General Matthew D. Ector was born in Putnam County, Georgia on February 28, 1822. He briefly studied law in 1841 in Greenville, Georgia under the tutelage of state Supreme Court justice Hiram B. Warner. However, after getting married in 1842, Ector lost interest in law and got into farming, which he did for the next seven years. Unfortunately, his wife died in 1848. Within the next couple of years, he went to California and Georgia before moving to Henderson, Texas in 1850. Ector took up law once again and was admitted into the bar the next year; he also remarried. He became the editor of a local newspaper and was elected county representative to the state legislature (sadly, his second wife passed away in 1859).Ector enlisted as a private in the Third Texas Cavalry shortly after the Civil War broke. He quickly rose up in the ranks, first becoming lieutenant then adjutant to brigade commander General James L. Hogg. With the Third Cavalry he fought in a number of battles in Arkansa, Missouri, and Indian Territory. He was eventually promoted colonel and commanded the Fourteenth Texas Cavalry (dismounted), which was soon called Ector's Brigade. At the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky he was promoted to brigadier general on August 23, 1862. He would later serve under General Joseph E. Johnston in Mississippi, and then later saw battle at Chickamauga, Georgia. On July 27, 1864, while fighting in Atlanta, he was severely wounded in his left leg which had to be amputated. The plan was for him to take command of the Confederate army in Mobile, Alabama once he recovered but the war ended. After the war, he moved back to Henderson with his third wife (whom he married in 1864) and once again took up law. They moved to the town of Marshall in 1867. In the coming years he became judge of the new Seventh District, was elected to the Court of Appeals (1875), and then became presiding judge. He served in that last position until his death in 1879. He is buried in Marshall.

The marker is located just outside the Ector County Courthouse

This historical marker, which is located on the grounds of the Ector County Courthouse, commemorates the man for whom the county is named: General Matthew Duncan Ector (1822-1879), who was a Confederate general in the Civil War. The marker is situated in between two other markers; one provides information about the history of the courthouse and the other commemorates the Ector County Land Rush. 

Historical Marker: General Matthew D. Ector 

This drive from Midland to Odessa includes numerous historic homes, museums, and landmarks from the Brown-Dorsey Home and the Midland County Historical Museum to the CAF Airpower Museum and Ellen Noel Art Museum 

Zachary Taylor Brown was born in Illinois in 1850 to a prominent family. His father was a wealthy landowner and Baptist minister. He graduated from Blackburn Universities in 1874 with degrees in law and civil engineering. Two years later, he married his wife, Sarah, who started to work as the family maid in 1870. Brown established a law practice in Springfield, Illinois but only tried one case before giving up the profession. He and Sarah then moved to Texas where is parents were living.They arrived in Midland in 1882. Brown bought land seven miles southwest of the town and also acquired 1,000 sheep. He is believed to the be first rancher in the county to fence his land. In 1890, Brown sold the sheep and became a merchant. He was a successful businessman and he and Sarah would grow their family to six children. In 1894, Brown sold his business interests and became a rancher once again, buying land and now cattle in Upton County. Still living in Midland, Brown built the house in 1899 using a "kit" he bought from a Sears catalog. The Brown family owned the house until 1968 when the Brown's daughter, Sarah Brown Dorsey, passed away. The Midland Historical Society has owned it ever since.

Owned and operated by the Midland Historical Society, the Brown-Dorsey House is a historic Victorian home. Erected in 1899 by prominent businessman Zachary Taylor Brown, it is believed to be the oldest home in the city and is still standing on its original location. The house features an asymmetrical design, ornamental jigsaw and turned trim, and a Gothic art glass window in. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. As of October 2019, the house is not open to tours as it is currently undergoing renovation.

