Louisiana Piney Woods Oil Boom

In 1925, black gold was discovered in the Tullos-Urania and Olla oilfields in Louisiana’s Piney Woods. The boom that followed came with new jobs, higher wages, and business opportunities, along with behavior reminiscent of the Wild West. It was said that the most prosperous establishments of the boomtowns were the funeral parlors. This fascinating examination of the early days of petroleum production in northern Louisiana features archival photographs and interviews with the original “hard hats” in their unwashed vernacular. It paints a picture of a bygone era—a time when bootleggers and swindlers abounded and old-time drillers drove rigs by the feel of a hand brake.