McCamey Texas, Upton County. (original) (raw)

Historical Marker: US 385, one mile N of McCamey

McCamey

Founded 1926. Had 10,00 people in 1927. Named for Geo. B. McCamey, driller of discovery well that by 1964 had led way to opening of 31 oil and gas fields in Upton County. (Discovery well is 2.3 miles north of town). Center for horse, sheep, goat ranching. Has 5 parks. Home of Mendoza Trail Museum.
Erected by Upton County Historical Survey Committee.
1964

L-Mural of McCamey (detail)
R-Welcome to McCamey.
TE photos

McCamey has recently commemorated the 75th anniversary of its founding with some charming murals and signs designating the locations of the buildings/ businesses portrayed in the murals. Judging by the murals, a good portion of McCamey has been razed.

The town sprang to life when a well was drilled by George McCamey in 1925. Within six months, the population went from a handful of people to 10,000. An attempt was made to capture oil in a huge reservoir, but failed. McCamey then built the first oil refinery in West Texas.

McCamey has windmills just to the SE of town. Not the common West Texas windmills used to fill stock tanks, but huge modern blades that generate electricity. McCamey thinks enough of these to include them on their welcome sign.

McCamey, Texas Attractions & Landmarks

• Mendoza Trail Museum : The old Santa Fe Depot is here and so are relics ranging from prehistory to the oil boom that turned McCamey into a town. Juan Dominguez Mendoza was a Spanish explorer.
• Santa Fe Park : Shady spot at the town's eastern city limit.

McCamey City Limit
Photo courtesy James Rowland, 2004

A pumpjack in McCamey
Photo courtesy James Rowland, 2004

Historical Marker: corner of McKinney and 11th St., McCamey

McCamey Junior High School

Site is "Old High School," an outgrowth of 1920s oil boom. No school existed in McCamey prior to 1925, when 20 students were taught in a tin shack on 5th street. A year later school had 550 pupils in classes held in dance halls, skating rinks and 2 churches. Desks and seats were apple and orange crates. This building, erected in 1927, was community center — setting for weddings, funerals, meetings of Draft Board, other activities. Used as high school until 1961. First superintendent, C. V. Compton, set high goals — which since have guided the schools.
1967

Historical Marker: corner of 11th and Burleson St., McCamey

The Little House on the Corner

Built 1940-1941, on site furnished by independent school district, to house McCamey Girl Scout troops. First stone veneer structure in McCamey. Girl Scouts' prized rock collections, plus stone hauled from Bobcat Hill by oil firm trucks and others used in walls. Balcony woodwork is cedar from nearby canyons. The entire town worked in a united effort to obtain materials, erect house. Setting for many "cook-outs" and overnight camps for Girl Scouts. Also served as social center for McCamey 1941-1959. An extension was built in 1964.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967i

McCamey, Texas Chronicles

• Pansy by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales" column)
  Following the 1925 discovery of shallow oil in what became the Yates Field, McCamey grew from just a name printed on a plat to a town of 10,000 by September 1926. With money flowing almost as freely as gushing crude, Pansy�s circus troupe arrived and set up its big top at the edge of town... Read full article

McCamey, Texas Forum

• I was reading the article on Girvin, Texas. I grew up in McCamey and my dad worked at the Rio Pecos power plant which was owned by West Texas Utilities Co. When I graduated high school in 1970 I too started working at the plant. Part of my job was to go to Girvin each day to Helmer�s store (next to the Girvin Social Club in the pictures), and get the mail. At that time it was the gas station, grocery store and post office. The social club was then a caf�. I ate lots of hamburgers and chili there for lunch. I understand now that the power plant has been shut down. As the years go by it seems that another part of my life disappears. Thank you for helping keep those memories alive. - Gary Staggs, Little Rock, Arkansas, August 23, 2005

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