Brown-Dorsey House

Pliska was born in the town of Tyne, Moravia, which is located in the Czech Republic, on December 6, 1879. His father operated a Blacksmith shop and a carriage shop and Pliska apprenticed in both growing up. As a young man in the Austro-Hungarian Army, he attended a balloon and glider school; he would later use the skills he learned to build the airplane. In 1896, he and his family immigrated to the United States and settled in central Texas.In 1903, Pliska decided to go to Mexico but on the way there, the train stopped in Midland and went to the local Blacksmith shop to check it out. After learning about Pliska's background, the shop owner, C.C. Slaughter, accepted Pliska's offer to help repair a windmill. Impressed with his skills, Slaughter hired him to work on his ranch. Two years later, he got married to a woman named Louise Handle and they lived at the ranch (they would eventually have seven children). In 1907, he and Louise's brother, John, bought a Blacksmith in Midland, where they would shoe the horses for General Pershing.The next year is when Pliska started to make plans to build the plane. Over the next couple of years he gathered materials and even got a closeup look at one of the planes built by the Wright Brothers, which landed in Midland as it was making a trip across the country. Finally, he finished the plane in 1912. It had a 33- foot long wingspan, 27.5 fuselage, and was 7.5 feet tall. It was, however, only able to fly for 15 minutes, did not have enough power, and the wings had canvas cloth instead of the more expensive balloon silk.Pliska eventually dismantled the plane later that year after it hit some trees. Louise was also very worried about his safety. He never reassembled the plane again and it remained in storage for the rest of his life. He worked at the Blacksmith shop until 1952 when health problems forced him to retire. He passed away in 1956. Their children donated the plane, which was stored in the shop, to the city in 1962. Local members of the Experimental Aircraft Association restored it and it now hangs in the Midland airport.

This historical marker commemorates the life of master Blacksmith and airplane builder John Valentine Pliska (1879-1956), who, in 1912, was the first local to build and fly an airplane. The marker was placed here because this is where Pliska's Blacksmith shop was once located. Pliska is also notable for being associated with General John J. Pershing (1860-1948), who had Pliska shoe his horses at the shop in 1907.  

John Valentine Pliska Historical Marker

The Midland County Museum has a lengthy history. Margarite Hester, Midland County Librarian in the 1930s, put together a display of historic items in 1932 in the basement of the County Courthouse. Local rancher Porter Rankin became interested in the project and contributed a number of items he owned, including Native American relics. Other citizens became interested and helped catalog the collection. Through newspaper stories and word of mouth, the small group collected funds for display cases. Over time many historic items and photographs were added to the museum.When the Midland County Historical Society formed, the group chose to adopt the museum as one of its projects. For most of the museum's history it has been operated by volunteers. Over the years the museum was housed in different locations, the Courthouse, the County Library, in its own county building, and currently in its location at the corner of Main Street and Texas Avenue (originally the Woolworth store building).The museum currently displays temporary exhibits while funds are being raised to create a comprehensive permanent exhibit detailing the history of Midland County.

The Museum is open Thursday-Saturday each week from 11 am to 4 pm. The current exhibits are:
From Plan to Plans and Petroleum: Midland During World War II. 
Paleo-Midland: The Story of the Midland Woman Skull
The Midland Historical Society will be developing new exhibits over the next year as funding is available.
The Museum also holds a large collection of historical documents including obituaries and newspapers from the Midland Reporter Telegram as well as images related to Midland history. These archives are available to the public by appointment only.​

Midland County Historical Museum

Thanks in large part to the petroleum industry, Midland's economy (and that of Texas in general) was booming in the 1920s. As a result, the population grew and along with that demand for entertainment venues. Answering the call was a man named T.S. Hogan, who was a successful oilman and former U.S. Senator from Montana. He hired Hedrick, who was based in Fort Wayne, to design the theater. Construction began in 1927 and was finished two years later. A multi-purpose facility, the Yucca hosted a wide range of shows and events including operas, vaudeville acts, and high school graduations. The Midland Community Theatre bought it in 1999.

The historic Yucca Theatre is one of Midland's most architecturally unique landmarks. Constructed in 1927, the theater was designed by architect Wyatt C. Hedrick in the Gothic style which had grown popular at this time and was widely used for theater design in major cities. The facade of the building features elaborate stonework and the interior features an elaborate Egyptian/Assyrian design with gilded lions and ornate light fixtures and columns. The Yucca is owned by the Midland Community Theatre company, which offers a diverse lineup of productions each year. The company also puts on an annual vaudeville show called "Summer Mummers."

