Site of Early Water Well

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the site of an early water well in Midland County. Before Midland had a well of its own, water came in by rail, shipped all the way from Monahans, fifty miles to the west. Think about that for a moment.

Fifty miles by rail, just to get a drink of water. That was the situation until 1884, when somebody picked up a shovel and decided to change things. By hand, they dug down into the earth, six feet wide and fifty feet deep, until they found what the whole town needed.

That was the county's first well, and once it was up and running, it supplied the entire town. No more waiting on the railroad. The well was fitted with a hand pump and a bucket rest right under the spout, so you could set your bucket down and let it fill.

And it wasn't just for people, either. The well also furnished water for the town cattle trough. Six feet wide, fifty feet deep, dug by hand.

There's a whole lot of quiet determination sitting inside those numbers.

What the marker says

County's first well; dug by hand, 1884, it supplied the entire town. Formerly water had been shipped by rail from Monahans (50 mi. W). Well--6 feet wide, 50 feet deep--was equipped with a hand pump and a bucket rest (under spout). It also furnished water for town cattle trough. (1969)