The Beaumont Heritage Society unveiled new panels about the Lucas Gusher in celebration of Spindletop’s 125th anniversary.
The Beaumont Heritage Society celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Spindletop blowout, Jan. 10, with a ribbon cutting and unveiling ceremony of new interpretive panels displaying details of the Lucas Gusher and its impact.
The entrance to Spindletop Park is located on the east side of 7625 West Port Arthur Road (Spur 93). West Port Arthur Road intersects with Hwy 69 South at Avenue A.
Historian Judith Linsley recounted the story of Lucas Gusher by reading an insert of her co-authored book, “Giant Under the Hill,” that tells the history of Spindletop.
“Inside the hole responding to the gas pressure below, as he said, as if it were breathing, and every time it rose a little higher until it flowed over the rotary table and then with another roar, shot through the top of the derrick in a stream of oil over 150 feet high,” Linsley said. “Tower springs mound and the field took on the name of Spindletop. By then, Beaumont was in boomtown.”
From hotels, vacant lots and barns everything had become booked months in advance or taken over with tents. Even chairs in barber shops were being rented to sleep in for the night. Beaumont’s population jumped from 10,000 to 50,000 people overnight.
People can experience a recreation of the boomtown at the Spindletop Boomtown Museum on Lamar University’s campus at 5550 Jimmy Simmons Blvd, Beaumont, Texas, 77705.
After Linsley’s speech, Beaumont city councilman Chris Durio read a new proclamation about the event.
“Whereas the Lucas Gusher produced an unprecedented flow of oil, gaining global attention and establishing Texas as a leader in energy production, enterprise, and innovation,” Durio said. “And whereas the events at Spindletop gave rise to new industries, engineering practices, and business models while also shaping the cultural, economic, and social identity of Southeast Texas and the state of Texas.”
Laurie Leister, coordinator for the Jefferson County historical commission, said Spindletop Park is as close as the public can get to the original spot of the Lucas Gusher. Leister said the park first installed interpretive panels about 25 years ago.
“These panels ensure that the story of Spindletop is not just remembered but truly understood,” Amy Lovoi, CEO of the Great Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, said. “They connect generations by honoring the people and the risk and the vision that transformed Beaumont and continues to shape who we are as a community.”
A grant was written to replace the panels. Leister said the project began over a year ago. She contacted Shelby Brannon, executive director of the Beaumont Heritage Society, to write the grant to the Mamie McFaddin Ward Heritage Foundation.
The McFaddin family are one of the three main families who have personal connections to Spindletop. They were part-owners of the land that the Lucas Gusher resides on, alongside the West and Kyle families.
For these three groups, partnership goes further back prior to Spindletop. Since the late 1800s they have worked alongside each other.
“All of the original families — McFaddins, West and Kyles — are still working together as a team.” Kim Mueller, descendant of the Kyle family, said. “We have a board, and we’re doing everything we can to protect the land and the asset and looking forward to the future development of it.”
Spindletop has also brought years of work in the energy department for many other families that continue to this day, such as Brannon and Lovoi’s family.
“It brought a lot of innovation to the area, beyond just energy and so it really was a catalyst to change, not just Texas, and not just the nation, but the entire world.” Brannon said. “I also think it’s really important that we remember where all of that started, and Spindletop was largely it.”