Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2019, History

Oil was discovered in northwest Ohio in 1885. Men came from Pennsylvania and the oil boom was born. Towns appeared and disappeared overnight, and they were often known for a proliferation of saloons, houses of ill repute, and gambling. Derricks littered these towns and posed safety hazards. However, some oil towns were different. In 1890 Gibsonburg, in Sandusky County, Ohio, passed laws prohibiting the drilling of oil wells within 300 feet of a residence. Their efforts revealed environmentalist tendencies decades before it became a national concern. The reforming spirit found in Gibsonburg's residents continued and those early efforts set a precedent for further activism. In 1983 a local lime plant closed its doors and was slated for sale to the Gibsonburg Lime Company who would incinerate polychlorinated biphenyls, a known human carcinogen, as fuel. Many Gibsonburg residents quickly formed a group to oppose the plan. Their timely action resulted in the cancellation of the sale. In both instances, residents resisted the allure of money and jobs to keep themselves and their environment safe. This underscores the lengthy history of environmental activism in Gibsonburg, particularly related to petroleum and the petrochemical industries.

Committee: Michael Brooks Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Andrew Hershberger Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: American History; History