Shenango Valley News

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s (PA-16) bill to rename the Titusville Post Office building after the father of the American oil industry, Edwin Drake, has successfully passed the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The legislation, labeled H.R. 7417, is now set to advance to the House floor for a final vote.

"I am so pleased to see the Edwin Drake Post Office Building bill advance through the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. I would like to thank my colleagues for their support in honoring this American pioneer," expressed Rep. Mike Kelly regarding the bill's progression. He further highlighted the significance of Edwin Drake's contributions, stating, "Mr. Drake’s invention led to a revolution that transformed the world and I am proud to cement his legacy in our nation’s history."

The bill proposed by Rep. Kelly aims to rename the Titusville Post Office, located at 135 W. Spring St., to the Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building. This initiative follows a bipartisan effort initiated on February 20, 2024, by Rep. Kelly and all 16 other Members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation.

Edwin Drake, known as the first person to use an iron pipe to drill for oil, played a crucial role in initiating the Pennsylvania oil rush in 1859. His pioneering work not only impacted local economies but also had worldwide implications. Today, Drake's legacy is preserved at the Drake Well Museum in Titusville, where the original tools used by him can be found.

Rep. Kelly has a track record of honoring significant figures through renaming initiatives, having successfully passed similar legislation in 2022 to rename the Butler, Pennsylvania Post Office after Civil War hero Andrew Gomer Williams.

The renaming of the Titusville Post Office to the Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building seeks to commemorate the enduring legacy of this American pioneer and his profound impact on the oil industry and beyond.