Near Nocona in Montague County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
North Nocona Oil Field
Montague County Oil Discovery 1922
Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, April 28, 2024
1. North Nocona Oil Field Marker
Inscription.
North Nocona Oil Field. Montague County Oil Discovery 1922. Pennsylvania oil man George Williams, backed by Cad McCall, drilled for oil intermittently, 1918-22, beginning at Eagle Point (4.5 mi. SE). Leasing by individuals and major companies--including Phil Lesh, A.E. Humphrey, and the Texas Co.--kept rigs working. Gas blew in at 800-foot depth on J.W. Maddox - J.E. Lemons land, one well yielding over 100,000,000 cubic feet daily. The gas was piped to Nocona and rural homes. Oil was discovered in 1922 on Maddox site, at about 1,000 feet. Production continued at 1,000-2,000 feet, there and elsewhere. The gas caused trouble: a capped well blew mud from prairie dog holes and gas from water well a quarter-mile away. In 1925, a gas well on W.W. Jones land (2 mi. W) blew out a gigantic crater. Another well (.75 mi. W) caught fire, burned its rig, and was finally doused by nationally-famed oil well fire fighter Tex Thornton. With an estimated 100,000,000-barrel total on record, this 12,295-acre field still produces.
Pennsylvania oil man George Williams, backed by Cad McCall, drilled for oil intermittently, 1918-22, beginning at Eagle Point (4.5 mi. SE). Leasing by individuals and major companies--including Phil Lesh, A.E. Humphrey, and the Texas Co.--kept rigs working. Gas blew in at 800-foot depth on J.W. Maddox - J.E. Lemons land, one well yielding over 100,000,000 cubic feet daily. The gas was piped to Nocona and rural homes. Oil was discovered in 1922 on Maddox site, at about 1,000 feet. Production continued at 1,000-2,000 feet, there and elsewhere. The gas caused trouble: a capped well blew mud from prairie dog holes and gas from water well a quarter-mile away. In 1925, a gas well on W.W. Jones land (2 mi. W) blew out a gigantic crater. Another well (.75 mi. W) caught fire, burned its rig, and was finally doused by nationally-famed oil well fire fighter Tex Thornton. With an estimated 100,000,000-barrel total on record, this 12,295-acre field still produces.
Erected 1972 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3608.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 33° 55.518′ N, 97° 42.311′ W. Marker is near Nocona, Texas, in Montague County. It is on Farm
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to Market Road 103 3.2 miles east of Farm to Market Road 2849, on the right when traveling east. From Nocona take FM 103 about 10 miles north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Nocona TX 76255, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Comancherνa, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 628 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 29, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
