Well's Point
Odessa, Ector County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Texas & Pacific Railroad Wells. In 1879 railroad headed west out of Fort Worth. Preceding construction - on land later in town of Odessa - water wells were dug in July, 1881. Town section was thereafter called "Well's Point". One well was unusable because of alkali; other two wells supplied construction men, train crews. February 1886, just before Odessa lot sale, a group of townsite promoters came to Well's Point in "an armada of Prairie schooners" from Mariensfield (now Stanton). Odessa was born Aug. 4, 1886, on a section owned by T. & P. Railroad. (1967)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
As the Texas & Pacific Railroad pushed west from Fort Worth in 1879, crews dug water wells here in July 1881 to supply construction gangs and train crews, and the spot became known as "Well's Point." One well proved too alkaline to use, but the others sustained the workers. In February 1886, town promoters arrived in "an armada of prairie schooners" from Mariensfield, and Odessa was born that August on railroad land.
Why it matters
Water wells dug ahead of the rails show how the railroad quite literally seeded new towns across arid West Texas, calling places like Odessa into being.
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Related events
- · Founding of Odessa
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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