Name/Title
Brave Pumping Station - Explosion - Brave, Greene County, PennsylvaniaEntry/Object ID
2014.2.7Description
The Brave Pumping Station, owned by the Peoples Natural Gas Company (PNGC), in Brave, Greene County, Pennsylvania, suffered a major explosion due to a failed valve on 2 April 1917. Six workers lost their lives: Charles Cain, Ira Cole, J. W. Cumberledge, Levi Barber Cumberledge, Jack Hoskinson, and John Roupe. At least five others were seriously injured: Leroy Cumberledge (brother of J. W. Cumberledge), J. A. Hine, Joseph McNeely, Harry Ormiston, Harold Wise.
In spite of the disaster, the compressor station, which opened 3 March 1907, and operated until 28 September 1959, was at one time considered to be the largest natural gas compressor station in the world.
Original, professional photograph from Clarence F. Long, Waynesburg, Pa.
Sources:
G. Wayne Smith, History of Greene County, Pennsylvania, 2 volumes (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania: Cornerstone Genealogical Society, 1996), 1: 468-469, 2: 656-657.
"Six Men Killed: Explosion of Big Gas Main at Brave, Causes Appalling Accident" article, Waynesburg (Pennsylvania) Republican, 5 April 1917, page 1, columns 2-3.
Sarah Sweeney, "Brave Station: The Early History of Oil and Gas in Southwestern Pennsylvania" article, Center for Coalfield Justice (https://centerforcoalfieldjustice.org/2024/07/brave-station-the-early-history-of-oil-and-gas-in-southwestern-pennsylvania/ : viewed 23 November 2025).Collection
Matt W. Cumberledge CollectionMade/Created
Studio
Clarence F. Long Community Art ShopDate made
Apr 5, 1917Place
Town
WaynesburgCounty
Greene CountyState/Province
PennsylvaniaCountry
United StatesContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Search Terms
Brave (Pa.)--Business, Cain family, Cole family, Cumberledge family, Fire--Buildings, Hoskinson family, Occupations--Oil and gas, Roupe family, Wayne (Greene County, Pa. : Township)--BusinessOther Names and Numbers
Other Number
CMBL-AN004-0005-0001Relationships
Related Places
Place
Village
BraveTownship
Wayne TownshipCounty
Greene CountyState/Province
PennsylvaniaCountry
United StatesContinent
North AmericaProvenance
Provenance Detail
Brave Pumping Station - George Lindsey Cole Series - Matt W. Cumberledge CollectionAcquisition Method
DigitalAcquisition Date
2025Notes
The George Lindsey Cole Series was passed from George Lindsey Cole [1897-1987] to his friend Kay Hibbs, to local historian Matt W. Cumberledge, who owned and shared the photograph with the Greene Connections: Greene County, Pennsylvania Archives Project in 2025.
George Lindsey Cole [1897-1987] was a son of Matthew Cole [1869-1939] and Mary Alice Rush [1875-1908].
SOURCE CITATION: Brave Pumping Station, owned by the Peoples Natural Gas Company (PNGC), in Brave, Greene County, Pennsylvania, suffered a major explosion that took the lives of six workers on 2 April 1917; image by Clarence F. Long, Waynesburg, Pa.; item no. CMBL-AN004-0005-0001, George Lindsey Cole Series, Matt W. Cumberledge Collection; Greene Connections Archives Project (GreeneConnections.com).
