Historical Marker
First Commercial Oil Well in Howard County
Historical marker location:
Intersection U.S. 87 and F.M. 821, Forsan, Texas
( Intersection of U.S. 87 and F.M. 821 in Glasscock County)
Marker installed: 1968
On Nov. 9, 1925, this wildcat well "No. 1 H.R. Clay" drilled by Fred Hyer, began pumping oil in a venture that hinted at vast oil resources in West Texas.
The well on Clay's land hit pay dirt at 1,508 feet. Soon oil land speculators developed a great interest in this formerly "worthless" territory and other wildcatters flocked to the area.
As a result of efforts here, the Permian Basin--one of the richest oil repositories in the state--was developed. Since 1925 Howard County has produced more than 300 million barrels.