THE DESDEMONA OIL BOOM

OIL BOOM

   The Desdemona Oil Boom began on Labor Day night 1918 when the Duke Well came in.  Above:  The well on fire.  Right top:  Crews work to extinguish the fire.  Middle:  F.L. Terrill’s team.  Since the hotel has been completed the photo would be no earlier than 1920.  Bottom  right:  The De Leon Torpedo Company located east of town.  Bottom Left:  Rex Refining Company located immediately west of the De Leon cemetery.

Above:  Torpedo plant.  Click to see DE LEON TORPEDO COMPANY

   The Home Boys Oil Company was one of only a few of companies operating in the area that was basically owned by De Leon residents.

     The officers of the company were  W.T Patterson, President; C.F. Greenwood, G.E. Hooker, and J.F. “Tad” Carter,  Vice Presidents; Guy Patterson, Secretary; and W.E. Lowe Treasurer and Trustee.

     The organizers put up $200,000 and offered an additional $100,000 to investors at $1 per share.  Initially the company secured seven tracts and had wells on each tract.

       Although it is unknown how successful the company was, the largest tracts controlled by Home Boys proved to be outside what was eventually determined to be the Desdemona field.