Yucca Theatre

Midland's history dates back to 1881 when it began as a railroad stop on the T&amp;P Railway, which ran from Fort Worth to El Paso. The settlement was first called "Midway" in 1884 but eventually became Midland. Like in other parts of the state, Midland's economy of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was based on the cattle industry. However, once oil was discovered in the early 1920s, everything changed; the oil industry took over and Midland quickly became the region's oil center (geologically speaking, the city is located in a region is known as the Permian Basin, which covers a large portion of west Texas and contains large deposits of oil and natural gas). Thousands of investors and workers came to the region as did major oil companies.The post-World War II years saw a "second oil boom" in the region. Recognizing the need for a central location for the region's oil industry, a group of Midland oilmen proposed the building the tower and provided the funds for its construction. The building was not the city's tallest but it was modern and represented the important status Midland had achieved up to that point. Usage of the tower started to decline in the 1960s and tenants moved to newer, more modern buildings. It appears, however, that in recent years that Midland Tower has been renovated.

This downtown office tower was constructed in 1948 and marked a turning point in the mid-century growth of Midland. The building was erected for the express purpose of providing much-needed office space for tenants associated with the oil industry including oil companies, lawyers, engineers, and geologists. The building was so large that, at the time, it contained one quarter of the city's office space. Well-known Texas architect Wyatt Hedrick designed the tower in the Modernistic style with Art Deco elements. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1915 and remains an office building today. 

Midland Tower

The George W. Bush Childhood Home was inhabited by the Bush
family from 1951 through 1955.&nbsp; It was
the first home of Jeb Bush, who was born in Midland in 1953.&nbsp; During the time the Bushes lived in this
home, the town of Midland was undergoing a major industrial boom, with over 215
oil companies having opened up shop in the town by 1950 and more to come in the
coming decade.&nbsp; So many businesses were
flooding into the town that it caused a building frenzy in order to house them
all. &nbsp;

As a result of the oil industry influx, the years the Bushes
lived in Midland were years of prosperity and lasting achievement for the city
and its citizens.&nbsp; Many of the facets of
the city, such as Midland Memorial Hospital, opened their doors during the
years between 1950 and 1960.&nbsp; The sudden
prosperity of Midland also helped develop its unique culture.&nbsp; In the words of John Howard Griffin, Midland
is “A cosmopolitan city of contrasts, one still sees ranchers and cowboys
seated in the lobby of the Scharbaeur hotel alongside oil executives.&nbsp; One can still hear the coyotes at night and
see the jackrabbits and antelopes.&nbsp; It is
the same as it has always been.&nbsp; One
feels the solitary serenity of the plains and an almost tangible kinship with
the past.”

The Home now serves as a reminder of these times, as well as
a museum dedicated to the lives of “two presidents, two governors, and two
first ladies.”&nbsp; When converted to a
museum and historical site, the house had undergone very few changes since the
family left in 1956.&nbsp; The interior of the
home and the details of the architecture which had changed were restored during
the first phase of restoration.&nbsp; During
the second phase of restoration, a number of nearby homes were purchased and
the visitor center and gallery were constructed.&nbsp; The second phase is ongoing and seeks to
recreate the original sense of neighborhood the Bush family experienced in
1950s Midland.&nbsp; The Home has been
maintained in such a way to avoid minimal intrusion of non-period architecture,
signage, and appearance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Located in the heart of residential Midland, TX, the George W. Bush Childhood Home and Museum is a non-profit museum focusing on life in the 1950s.  Dedicated and opened to the public in April of 2006, it stands as one of a very small number of 1950s residential restorations and is the first 1950s historical Presidential home.  In addition to being the home of 41st President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, it was also the home of 43rd President George W. Bush and Presidential candidate and Florida governor Jeb Bush.

The George W. Bush Childhood Home 

Museum of the Southwest The Museum of the Southwest was established in 1965 after members of the community came together in hopes of creating a cultural institution for the region. The museum opened in 1966 and changed locations three times throughout its history; it was originally located on West Wall Avenue, then Village Circle, and finally, to the Turner Mansion. Among the many additions over the years, the Planetarium was added after the museum was received a grant from the Blackmore Foundation. Some of the other additions made include: new gallery space, the children's museum, storage space, and the Lissa Noël Wagner Wing. Today, the museum is five acres in size.Turner MansionFred and Juliette Turner built the mansion in 1937. They hired Dallas architect Anton F. Korn, Jr., who designed it combining a number of architectural styles including the Tudor, Georgian, Art Deco, American Colonial, and Mediterranean styles. The home still features many original fixtures and details, and it was the first in Midland to have a pool; it also had a tennis court and horse stables.Fred, who grew up on a ranch in Coleman County and worked in the oil industry, was a successful entrepreneur. After he was laid off in 1927, he became an independent oil prospector, buying up vacant properties. He learned of what he thought to be a vacant 601-acre property near the town of Iraan. The General Land Office in Austin informed Fred that it was not vacant (i.e. someone else owned it). Fred contested this in court and won after many years. He drilled for oil on his property as well other land he owned throughout the Southwest. He was also a rancher as well, raising cattle and horses.Fred and Juliette were also involved in the community, donating money to various organizations and encouraging economic growth in Midland. They lived oat the home until 1963

