Texas Historical Marker #04912
Site of Westbrook School and Church. These two pioneer institutions, which began even before the town grew up here, were first housed in the same tiny, one-room building. The structure was erected in 1890 by local settlers when Westbrook was only a flag-stop on the Texas & Pacific Line. Located on a four-acre plot, the single classroom had rough, wooden benches and, at the front, one long "recitation bench", where pupils sat to recite their lessons from memory in typical 19th Century style. The school "year" then lasted three to six months. On Sundays this was the site of services for the Westbrook Baptist Church, organized 1890 with nine charter members, by the Rev. J.C. Burkett, Pastor of the Colorado (City) Church. Although sermons were given only once a month, Sunday school was held each week. Parishioners, who often lived miles away, would cook and pack basket lunches Saturday and spend all day Sunday at the church. The building was a social center for the widely scattered settlers. In 1902, as population increased, a new church was erected north of the school yard; and in 1905 the town provided a modern, two-story school building. The old structure was sold to a farmer for use as a barn. Only the cemetery remains at the site today. (1969) #4912
FM 670, Westbrook, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #01230
Discovery Well of the Permian Basin. The first commercial discovery oil well in the Permian Basin was named for W.H. Abrams, leasing agent for the Texas and Pacific land trust. The well first produced oil in February 1920 at a depth of 450 feet; but in June 1920, a better showing of oil was found at 2345-2410 feet. On July 16, 1920, the well was "shot" with nitroglycerin. As a crowd of 2,000 people looked on, a great eruption of oil, gas, water, and smoke shot from the mouth of the well almost to the top of the derrick. Shortly after, the well flowed at a rate of 129 barrels daily, but soon settled down to 20 barrels per day. From this well and a well nearby the Rio Grande Oil Company laid the first commercial oil pipeline in the Permian Basin. The first load of oil went through the pipeline on April 3, 1922. W.H. Abrams No. 1 was redesignated on May 1, 1968 as Westbrook southeast unit No. 701, formed to increase oil recovery from the Westbrook oil field by water flooding. This enhanced oil recovery technique has produced 67 million barrels of the more than 100 million barrels of oil recovered from this field. Designated as major fields, only a small number produce 100 million barrels of oil or more. Fifty-six major fields are located in the Permian Basin, the fourth largest oil producing area in the U.S. (1967, 1996) #1230
IH 20, 2 mi. W of Westbrook, Westbrook, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #04759
Site of Conaway School. In community opened in 1891 by settlers C.P. and Mattie Conaway. First 3-months session was held in 1896 for nine pupils from three families, in one-room building placed by Conaway south of his ranch house. After four terms he moved school a mile north to serve a larger area. Pupils sat on homemade benches, wrote on slates, dipped drinking water from a bucket. In 1906 many farmers settled nearby. Conaway gave this new site, helped raise $375; and with patrons' labor, a new schoolhouse was erected. As enrolment increased, three rooms were added. This building was destroyed by fire in 1929 and replaced by a 4-room brick structure with an auditorium. A water system using a well and windmill also replaced the bucket and dipper of earlier days. Throughout the years the school building was used for church services and other community activities. Many successful people, including teachers, doctors, lawyers, and religious leaders, began their courses of study at Conaway School. Peak enrolment of 115 was reached during the 10-months term of 1933-34. After 1936 upper grades were transferred by bus to Westbrook; consolidation was completed in 1939. The school building was sold and dismantled in 1947. (1972) #4759
CR 266 and CR 262, off FM 670 from Westbrook, Westbrook, TX, United States
Texas Historical Marker #05596
Union Methodist Church. Organized March, 1891, by Rev. J.W. Montgomery. First church built by J.M. Dorn and neighbors. All faiths worshipped here. Was also used as schoolhouse and community meeting place. Present church built 1905, and renamed Dorn Chapel. Planks over nail kegs were early pews. (1967) #5596
Fm 2836, off US 80, 7 mi. from Westbrook, Westbrook, TX, United States