World's First Bulldozer
World's First Bulldozer
Location: City park of Morrowville.
It's been said that necessity is the mother of invention. It has also been said that when opportunity knocks, he's dressed in overalls and looks like work! Both were certainly the case with the creation of the world's first bulldozer.
The story begins in 1923, during the early
years of the oil industry, with the Sinclair Oil Company laying an oil pipeline
across Washington County from the oil fields of Teapot Dome, WY to refineries at
Freeman, MO. A young farmer, James Cummings, upon seeing the pipeline
being laid noted that, while the actual digging of the trench had been
mechanized (much of this technology had been developed during World War I just a
few years before), backfilling the trench was still being done with mules and
dirt slips. He soon realized that a machine for filling the trench was in
order and approached the pipeline company with his idea. They
enthusiastically encouraged him to develop the machine, and with the help of a
local
draftsman, J. Earl McLeod, plans were drawn up and the men proceeded to build
the new machine from parts scoured from junkyards in the area. From the
frame of a Model T, windmill springs, and assorted odds and ends, a new
technology sprang forth. Cummings and McLeod were given the contract
for backfilling the pipeline from Deshler, NE to it's terminus at Freeman, MO.
After
this over-night success, the partners went on to invent other
machinery for the growing oil industry. With the death of his wife, McLeod
sold his share of the business to his partner, Cummings, and returned to
Washington County. Of their first invention, the bulldozer, McLeod would
say, "The bulldozer was crudely constructed, but solidly built to stand the
gaff. It was not overly pretty, but it was ... stout!".
In
1985, a replica of the world's first bulldozer was placed on
display in the Morrowville City Park by the Morrowville Community Club.
The park was renamed Cummings Park in honor of the inventor.