Oil Wells that began well

At the Oil Museum of Canada, Oil Springs, Ontario, sometime in the 1990s

These are the jerker lines that still drive the wells at the first commercially exploited oil field in the world - the oil is still used to make lubricants. The jerkers lines are logs or planks swinging from posts that radiate out from a central engine in the field - this was before it became possible to motorize each pump. The plant is supposed to be something that grows a lot in oily soil. The place smells pretty bad - it made me feel sick,  but I asked the guy who worked there about it and he jokingly said "What smell?".

Oil Museum of Canada Youtube video showing jerker line.