Geologically speaking, one would not think of Sullivan County to be a natural source of fossil fuels, at least not in the same vein with comparisons to the mid-western states or the middle-east countries. However, with the technological evolution in regards to the exploration for fossil fuel, potential sources for petroleum energy were then, and still are, thought to exist deep beneath Sullivan County bedrock. Seismic surveys, performed by “thumper trucks” that have operated throughout the area over the years, collected geologic data by sending shock waves deep into the bedrock and record any anomalies found within the rock layers. This data has indicated the potential for oil and gas to be found locally.  

The drilling rig, setup on the lands of the Shandelee Hunting Club in 1971, generated much interest with the local citizenry at the time, as well as many unsubstantiated rumors. Since the members of the hunting club have kept silent over the drilling activity, both then and now, there seems to have never been an official outcome to this exploration, even to this day. The Shandelee Hunting Club drilling is reminiscent to a similar project that occurred only a couple of miles away, fifty-some years earlier. 

There was general excitement throughout the Manor in 1915 when loud rumbles and blasts were heard on the Dayton True Eastman farm along the lower Shandelee Road. Finding signs of surface disturbances upon the farm in the general area of the supposed explosions, it was immediately assumed amid the excitement to be detonation of gas pockets buried deep within the bedrock. Even “experts” from the state thought the chances were good that coal, oil or gas may be underground. As a result, D T Eastman organized a stock company, sold shares to local residents, and brought in drilling equipment. The boring began with high hopes, but when the drill broke-off at a depth of three hundred and sixty feet, the endeavor found itself between a rock and a hard place 

In 1919, the promoters again gained local support to restart the drilling. The drillers abandoned the first hole that had the broken drill and reset the rig for a new hole. For two years the rig resumed boring into the bedrock. Upon reaching a depth of 1,400 feet, and going in the hole for $20,000, the project was abandoned. The only hint of any meaningful rock samples found was a thin vein of impure coal located at a depth of 90 feet. Today all that remains of “Eastman’s Folly” is the capped-off well head, located along the Shandelee Brook above the old Eastman farm.