Kelly introduces legislation to rename Titusville Post Office after Edwin Drake, first American to successfully drill for oil

TITUSVILLE, PA -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced the introduction of his new legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office in Titusville, Pennsylvania after Edwin Drake, the businessman who became the first American to successfully drill for oil and ultimately launched the modern American oil industry. This bill would rename the Titusville Post Office, located at 135 W. Spring St., to the Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building.

"Edwin Drake is a fixture not only of Crawford County history, but also of American history. His invention led to a revolution that transformed the world, putting Titusville and the entire Oil Region on the map," said Rep. Kelly. "This legislation takes the next step to honor Mr. Drake for the role he has played in shaping the world we know today."

The legislation is co-sponsored by the entire Pennsylvania delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives.

You can read the full bill HERE.

BACKGROUND

In 1859, Edwin Drake became the first person to use an iron pipe to drill for oil. His “drive pipe” quickly produced between 20-40 barrels daily, using all the whiskey barrels in Titusville. Drake’s oil well started the Pennsylvania oil rush in 1859. The Titusville oil well launched an economic revolution in Western Pennsylvania that would change economies worldwide.

Drake died in 1880, and rests in Titusville; the original tools used by Drake can be found at the Drake Well Museum in Titusville. Rep. Kelly's bill would rename Titusville's U.S. Post Office to the Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building.

In 2022, Rep. Kelly passed similar legislation to rename the Butler, Pennsylvania Post Office after Butler County native and Civil War hero Andrew Gomer Williams. In 2023, Kelly led the renaming ceremony for the Post Office, which is now officially named the Andrew Gomer Williams Post Office Building.