Early History
Shinglehouse,
incorporated in March, 1901 was named for log cabin, covered with hand-made shingles,
which had been built there by a Frenchman, M. Generet in 1806.
Lumbering was the first occupation of the pioneers moving into the Oswayo
Valley. Three sawmills were operated in or near Shinglehouse before 1830. During the early
1830's five others mills were located in the vicinity and lumbering remained important
until the mid century when many settlers were engaged in agriculture.
The village grew at a slow pace throughout the second half of the
century. Rapid growth began after 1900 when the N.Y.P. Railroad can into town and the
Palmer Windo Glass Plant was constructed just out of town. The glass plant used two
natural. resources found nearby, glass, sand, and natural gas. A new town grew up near the
glass plant. Soon because of the rapid increase in population, the old and new towns
merged and the population doubled in a period of two years. The glass plant remained in
various states of production until 1921.
The Olean Street Railway Company brought an electric trolley line into the
town during 1902, making Shinglehouse the only town in Potter to ever be so served. This
service lasted until 1927.
The Sharon gas fields were expanding with the drilling of new wells and
pumping stations were installed at East Sharon. The gas brought the Flint Bottle Company
in 1904. The bottle plant operated for fifteen years. After World War I, the residents
turned their attention to silk weaving when two mills were opened. There prospered for
several years but only the buildings remain today.
Today Shinglehouse is mainly a dormitory town workers for the Olean,
New York are. A number of people still hold employment in the gas fields.