Wellsville, New York

Wellsville is both a village and a town in Allegany County, New York. The Village, incorporated in 1858, has a population of just over 5,000 residents and is surrounded by the Town of Wellsville, with an additional population of about 3,000. Together, the village and town of Wellsville form an economic center for the region. Wellsville benefited from the timber and oil industries which dominated the area in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as evidenced by its wealth of historic architecture. Standout examples include the "Pink House", a fanciful Italianate-style mansion, and the ornate Gothic-style Immaculate Conception church, built in 1876. Wellsville town is also home to a branch of Alfred State College.

Wellsville was first settled in the late 18th century, with agriculture providing the main occupation for many years. The abundant forests in the region quickly gave rise to a thriving timber industry, and tannin-rich bark from the milled trees provided a key ingredient for a secondary industry, leather-tanning. In 1851, the New York and Erie Railroad established a station in Wellsville, prompting the growth that allowed the Town to incorporate in 1855. Around 1879, oil was discovered in the area, leading to another economic boom. The Wellsville Refining Company began operations in the late 19th century, and was acquired by Sinclair Refining Company in 1919. A major fire and tank explosion in 1938 severely damaged the plant; declining production and a second fire closed the facility, then owned by Atlantic Richfield Company, for good in 1958. Some of the property is now occupied by Alfred State College. Air Preheater Company, incorporated in 1925, continues to produce Ljungstrom air preheaters as part of Alstom Power, Inc. Although manufacturing has declined somewhat in recent years, Wellsville's early-20th century downtown retail district, Jones Memorial Hospital and Wellsville Country Club all contribute to the local economy.

Wellsville has a lengthy history of industrial activity in fields where asbestos-containing products were commonly used. Workers who have been exposed to asbestos are at risk for mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs. Mesothelioma cancer centers in and around Wellsville are listed at the bottom of this page. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma in Wellsville, you should also consider contacting a mesothelioma attorney for legal advice.

Jobsites in Wellsville where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Wellsville, NY have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.

Mesothelioma Cancer Centers Near Wellsville, NY

For your convenience we have compiled a list of mesothelioma cancer centers that are located within a 100 mile radius of Wellsville, NY. Please click on a cancer center link to obtain more information about the clinical programs offered, professional designations, areas of expertise and how to contact the center.