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"Drilling for oil in the main street of Whittenburg, Texas"
Photo Courtesy Ken Sharpe Collection |
Founded
as Whittenburg, merged with Pantex in 1938 and now part
of present-day Phillips, Texas
History
in a Pecan Shell
Just a mile northeast of Borger,
Whittenburg was founded by area rancher James A. Whittenburg when
oil was discovered in the area in 1926.
The Phillips Petroleum Company had a refinery under construction and
the "town" had originally been intended to house Phillips employees.
But the oil seemed it would flow forever and permanent structures
soon replaced the tin roofed shanties.
Whittenburg was granted the post office shown below in 1926 - while
Isom and Borger
argued about who would get naming rights for the oil field. Isom lost
and merged with Borger in
1926 - about the time Whittenburg's population was 200. Whittenburg
maintained its separate identity until 1936 when it merged with Pantex,
Texas, both becoming Phillips. |
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Oil Derrick
next to the Whittenburg Post Office
Photo Courtesy Ken Sharpe Collection |
"Sand Storm,
Borger, Texas, April 14,
1935"
Postcard courtesy Bob Walker
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Sand storm postcard
posted in Whittenburg, one mile
from Borger
Postcard courtesy Bob Walker
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| *Not
a traditional "ghost town" but one that once had its own separate
identity which has been lost - for whatever reason.
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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