The Museum of the Southwest is a history, art, culture, and science museum established in 1965. It is comprised of four buildings: the historic Turner Mansion, the Turner Memorial Art Museum, the Durham Children's Museum, and the Blakemore Planetarium. An accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums, the museum offers a variety of exhibitions, programs, events throughout the year. The museum's collection consists of around 45,000 archaeological artifacts and more than 1,700 works of art. Highlights include lithographs of four-legged animals by John James Audubon (who is famous for his work "The Birds of America"), photographs of Native Americans by Edward Curtis, and art created by contemporary Southwestern artists. The historic Turner Mansion was built in 1937 and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Museum of the Southwest 

History and Exhibits The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum dates back to its founding in 1975, where over 500 community leaders under the guidance of George T. Abell, one of Midland’s pioneering oilmen, came together to give the community and the greater northwest Texas area an intimate view into the people, technology, and geology behind oil production. Thus, after years of fundraising, the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum was built and immediately featured a variety of both indoor and outdoor exhibits.1&nbsp;Some of the permanent exhibits featured at this museum include an interactive display showcasing the geology and formation of the Permian Basin, the world’s largest collection of antique oil drilling equipment, colorful memorabilia, and even murals and works of art by the famed American West artist Tom Lovell. In the Chaparral Gallery, visitors can discover all seven of racing legend Jim Hall’s vehicles, while the Mineral Gallery (opened in 2012) displays over 90 fine minerals from across the globe.2&nbsp;One of the most popular exhibits in the Oil Patch exhibit, which is dedicated to the rugged men of the early oil fields who dug ditches, built oil rigs, and produced the oil and gas that revolutionized industry across the world. This 40-acre outdoor exhibit features drilling rigs from every decade as well as eight full-sized cable-tool rigs, an 119-foot 1930s steel production derrick, a rotary drilling rig, and much more.3
Outreach and Educational Programs 
Families, students, and children should also consider taking part in one of the many outreach and education programs featured at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. Family Science Night, sponsored by Chevron, invites families and younger children to come to the museum to participate in hands-on activities, which includes exciting science experiments and other creative projects.4 However, adults and students looking for a serious and profound discussion on geological, environmental, and oil-related topics can attend any of the lectures at the museum, such as the Arlen Edgar Distinguished Lecture Series or the Brown Bag Lunch and Lecture Series.5&nbsp;The museum’s reference library houses over 2,000 books available for students, researchers, and the public, and this library includes journals and periodicals covering the history of the Permian Basin as well as oil company histories, petroleum dictionaries, town and county histories, catalogs of early equipment and tools, and much more.6

Journey through over 230 million years of history at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. Located in the heart of the Permian Basin, the nation’s most prolific oil producing area, this museum introduces visitors to hundreds of educational, interactive, and engaging exhibits showcasing the natural history of oil and how it is turned into the most commonly used petroproducts around. Additionally, the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum seeks to inform visitors about the dynamic history of oil production and the rugged lives of the men and women who made it possible. 

The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to the petroleum industry and its pioneering forces, and with over 40,000-square-feet of space that offers visitors a multifaceted and interactive look into oil and the oil industry, this museum allows visitors to be part of the petroleum story and its possibilities in the future.

