California Historical Landmarks in Kern County

California Historical Landmark 581
Well 2-6
Broadway and Midway Road
Fellows

California Historical Landmark #581: Well 2-6
California Historical Landmark #581: Well 2-6
15 June 2006
(Click Photos to Zoom)
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.

Dedicated September 15, 1951
The Petroleum Production Pioneers
State Registered Landmark No. 581

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