Pittsburgh - New Kensington - Butler - Leechburg - Natrona Heights - Kittanning - Freeport Tarentum - Lower Burrell - Vandergrift - Ford City - Hyde Park - Fox Chapel - Brackenridge Your Guide to the Alle-Kiski Valley and the Greater Pittsburgh Area Friday November 21, 2008 Home     In Business     Go Outside     History     Diversion     Back Issues     History - Industry Lucesco Cannel Oil Refinery, Allegheny Township, 1858 The Lucesco oil refinery was an oil-manufacturing establishment making cannel coal oil, and was started in 1858 by Dr. Alter and others of Freeport. It employed a hundred and fifty men, and built thirty houses near its works, a few hundred yards south of the Western Pennsylvania Railroad Junction. It was operated a few years, when the discovery of petroleum oil at Oil City by Dr. Drake caused its abandonment, as it could not compete with the newly-discovered petroleum. Dr. David Alter Cannel Oil: Oil refined from bituminous coal which burns brightly like a candle--thus, cannel coal and cannel oil. Western Pennsylvania Railroad Junction: Also known as Kiskiminetas Junction, it is located where the Kiskiminetas River flows into the Allegheny. The refinery is about one quarter mile south of the confluence, opposite Freeport, Pennsylvania. Visit Our Clients Costello Printing & Graphics Golden Years Management Newport Business Institute Oakbridge Academy of Arts Priority Financial Services Rametta Audiology & Hearing Aid Center West Interior Services Word Association, Publishers AKValley.com, PO Box 16 Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania 15065 724-224-4547 Copyright 1999-2004 by Darren McPhilimy, All Rights Reserved.