Permian Basin Petroleum Museum

History and Exhibits The CAF Airpower Museum, which was previously known as the American Airpower Heritage Museum (AAHM), opened its first building and began curating its collection in 1965 in Mercedes, Texas. After a few location changes&nbsp;and becoming a non-profit, the museum moved to Midland adjacent to the airport and the air force base. With a mission to tell the complete story of WWII and military aviation, this museum presents a wide range of permanent exhibits and collections that cater to thousands of visitors annually.&nbsp;Boasting the largest collection of WWII artifacts housed in specialized environmentally controlled conditions, visitors can tour through the various exhibits and explore these original items within the 507th Fighter Group Gallery, the Polikarpov I-16 exhibit, the George Bush exhibit, the Vietnam Memorial, the Wartime Sketches of Peter Hurd exhibit, and others. The Nose Art gallery remains one of the more popular exhibits at the museum, as it features 34 very rare and original nose art panels representing the feelings and artistic expressions of men during the war.1
Education and Outreach Programs 
The CAF Airpower Museum also houses the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame (ACAHOF), which pays tribute to and recognizes prominent Americans who served in any conflict and displayed outstanding bravery. Soldiers featured in the ACAHOF also continue to represent and inspire&nbsp;current Americans fighting in the Armed Forces.2&nbsp;When coming to the museum, visitors should consider the variety of events held throughout the year. Some popular past events included a seminar with Bella the Navy Seals dog or stories from space with Astronaut Mike Mullane. Scholars and public can also utilize the L.P. Nolen Archives &amp; Research Center at the museum, as this resource library contains more than 50,000 books, magazines, technical manuals, and much more.3

Located at the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) headquarters, the CAF Airpower Museum seeks to display and educate the public about the airborne military history while also preserving World War II-era combat planes as well as war artifacts. Revered for its wide array of combat planes and history-based exhibits, the 100,000-square-feet at this museum gives the public a hands-on experience with exhibits featuring the military equipment and personnel who fought for both the Allies and the Axis powers in WWII.

As an official Smithsonian Affiliate since 2006, this museum seeks to broaden the availability of war memorabilia by showcasing the stories of battle to the public. Known to hold one of the largest and most complete collections of WWII aviation culture, the CAF Airpower Museum introduces visitors to over 4,900 oral histories from both Allied and Axis soldiers, the largest collection of nose art panels in the world, and over 6,000 books and 900 videos pertinent to major and minor battles as well as war culture. 

CAF Airpower Museum

History of the Presidential Museum and Leadership Library Shortly after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, a Presidential Room was conceived and placed in the Ector County Library in downtown Odessa. &nbsp;After extensive curation and planning, the Presidential Museum was finally opened to the public&nbsp;in 1965. Within a 3,000-square-foot area in the Ector Library basement, the Presidential Room maintained a permanent collection of thousands of portraits, documents, campaign memorabilia, political cartoons, and even a collection of Dishong miniature dolls representing the various First Ladies who served in office.&nbsp;With a goal to rekindle national spirit and educate western Texas citizens about the men and women who shaped (and continue to shape) the nation, the Presidential Museum and Leadership Library endured and continued building on its collection throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. During this time, the Library of the Presidents gathered and organized over 4,500 volumes, journals, newspapers, periodicals, and other historic materials related to the presidency.&nbsp;Museum Exhibits 









Although the Presidential Museum and Leadership Library caters to a variety of traveling exhibits, lecture series, and much more, visitors from all over the country come to this museum and library to explore its profound and immersive permanent collections. Students at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (among other universities in Texas) typically utilize the museum and library for research endeavors as well as finding primary and secondary sources on political, history, and social studies subjects.&nbsp;One of the more popular exhibits at the museum that draws thousands of visitors every year is the “We Shall Overcome” exhibit, which illuminates the actions taken by President Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. The “Presidential Hopefuls” exhibit educates visitors about the wide variety of politicians who ran for the presidency but ultimately failed. Visitors can also discover an accurate, scaled-down replica of the White House. The two Bush homes at the museum serve as educational resources as opposed to museum attractions, and they also showcase the relationship that the 41st and 43rd presidents had with the Midland and Odessa areas.1

Located on the University of Texas of the Permian Basin campus, the Presidential Museum and Leadership Library is one of the premier repositories and history museums in the state. The museum includes exhibits on each of the presidents, including official portraits, documents, collectibles, and campaign memorabilia. Visitors to this museum can enjoy an immersive and hands-on experience that examines the history of the United States through the lens of the presidency. 

The present museum and library began operations in this facility in 2003, but the Presidential Museum and Leadership Library dates back to 1963, and was created in response to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Over time, the museum has changed locations and acquired a massive permanent collection, which even includes the restored homes of George H.W. Bush and his son, George W. Bush. In addition to learning about the presidents of the United States, visitors to the museum can also explore political cartoons, defeated presidential candidates, and even an exhibit showcasing Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. 

