Site of Public Mineral Water Well

Mineola settlers chose this area, nicknamed "the Forks of the River," for its abundance of water. The town's first water service was administered by A. W. Front, who made daily deliveries to his 50 clients. A water well was located on this site as early as 1885; workmen drilling for salt between 1889 and 1890 discovered mineral water. In 1896 a 60-foot windmill tower with a 3,000-gallon cypress wood tank was constructed and a mineral well dug to 150 feet by Henry L. Beaird. This became the town's main water source. A 1913 analysis of the water revealed more than 12 minerals associated with healing properties. In 1906, an electric motor replaced the windmill. The well was capped in 1924 when the street was bricked over. The exact site of the public mineral water well was the center of the intersection of Highway 80 and Johnson Street. (1998)

Site of Public Mineral Water Well is a historical marker in Mineola, Wood County, dedicated in 1998. It is one of 75 historical markers documented in Wood County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 151 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.6637, -95.4891 near Mineola. The nearest cataloged historic site is First National Bank Building (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Site of Coleman Family Drug Store and Clinic, Site of Barney B. Hart House, and The Thomas Breen Family.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5499011668. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.