Neodesha in Wilson County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Actual Site of Norman No. 1

Opening Well of the Mid-Continent Field

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 7, 2012

1. Actual Site of Norman No. 1 Marker

Inscription.
From this discovery well the field spread first west then south to the Gulf of Mexico. The Norman No. 1 was dirlled in November 1892 by O L Bloom of Independence for William Mills of Osawatomie on land owned by T. J. Norman of Neodesha. The hole was bottomed at 832 feet in 22 feet of Neodesha Bartlesville Oil Sand on November 28, 1892. On October 1, 1893, the well was shot by G.M. Perry of Oswego. Its initial production was 12 barrels daily. After producing for 26 years it was abandoned because of leaky casing. C.E. Vickers, field foreman for the Prairie Oil and Gas Company, pulled the casing from the well in 1919.

Joe W. Allen, Historian.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 1, 1893.

Location. 37° 24.896′ N, 95° 40.358′ W. Marker is in Neodesha, Kansas, in Wilson County. Marker is in the park off East Mill Street, just west of the Verdigris River. The oil well site is about 125 feet northeast of the marker. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Neodesha KS 66757, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Norman No. 1 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sgt Mike Ritter (approx. half a mile away); Brown Hotel

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(approx. half a mile away); World War II Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Soldiers of the World War (approx. half a mile away); Dutch Lorbeer (approx. 1.3 miles away); Opening of the Mid-Continent Oil Field (approx. 1.3 miles away); World War Homefront and Neodesha Cemetery Association Founders Memorial Pavilion (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Neodesha.

Also see . . .
1. Norman No. 1 Oil Well. Kansapedia website entry (Submitted on July 22, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. Norman No. 1 Site National Register Nomination. Kansas Historical Society website entry (Submitted on July 22, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

3. History of Neodesha, Kansas. City website entry (Submitted on July 22, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 7, 2012

2. Actual Site of Norman No. 1 Marker

Note missing National Historic Landmark marker location

Norman No. 1 image. Click for full size.

via Kansas Historical Society, unknown

3. Norman No. 1

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 7, 2012

4. Actual Site of Norman No. 1 Marker

Path leads to actual well site, just in front of treeline

Actual Site of Norman No. 1 Oil Well image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 7, 2012

5. Actual Site of Norman No. 1 Oil Well

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 555 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on February 8, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5. submitted on July 22, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.