This Day in History: 1866-03-01
The Ramapo Valley Mining and Petroleum Company was incorporated in New York City. The Prospectus said that the company had leases on both sides of the Ramapo River consisting of about 3,500 acres of 25 farms from Suffern to what is now Ramsey. They sank a well 676 yards south of Bear Swamp near the Deerhaven bridge, across the river from Abran Garrison’s house. It went down 400′ hitting lignite and coal but no oil, before being stopped by basalt.
(Bristow)