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Pithole's Demise
Credit: Courtesy the Drake Well Museum, PHMC Bureau of Historic Sites and Museums
As the supply of oil began to dry up, Pithole's economy began to fail. By 1866 the population had fallen to 4,000. Property, so recently in great demand, couldn't be sold. This poster advertises a raffle for the Bonta House Hotel. The raffle was postponed twice and finally canceled altogether due to lack of interest.