1909
Hammond-Brown Well
The Hammond-Brown well was drilled in 1909. “Hammond” comes from the name of the farm on which the well was discovered. “Brown” was added when Charles S. Brown came from Oklahoma City and bought the land. It produced an average of 20-50 barrels a day until it was shut down in 1932.
August 19, 1920
Kansas-New Mexico Oil Co. Well No. 1
This well was owned by the Kansas-New Mexico Oil Company and was drilled in July of 1919. Unfortunately, it did not produce enough oil for it to remain in production and was closed in 1922. The Kansas-New Mexico well was bought and taken over by the Eureka Oil Company in 1923.
December 24, 1920
Illinois No. 1 in Lakewood
The Illinois No. 1 was drilled by the Illinois Producing and Refining Company owned by V.S. Welch and Thomas Flynn in conjunction with Martin Yates, Jr. This well was drilled to a depth of around 2,000 feet, but it was later shut down as a gasser. The equipment used in the No. 1 was then moved to the No. 2 location.
1924
Illinois #3 from Bartlett Collection
The Illinois #3 was also leased and drilled by the Welch, Flynn, and Yates agreement in April 1924. This well was drilled to about 2,013 feet, even though it hit oil before that depth, and produced about 90 barrels in the first day. The No. 2 well gas was used to help fuel the drilling at #3. Success here led to the building of the Illinois Camp in the Artesia Field for workers and their families.
1925
Original North Plant Refinery
This refinery was started in 1925 by Illinois Producers and built on the north bank of Eagle Draw. It was bought and continued to be operated by the Continental Company in 1931. This is the same company which also bought the two Malco plants from R.O. Anderson in 1946 and 1959. The original North Plant was dismantled in 1946.
Ca. 1939
Malco Refinery, from the Harral Collection
Malco Refinery was originally the second refinery in Artesia owned by Maljamar Oil and Gas Company. It was bought by Robert O. Anderson in 1942 and was renamed and operated as the Malco Refinery. Malco was then purchased by the Continental Oil Company in 1946. It was later shut down and moved to Eagle Draw.
1972
Pumpjack dedication
This dedication was to honor R.D. (Static) Collier. The pumpjack was moved south of Eagle Draw on First Street in 1973. Attendees from left to right are Joe Howell (city manager), Lowe A. Wickersham (city purchasing agent), Councilman Wayne Kemp, Mrs. Frances Collins (Museum Director), Mrs. R.D. Collier, James Ray Collier, and Dave Collier.
1987
Navajo Refinery, from the Artesia Daily Press collection.
Navajo Refinery was created after the Navajo Refining Company purchased the Continental Plant from the Continental Oil Company in May of 1969. The new owners included C.L. Norseworthy, Jr. and the Holly Corporation.
Article written by Jessica Hope and originally published in Focus Regional 2024 Oil & Gas edition.
Jessica Hope
Jessica was raised in Artesia and continues to live there with her fiancé, Chris, and their son, Caine. She works as the supervisor for the Artesia Historical Museum and Art Center helping to preserve local history. Her free time is spent writing, reading, and playing board games with her family and friends.
