RENO

From "The Historical Album and Daily Program, Venango County Sesquicentennial, 1805 - 1955"

Reno is a thriving little community in Sugarcreek Township located three miles down river from Oil City on the north side of the Allegheny River. It is a pleasant and peaceful community - and was once the center of the C. V. Culver's financial interest in the Oil Region. Reno was named in honor of a gallant general - Major General Jesse L. Reno, who attained the highest military rank of any Venango Co. hero of his day. A West Point graduate, he served through the Mexican War and the Civil War until killed at the battle of South Main. Reno was first settled early in the 19th century but its site was kept intact almost as a whole until late in the century. The community itself had few permanent settlers until after 1880. Hugh Clifford was the first settler in what is now Reno. The Reno Oil Company, organized in 1861, by Charles Vernon Culver, purchased 1200 acres and drilled rows of wells along the river. The company acquired all of Reno but a few lots, and adhered to a policy of not selling land. Thus, Reno did not develop rapidly. The Honorable A. L. Confer established the Empire Refinery, now Wolf's Head, and operated a cooperage business there. He also made building lots available to eighty or more workmen in his cooperage and refinery, and offered advances to assist in home construction. Reno then came into its own as a residential community. Today (1955) it is the site of the beautiful Wanango Country Club, which offers an excellent golf course, a refinery, industrial site; and the homes of several stores, garages and a restaurant.

Transcribed by Penny Haylett Minnick
minnick862@verizon.net

Disclaimer:there may be errors due to transcription of information from both early and late (current contributors) work.