Life as our parents, grandparents and ancestors from Gardendale, Goldsmith, Notrees, Odessa and Penwell saw it

In 1927 thirteen members of the Odessa Texas Fire Department posed with their fire truck in this crystal-clear photo

Rare interior view of the office of the Odessa Texas railroad depot in 1910

Multiple cars line the tracks in this photo of the Odessa Texas train station in 1919

Nice photo of a shopping center in Odessa Texas in the 1960s

Photo of a parade in downtown Odessa Texas in 1930s was turned into a post card letting potential settlers know what Odessa had to offer

Busy day in this street scene from Odessa Texas in the 1920s

Shortly after oil was found, Penwell Texas sprang into existence in October 7, 1929. The first residents lived in tents or hastily constructed shacks, but eventually better housing was built, At its heyday it boasted filling stations, stores, hotels, a drugstore, barbershop, dance hall, and the typical boom town rooming houses.

Portrait of an unnamed pioneer couple in Odessa Texas in 1910

Cute little girl poses with her goat cart in Odessa Texas in 1910

The Spring, Temple, and Blum family was picking cotton near Odessa in 1910 when this great old photo was captured with farmer's horse-drawn wagon in the background.

Large crowd gathered in Odessa Texas in July 1951 for the annual Gulf Oil Day Picnic

In 1951 seventeen members of the Odessa - Big Spring Freemasons posed for a photo in Odessa

Arial View of Odessa shows car narrowly missing a collision with a train.

Carhops serve the Sheriff's Posse Auxiliary, a social and civic group in Odessa of which Mr. Green was the captain. His restaurant was a popular place for both locals and tourists. Photo is from an old ad promoting Heinz condiments

Quite a crowd at the Ector County Courthouse in 1904. This was the second courthouse in Ector County and replaced the wood frame building that was built in 1891.

On a windy day in 1911 an unknown photographer stood on top of a building in Odessa Texas and captured this remarkable photo . . . see it full size

Take a turn back to the past on Odessa's downtown dirt street in this photo from the 1930s . . . tap the thumbnail to view full size

In 1937 two farmers squatted against a brick wall in Odessa Texas to talk when an unknown photographer captured this highly detailed photo.

. . . See it full size

Migrant oil worker and family Ector County TX 1937

Migrant oil worker and family pause beside road in front of their old car with everything they own . . . Zoom In

Late 1930's and early 1940s cars and trucks line the street on this busy day in downtown Odessa in the 1940s . . . see full size

Migrant Oil Worker and Wife on the Road to Odessa

Migrant worker and his wife look for a better future in Odessa in 1937. The look on their faces tells a story of desperation and hope.

Crystal Clear Photo of the Elliott Hotel in Odessa in 1940s. George D. Elliott built the Elliott Hotel in 1927 for $200,000 and it was dubbed the finest hotel between Big Spring and El Paso at the time.

Mid-Continent Supply Co. Odessa Texas in 1942

In 1956 people lined the streets to watch an army tank roll down the street in a parade in Odessa Texas. Tap photo to see this detailed image

West Texas History & Memories (Face Book Group)

Early Life in Texas County by County

Books about Texas People and Places

Famous People from Texas County by County

Texas History by Category and Event

Ector County Unclaimed Estates