A Visit to Spindletop - July 19th, 2016
Visit the Spindletop/Gladys City Boomtown Museum in Beaumont
Celebrating the January 11, 1901 oil gusher that changed the world
The Lucas Gusher was actually a mile south of here in an industrial area
The pink granite monument was erected in 1941 at the actual site
Erected in July 1941 by the Lucas Gusher Monuement Association
The Lucas Gusher where a New Era in civilization began!
The well produced 900,000 barrels of oil in the 9 days it ran wild
Oil has revolutionized industry, transportation & created 100s of 1000s of jobs
By the monument & oil well replica is the Gladys City Boomtown Museum
Support its continuence with a $5 adult and two $3 Senior entry fees
Step inside and head to the Sheet Metal Workers building
First spy a 1931 Model A owned by Pattillo Higgins
Higgens invented a turn signal device because he didn't have a left arm
Fageol Motors Model 100 oil truck
Maintence schedule stamped right into the driver's door!
Gulf, Texas Co, Magnolia, Sun and Shell Oil all prospered in Port Arthur
The Fageol Oil truck was owned by the Gulf Oil company
Head over to the next building, the Barber Shop
Get your hair singed and teeth pulled while hearing the latest news
High pay led to gouged prices for tonsorial services
The saloon was next door to the barbershop
Get your drink at the bar and find a seat inside
I'm sure the air conditioning was a hit with the 1901 oil workers!
First of many old safes we encounter within the boomtown structures
Check the Post Office next whose small room did not allow for good photos
The only post office in the area from 1902-1925
One of 3 towns built nearby, Gladys City also had women & children residents
Walk next door to the dry goods store which stocked clothing
You could buy new clothing for ladies and gents or have clothes repaired
An early time card machine! &nbps; Put the prong in the assign spot
Turn the crank & record your time on the paper drum
A sewing machine is in place to repair workers clothing
You know it is a Singer! With fancy gold etching!
Next is the General Store with proprietor's residence & rooms for rent
Head upstairs first and check out the store owner's residence
Home furnishings in the front living room
An early photo wall projector system?
Photo the boomtown from the upper General Store balcony
Oil company building, drug store and print shop to be toured soon
Head downstairs to the General Store, aka: Weigh and Pour Store
Get everything necessary to sustain life within these walls
Weigh it, pour it, pay for it and then come back soon!
Next head to the Beaumont Oil Exchange or board of trade
The building housed a stock exchange, law office and print shop
Current prices of oil stocks are listed in the entry room
The law office had all latest gadgets and up to date information
Blickenderfer is German for Bleeding Edge Typewriter!
Keep your fingers on the keys or you could lose one
The back office contained the printshop
Printing equipment with all the type sets surrounding it
Get your church notices, business papers and certificates HERE!
Step outside and walk over to the photography shop
Edgerton had the equipment to capture views of Spindletop!
On display are many of the cameras available in the early 1900s
Box cameras are the best because they stack so easily!
Plenty of portrait cameras available to send a photo back home
Printing equipment provided many copies of the great gusher photo
Edgerton shows how to properly display your old worn out camera collection
Next building up is the dedicated print shop
A large room with plenty of space for a more organized print shop
All the equipment is lined up by order of use
Footpress powered the printer while hand feeding the paper
Roller machine provided parts to keep the presses running
More modern, yet still old, Linotype machine with keyboard control panel
Leave the print shop and head to the drug store
The MOST IMPORTANT building provide drugs plus ice cream and sodas
Soda fountain in the front of the store
Doctors office in the back of back of the store
Type up prescriptions with a Smith & Corona typewriter
Next is the Gladys city Oil, Gas & Manufacturing Company building
Mom poses before going inside to check out the interior
City namesake up top with map of streets and buildings
George Carroll portrait above the desk and Gladys Oil Co. Stock
Map of property owners' plots in relation to Spindletop & Beaumont
Turn the corner and head into the Engineering Building
Producers of Oil Field Maps with plots as small as 1/64th of an acre
Nelson and White's original equipment provided by their families
Back office with more furnishings and equipment
Looks like the same map from across the street but not in color
Oil derrick in town center with Dry Goods, Post Office & Saloon beyond
The second to last building is the Carriage Works
Known for ingenuity the blacksmiths could form any tool needed
Blacksmiths were also innovative with tattoos and hair groomings
Machinery and equipment could repair pumps, engines and horseshoeing
The final building was the livery stable and undertaker
Mortuaries evolved from early livery stables
A collection of early oil field tools displayed on the left
Three types of coffins, luxury depended on the generosity of your coworkers
Horse drawn spring wagon and trailer complete the display
Mavis is ready to the cool off in the Spindletop video viewing room