In May, the Texon Co. strikes oil in Reagan County, west of Big Lake. Named the Santa Rita Number 1, the new well gushes oil every three hours for more than a month, and triggers the first major oil boom in this part of West Texas. An Austin man, Harvey Hughes, is hanged after confessing to the murder of a fellow hobo while they were riding the Houston Texas Central Railroad. Hughes wrote an open letter to Alpine residents confessing to the murder. Odessa Boy Scouts, who began meeting as early as 1912, are incorporated as a council, now the Buffalo Trail Council.
Information is drawn from news accounts, archives and other historical records.
20th Century Countdown. The Odessa American's daily countdown of the last 100 years, from 1900 through 1999, with a short summary of some news and newsmakers affecting residents of Odessa. Copyright 1999 Odessa American. All rights reserved. Refer comments to Webmaster .