Oil Patch relics

[naturegirl]

I have permission to detect this old lease, and went out yesterday for a first look, no detector. Not really first look, I used to play here as a child with a friend whose family owns the property. The oilman, who lived here at one time, was an independent producer, hard workin' man. He and his father built some of the early oil rigs in the boom days, he and his brother worked the wells themselves. I hadn't been back here in over 35 years. It sure brought back some memories. I took flowers from my yard and paid my respects first, and I can't help it, I think rusty old things are beautiful!

 

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[fossis]

That place 'has potential', some good relic's also.

Fossis............

 

[2bits]

Excellent site! Go for it.
Doc

 

[vayank54]

That's a neat place. It's a shame when old equipment like that is left to rust away though.

 

[naturegirl]

I think it's got potential fossis, I need to locate the remains of the shack in which he lived for a few years, he was very tight with his money, I can absolutely see him burying some. Iron is everywhere! Hope Buckshot's detector is as good as it's supposed to be.
Yeah vanyank54, I look at alot of this stuff and think the same thing. But he wore the equipment out, he used it till it could run no more, and then used the parts to build something else. he did donate some of it to a local musem though. And I was told that it is a smudge pot. The band in the last picture is about 10 " wide, it was one of the belts used to turn the big wheel on the rig. The only thing keeping me from dragging alot of this home is knowing the family. They've let it lay, so I will too. I'm really hoping to find some personal items that might tickle them to have.

 

[Charmin]

That looks like a great spot to detect, naturegirl. Watch for snakes! I bet they love all that old iron laying on the ground. (I'm paranoid about those things this time of year!)

Those old iron wheels on the rig would be neat to use in something or just as yard ornaments .
Hope you find lots!

sandcreek

 

[Cass]

It will help when you are ready to find those "personal " items and maybe a few coins to see if the family recalls (surely they will) where the "Doghouse" used to be. I bet you remember what that was. That's where the oil hands did all their paper work and kept their maint.tools etc. Spent lots of time myself with my Dad when he was tending his wells (Standard Oil Co.) there in S Ark. back in the 40's. Remember in his later years when he became to sick to climb the ladders, my Mother did the work for him. She would gage the tank levels and switch them as he would give her instructions from the ground. Oh yeah, your story and pics bring back memories for me too ! Thanks!!

 

[naturegirl]

Hi Cass, yes I know about doghouses. don't know if there was one on this place or not, but he did live in a shack there, that's what I want to find. funny you should mention your Mom helping, his daughter inherited his wells and still pumps one or two to this day. If her husband can't pump them, she does. Thank you for sharing your memories, I enjoyed them, sorry your father was sick, but he kept working, huh? I know the type