History of Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA

1854 - Bradford
Bradford, a township of McKean county, Pennsylvania, bordering on New York, 14 miles N. W. from Smethport. Population, 990.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1884 - ENGULFED IN BURNING OIL. THE TERRIBLE SITUATION OF A PASSENGER TRAIN. A RAILWAY CUT FLOODED WITH OIL WHICH TAKES FIRE AND BURNS UP A TRAIN AND SEVERAL PERSONS.
Bradford, Penn., Jan. 15. - One of those calamities peculiar to the oil regions startled the people of Bradford today. A passenger train on the Bradford, Bordell and Kinzua Railroad was totally destroyed by fire. The train which was due in this city from Wellsville, N.Y., at 10 o'clock this morning when within three miles of the city ran into a river of oil which had escaped from a burst tank on the hillside, and running down the snow, had covered the bed of the railroad track for over a half mile. The grade at that point is very steep, and the oil coursed down its bank as if it were a stream of water. There is a sharp curve close by, and before the engineer knew it his train was passing over the highly inflammable oil. It ignited from the furnace of the engine, and immediately set the entire train on fire. Then followed a scene not easily portrayed.

The train, which was made up of a baggage car and ladies' coach, was filled with passengers. So great was the crush that many went... Read MORE...

1893 - BRADFORD'S MISFORTUNE. THE HIGGINS HOUSE AGAIN DESTROYED BY FIRE.
WILD SCENES OF PANIC - THREE LIVES LOST, AND MANY JUMP FROM SECOND AND THIRD-FLOOR WINDOWS - BABES THROWN INTO THE CREEK - BURNED OUT FIVE TIMES IN TWO YEARS, BUT STILL NOT DISCOURAGED. - A TITUSVILLE MAN AMONG THE VICTIMS - LIST OF THE KILLED AND INJURED.

(By Associated Press To The Herald)
Bradford, April 2. - The Higgins house, the scene of so many fires, was destroyed again Saturday morning, causing the death or terrible injure to many persons who were unable to escape or sought escape by jumping. The fire started soon after 4 o'clock from a gas jet under a coffee boiler in the kitchen. ED PICKRAND, the night clerk, first saw the blaze. He ran up stairs to rouse the sleepers. He hammered upon the doors in the second story and ran to the third, where he repeated the alarm.

In a moment all was in confusion. The house was filled with smoke almost instantly, and the tinder like partitions and ceilings on the first floor were soon in a mass of flames. Of the hundred and more... Read MORE...

1895 - Bradford
Bradford, a flourishing city of McKean co., Pa., the converging point of several railroads, is situated 63 miles S.E. of Dunkirk, N.Y., and 97 miles S.W. of Buffalo. It has 3 banks, 10 churches, newspaper offices issuing 2 daily and 3 weekly papers, machine-shops, and manufactures of stove', chairs, glass, etc. Bradford is the head-quarters of extensive oil interests. Pop. in 1890, 10,514.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1897 - FOREST FIRES IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Bradford, Pa., Oct. 18. - Forest fires are raging all around this city and last night Bradford was enveloped in a cloud of smoke, the woods surrounding the town being in flames. At Rice Brook, in the newly discovered oil region, there has been a reign of terror during the last forty-eight hours, the people expecting every hour to be overwhelmed by the flames which surround them.

The territory lying between Salamanca, Carrolton and Halls Mills has been swept by fire, probably 6,000 acres having been burned over. Families at Rice Brook have been compelled to move their goods three times since Friday to escape the flames. The oil companies have large gangs of men out fighting the fire and protecting their wells and rigs. Oil is being pumped from the tanks in the fire district. At Rice Brook the South Pennsylvania Oil company and the Worth Oil company have lost one rig and the Sixteen to One Oil company a boiler house. At Chipmunk the Seneca Oil company has lost five rigs. At Sugar... Read MORE...

1909 - CHILDREN BURNED IN OIL BLAZE - Flames Shooting From Well Causes Bad Disaster. ALL SCHOOL PUPILS - Bradford Youngsters Were Returning Home When They Visited the Well.
VICTIM'S CLOTHES BURNED OFF

Bradford, Pa., April 3. - More than 30 young school children, mostly residents of the Third ward, here, were severely burned late yesterday afternoon in a gas explosion at a new oil well on School street. Four men were also badly injured. They are members of the crew engaged in shooting the well.

Hooker & O'Donnell, contractors, had shot the well with nitro-glycerine and the children had been attracted to the vicinity. Escaping gas was ignited in some manner and before the children could be gotten out of the way there was a terrific explosion. That a hundred or more were not instantly killed seems almost a miracle.

The well was the property of the East Bradford Oil Co. As soon as the explosion of natural gas was known all of the ambulances of the city were summoned and the little sufferers were hurried to the Bradford Hospital, or the offices of the various physicians, where their injuries were dressed.

All of the children with one or two... Read MORE...

1916
Bradford, a banking city of McKean co., Pa., the converging point of several railroads, 67 miles S. of Buffalo. It has manufactures of tanks and well-supplies, railroad machine-shops, refineries, boiler-shops, motor-cycles, chemical-works, glass-factories, etc. Bradford is the head-quarters of extensive oil interests and has pipe-lines to the seaboard. Pop. in 1890, 10,514; in 1900, 15,029.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1932 - George G. Blaisdell founded Zippo Manufacturing of Bradford in late 1932. He started with a simple idea: create a product that answers a real need, design it to work, and guarantee it to last.

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Here's a list of places to visit and things to do in Bradford:
Allegheny National Forest: Start your visit to Bradford with a trip to the Allegheny National Forest. This vast wilderness area offers excellent opportunities for hiking, camping, bird-watching, and fishing. The Kinzua Sky Walk, which once was the longest and highest railroad viaduct in the world, is a must-visit for its breathtaking views.

Zippo/ Case Museum: Bradford is famously known as the "Zippo Capital of the World." The Zippo/ Case Museum is a tribute to these iconic American products. You can explore the history of Zippo lighters and Case knives and even see a collection of rare and limited-edition items.

Penn-Brad Oil Museum: As a town with a rich history in the oil industry, it's only fitting that Bradford has a museum dedicated to it. The Penn-Brad Oil Museum provides a fascinating look into the region's petroleum heritage. You'll find an array of exhibits, artifacts, and machinery from the early days of oil drilling.

KOA Campground: If you're an outdoors enthusiast, ... Read MORE...