12/6/1996
Landmark information
- Location:
0.1 mi W of Fellows Park, on Broadway, Fellows - Plaque:
Other Plaque - Site:
Nothing Remains - Date First Visited:
12/6/1996 - Date Most Recently Visited:
12/6/1996 - GPS Coordinates:
N 35 10.781, W 119 32.936
About this landmark
Plaque text:
First Gusher
Midway Field - Well No. 2-6
The Well which Made the Midway Oil Field Famous
Near an area of small 40 and 50 barrel wells, it blew in over the derrick top November 27th, 1909 with a production of 2,000 bbl. a day and started one of the greatest oil booms California ever experienced.
"For a long time it held the rank of the best producer in the whole west side, and before its glory began to wane other celebrities in the gusher line began to crowd the north Midway stage." Morning Echo, Bakersfield, February 28th, 1911.
Well 2-6 was located as a wildcat June 1, 1909 by Fred C. Ripley then assistant manager of oil properties, Santa Fe Railway Coast Lines, later manager of its successor, the Chanslor-Canfield Midway Oil Company, with which he was associated 1904 to 1947.