Presidential Museum and Leadership Library

History of the Ellen Noel Art Museum The Ellen Noel Art Museum first opened its doors 1985, and for the first 10 years of art curation and display, it was known simply as the Art Institute of the Permian Basin. The Museum changed its name in 1995 as a way to honor the extensive philanthropic work of the esteemed Odessa citizen, Mrs. Ellen W. Noel. As a strong supporter of art and other philanthropic endeavors, Ellen Noel contributed around $1 million to the University of Texas of the Permian Basin “Support for Excellence Fund” in 1993, and by 1995, the Museum officially changed its name to the Ellen Noel Art Museum.&nbsp;By 1998, the museum then expanded its structure to accommodate 22,120 square feet of new galleries, office space, and the growing permanent collection. Because of continuous donations, grants, membership funds, and so forth, the museum is able to allow free admission year-round while acquiring diverse and intriguing exhibits within three impressive galleries.1
Permanent Collections at the Museum 
Consisting of over 800 works of various media, such as paintings, sculptures, ceramics, glass, and photographs, the permanent collection at the museum stands out as one of the premier galleries for Southwest and American art from 1860s to the present. Additionally, the Ellen Noel Art Museum’s permanent collection focuses strongly on Texas and Southwest artists, which helps to showcase the unique artistic styles central to life and culture of the American Southwest. Some well-known artists featured at the museum include Peter Hurd, Peter Vogel, Thomas Hart Benton, and nearly 400 others.2&nbsp;In the fall of 1998, the Ellen Noel Art Museum completed one of its most ambitious renovation and enlargements projects within the Sculpture and Sensory Garden. Although the garden presents a characteristic and peaceful beauty that exhibits its own charm, these renovations made the garden completely accessible to the visually and physically challenged, and it provides cultural enrichment and recreational activity for the area’s residents who need it most.&nbsp;3In addition to the garden, the Ellen Noel Art Museum also houses its own 3D Printing Studio (one of the first museums in the state to feature a 3D printer) as well as Arthaus, a popular space within the museum designed for hands-on learning.

The Ellen Noel Art Museum carries the proud role of being one of the most beloved and visited art museums in the Permian Basin area, and for over 29 years, this museum has introduced both university students and the public to culturally-diverse American and Texan artists. Furthermore, this museum gives visitors the opportunity to discover American southwest art in an inspirational and engaging hands-on atmosphere that focuses on education and art-based recreation. 

Admission to the galleries at the Ellen Noel Art Museum are always free to the public, and locals and visitors can always expect a variety of diverse changing exhibitions and outstanding educational programming for all ages. Exhibits change at the museum every 3 to 5 months, and the permanent collection here features a variety of examples of American art dating from the 1860s to the present.

Ellen Noel Art Museum

Jewish families first arrived in Midland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, attracted by the prospering ranching industry. The Jewish population remained relatively small until the mid-1920s after oil was found. Soon, wells were popping up everywhere, attracting more and more people—including Jewish merchants and their families—to Midland (5,500 by 1930) and Odessa (5,000 by 1929). Despite the thriving oil industry, the Jewish population grew slowly (and remains relatively small today). The Great Depression and the volatility of the oil market were likely the main factors that discouraged other Jewish families from moving to Midland and Odessa.In the late 1930s, the oil industry was on the upswing which did attract more Jewish families to the region. There were 20 families by 1941 and they started to worship together in rented buildings. After, World War II, the Jewish community decided to organize the congregation, which was officially established in December 1945. Midland and Odessa grew in the 1950s and so did the Jewish population. The congregation hired its first full-time rabbi in 1952 and had 50 families by the end of the decade. In order to accommodate the larger congregation, the new synagogue was built in 1962. Membership reached its peak in the early 1980s with around 112 families. Recently, however, the number of member families has decreased to about 65 today.

Temple Beth El is home to a Jewish congregation that was founded in 1945. Members built a temple at the intersection of 4th Street and West County Road the following year and moved to this synagogue following the completion of the structure in 1962.  At the time of the congregation's founding, Temple Beth El was the only Jewish synagogue within 140 miles. Today, it serves members living in Odessa, Midland, and surrounding Texas communities and the congregation is affiliated with  Conservative and Reform Judaism. 

