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History
in a Pecan Shell
Named for an Englishman who was a shareholder in the railroad,
Best was nothing but a switching point on the Orient Railroad. When oil was discovered
in 1923, Best mushroomed as the regional supply center. The population grew to
an estimated 3,500 in just two years. Best gained an instant reputation for being
a wild town. Perhaps added by the irony of its name and a novel (The Big Fist)
written in 1946 - set its bad reputation in stone.
The town's unofficial
slogan was "the town with the Best name in the world and the Worst reputation."
After the boom fizzled, only 300 people were left in the 1940s. A service station
/ post office was still in operation in the 80s and by the 1990 Census - only
25 people were left. It is now listed as 0001.
Best
Today >
Best
Oifield > |
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"A
picture of our office reportedly taken in Best, Texas in 1925. The company got
its start building wooden oil derricks and Best was a small oil boom town back
then. We’re now known as McDermott International, Inc. "
- Bill Soester, November 19, 2012 |
Best TodayPhotographer's
Note:
As best I could figure out, Best was located at Hwy 67 and Best Lane,
between the highway and the train tracks located about a block south. Best Lane
turns north off of 67, and is called Lone Wolf Lane south of the highway. Santa
Rita Road runs parallel with and between the highway and tracks, and goes to the
Santa Rita No. 1 well.
The only structures that remain standing are a small
blockhouse and Springston Ranch (see photos
below). There were no signs of life at the ranch house other than an old pickup
and a roof-mounted satellite dish. I did get there before sunrise, but there were
no lights burning. After crossing the tracks, Lone Wolf turns back to the east;
I did see what appeared to be the remains of some type of corrogated tin building
across the road from the blockhouse, but it was totally collapsed. Traffic on
the back roads was light, namely a couple of oil field types checking wells, I
reckon. There was an active rig west of Best. Not much more than that. - George
Shaffer, March 17, 2006
Best
Oifield > |
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Springston
Ranch in Best
Photo courtesy George Shaffer, 2006 |
Texon
oil field
Photo courtesy Brian R. Jack |
"The
men on the right is my Grandfather, Elmer Ellsworth Hartzell"
- Brian
R. Jack, February 25, 2007 |
Best
Texas ForumSubject:
Wanting pictures of Best, Texas
My
husband, Charles Otha Dixon was born September 27, 1934 in Best Texas. His parents
were Clarence Oliver Dixon & Ivy Sims Dixon. Wish I had pictures of that year.
Anyone can contact me at this email: dixonc2@sbcglobal.net - Thanks, Marianne
Dixon, Borger, Texas, May 30, 2012
Subject:
Best, Texas
Dear Texas Escapes, My grandfather, Richard Baker Jr., was
the District Attorney in Best about 1925. I still have his business card. He was
getting ready to bust some "dishonest" oil guys about 1927, and they laid an ambush
for him coming back from San
Angelo. He managed to evade them but they caught him in the street the next
day and broke his jaw. My grandma, who was from Indiana and met him when he was
chasing Pancho Villa, said she was done. They went to have his jaw fixed at Walter
Reed in DC and they left Texas forever. Dad's great grandfather was a leading
citizen in Crockett, Texas. It was a tough way to leave Texas. - Tom Baker,
Kilmarnock, Virginia, January 28, 2009
Subject:
Best, Texas
I, Brian Ross Jack, was born in Best, Reagan County, Texas
on 29 July 1928, to Marion Hugh & Helen Wanita Hartzell Jack. My grandfather also
lived there: Marion Hale & Lucretia Montgomery Jack. They lived about 100 yards
in front of our house. My father and grandfather both worked in the oilfields.
My father also did welding and mechanics in his garage next to our house. It is
my belief that most of the residents moved to Kermit,
Texas. My mother, sister and I left Texas and moved to live with my grandfather,
Elmer Elsworth & Lulu May Kahler Hartzell in Orting, Pierce County, Washington
in 1935. God Bless. - Sincerely, Brian R. Jack, Fort Worth TX, May 06, 2006
Subject:
Best, Texas
My mother, Mary (Vandervort) Hensley, lived in Best as a girl.
Her father worked in the oil fields. Her youngest sister, Rhea, was born in Best.
My mother passed away on April 30 at the age of 91. I visited Best with my mom
a few years ago, and the photos you have online are exactly what I saw then. I
thought Mom told me that the stone structure was the jail. She pointed out the
hill where the town's water tank once sat. My Mom's parents were Bonnie and Emmett
Vandervort. My grandfather died of a heart attack while at work in the oil fields
in the 40's and my grandmother eventually moved to Los Angeles. I've heard a few
stories about the wild town that Best was. There was a newspaper article about
the Wild West town of Best, but I have lost track of it. I've heard that my grandmother
made bootleg alcohol and also ran a small grocery store for a time. Some of my
mom's relatives still live in San Angelo and her oldest sister Vanatta was married
in the old Cactus Hotel. Just sharing a few little tidbits that I recall. Thank
you. - Charlene Hensley, May 11, 2006
Texas Escapes,
in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that
anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos, please contact
us.
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