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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Car crashes into west Medford liquor store ... BOLI finds evidence of retaliation by Gold Hill city manager ... Tribe calls lottery ad campaign 'hypocritical' ... Car crashes into west Medford liquor store ... BOLI finds evidence of retaliation by Gold Hill city manager ... Tribe calls lottery ad campaign 'hypocritical' ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: United Company searched for oil in Harney County Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 7, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 7, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News We asked our readers for help tracking down a mystery company Wednesday, and a couple of history buffs delivered pronto. For those of you just tuning in, someone found 1947, 1948 and 1949 stock certificates for United Company of Oregon, based in Medford. We were unable to find much about the company, but a number of folks called and emailed us with more of the story. Thanks to George Kramer, we have May 1945 newspaper clippings about the formation of the company. J.H. Dawson of the Dawson Electric Company in Medford founded the company with plans to drill for oil in the Harney Valley near Burns. According to the May 3, 1945, Mail Tribune, founding directors of the company included Dawson, Lew G. Gilman, J.E. Zuber and C.C. Garlick of Medford, W.J. Crank and Ralph Greenwood of Klamath Falls, L.P. Mathes of Central Point and Glenn Bown of Eugene. Historian Bill Miller wrote in to say the corporation sought oil leases, and the company touted its rotary drilling unit placed in pastures 25 miles south of Burns. Miller said the first derrick was installed by October 1945. "Years followed with the ever-glimmering hope that oil was just a few feet away," Miller wrote. Miller said Dawson left to form his own corporation in 1947, and a new board took over the company. By June 1949, 40,000 stock shares were offered for $1 a share. Miller said neither of the corporation's wells had found oil by April 1950, even after drilling down 4,500 and 6,500 feet at their two sites. Shareholders began selling, and an opposition board was elected in May 1951. A takeover followed the next year, with a board controlled by men from Crescent City and Eureka, Calif. The end of the line came in January 1960, when Gov. Mark Hatfield dissolved the United Company of Oregon Inc. According to Miller, Hatfield called the company a "foreign corporation" that had "failed to designate or maintain a registered agent or a registered office" for more than two years. Miller believes the founders of the company meant well. "The original board members probably believed they were offering a good investment and perhaps even the drilling companies they hired did, too. However, in the end, there were no gushers from their wells, and crude didn't rain down from the heavens." Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 7, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501