Temple Beth El

James Parker (1876-1954) purchased his first property in Ector County (it was two sections, one in Ector County and the other in Andrews County) in 1907. He married his wife, Bessie, the next year and they would eventually have six children. Over time, James acquired more land and raised Hereford cattle. When he bought the ranching house, it was located on a large 1290-acre property. Jim used the house as his headquarters. His room was on the first floor, which allowed him to leave the house quietly in the morning. The Parkers were known for their responsible stewardship of the land and community service. In addition to ranching, Jim helped organize Andrew County and banking in the county as well.

The Parker House Ranching Museum is a historic home built in the early quarter of the 20th century. It is a good example of a typical ranching house and is unique in that it was built with stone walls. The home is named after the Parker family, who lived here beginning in 1935 when rancher Jim Parker bought it. Visitors to the home will learn about the Parker family and the history of ranching in the county. Period furnishings are on display as well as early 20th-century photos and memorabilia. 

Parker House Ranching Museum

A high school was already prominent in the community, but it was segregated;&nbsp;it was determined to establish an African American school; this would be the first colored school in the district&nbsp;(1932). The school was tiny, a one-room building that sits on the corner of Myrtle and South Muskingum streets. The first class to enter into the building consisted of eight students, and was led by Ms. Ella Sayles.&nbsp; &nbsp;When the community expanded, the school was required to grow. There was a demand in classroom size, prompting the creation of three classrooms (1940s), the most interesting thing happened; when population grew the students were required to attend their classes in shifts. That was in 1947-48, and the size continued to increase.&nbsp; Blackshear High School opened its doors in the fall of 1948. The name "Blackshear" came from the Black Texas educator -- Edward Lavoisier Blackshear (1862-1919). Some years have passed, but it 1966, Blackshear High School became Blackshear Middle School, and in 1983 it became an elementary school.&nbsp; A marker is located on the campus of the elementary school that can be visited anytime.&nbsp; Many students, whom attended Blackshear High School, feel as if they have been forgotten once the school had been transformed into an elementary school. Shelia Collins reflects back at the time she spent at the school, but was devastated when the doors were closed; "After the school closed, it became a junior high, and then a high school. The school colors changed, the mascot changed. The stadium was knocked down. It was as if Blackshear High School, and the students who graduated from it, had never existed".&nbsp;Once the school closed its doors the students no longer had their Kelly green and gold to cheer on their sports teams and mascot -- the steer.&nbsp; The students now hold a reunion every two years so they can converse with their fellow classmates.&nbsp;

There were relatively few public schools in Ector County prior to 1890 and even fewer options for minority students. In 1890, the county school board created a new public school system for white and Mexican American students. The Ector County Independent School System (ECISD). The students that belonged to the district included Anglos and Mexican-American Students. 

Blackshear High School Historical Marker

In mid-1880s, Charles and his family came to Texas from Indiana, where their grain business was failing in the post-Civil War period. His wife, Lucy, also needed a dry climate to improve her health. Another factor was that the Texas and Pacific Railroad, which had obtained land grants from the state, promoted the area for settlement. Charles established a general store and also built an irrigation system, which the railroad used in its advertising. Lucy, who was a devout Christian, helped start a Little Union School. One of their sons, Wilfred, became the town's first postmaster. Lucy and one of their other son, Herbert, moved to another town in Texas after Charles passed away in 1905.A succession of owners lived in the house before Oso Pool bought it in 1923. Oil had recently been discovered in the area and this attracted more people to Odessa. Hoping to take advantage of this influx of new residents, he converted the house to a five-room apartment building. He also established the Pool Family Real Estate Company, buying land south of Odessa and then selling individual lots. The house remained in the family for 50 years before Oso donated it and six acres to Ector County in 1978. In 1986, the White-Pool House Friends non-profit was established to preserve the old home.

Built in 1887, the White-Pool House is the oldest surviving building in Odessa. It is named after two of the families who lived there, the Whites and the Pools. Constructed by Charles White and his family in 1887, the house is a simple but well-designed Victorian home. It has been a historic house museum since 1986 and features many original furnishings on display. Today, the home also serves as an event venue. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. 

Midland and Odessa Texas Driving Tour

Historical Marker: General Matthew D. Ector

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources