n the early 1900's, a gusher oil well came in next door to the Eagle Saloon, corner of Diamond and Water streets, in Sistersville, West Virginia. For the Eagle, which featured open air dancing in back, with a lovely view of the Ohio River, the well became a new attraction for both drinking customers and teetotalers, alike, and was observed from as far away as the Prater Russel farm across the river. By 1900 the state's oil production exceeded 16 million barrels. By 1911, West Virginia was the nation's leading oil and gasoline producer. By 1917 its natural gas production reached 308,617,101,000 cubic feet per year. In 2005 the state produced 216,890,662 Mcf natural gas and 47,022 barrels of oil. RELATED KEYWORDS: vulnerable; work; flow; pressure; boom; primitive; rustic; wood; wooden; derrick; history; historical; old; early; Ohio River; Ohio Valley; Midwest; Mid Atlantic; Appalachia; Appalachian; geology; geological; geophysical; geophysics; reserve; field; patch; new; wildcat; well; discover; energy; hydrocarbon; fossil; fuel; earth; natural; gas; petroleum; crude; oil; resource; employ; occupation; service; serving; providing; supply; demand; economy; economic; invest; profit; business; industrial; industry; industries; national; companies; safe; protect; risk; danger; America; United States; USA; U.S.A.; pic; pix; picture; photo; image; stock