the mouth of Olean Creek, and on the Genesee Valley Canal...Read MORE...
1903 - OIL TANKS EXPLODED WITH AWFUL RESULTS. OVER TWENTY DEAD AND HALF A HUNDRED FATALLY INJURED AT OLEAN N.Y. CROWDS GATHERED TO SEE THE TRAIN WRECK WHEN THE BURNING OIL EXPLODED CAUSING A FEARFUL LOSS OF LIFE.
The Dead:
NORMAN BROWN, aged 18 years, Olean.
JOHNNY TOBIN, aged 15 years, Olean.
JOHN McCREADY, aged 13 years, Olean.
JOHN McMAHON, aged 19...Read MORE...
1906
Olean, a city of Cattaraugus co., N.Y., on the Alleghany River, at the mouth of Olean Creek, and on the Erie and other railroads, 70 miles SE. of...Read MORE...
Higgins Memorial Hospital
Postcard
Carnegie Library
postmarked 1910
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Olean High School
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Exchange National Bank, Olean, N.Y.
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No. 3 School
postmarked 1911
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First Presbyterian Church
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Vacuum Oil Co Refineries and Tank Field, Largest Storage of Crude Oil in the World, Olean, N.Y.
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Bird's Eye View
postmarked 1921
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