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WINK,
TEXAS
The First Municipal
Building Was a Jail
Winkler County, West
Texas
Hwy 115 and FM 1232
7 miles SW of Kermit
54 miles W of Odessa
73 miles W of Midland
Population: 1,200
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History in
a Pecan Shell:
Wink was born late for a Texas town. The year was 1926 and oil
had just been discovered. They wanted the town named Winkler
after the County, but the postal authorities said no. So they shortened
their application to Wink and got their post office in 1927. This
was the same year they organized a school. |
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A
view of Wink
Photo Courtesy The Winkler County Historical Society |
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The original
residents (both of them) were surprised when the population swelled
to 3,500 by late 1927. By 1929 the population was 6,000 and that
even surprised the newcomers. It's entirely possible that with all
the activity that several people were counted twice. Naturally,
the infrastructure had a hard time keeping up. A wave of boom-town
parasites invaded the town and earned Wink a place in Texas history
alongside Kilgore,
Borger, Ranger,
Freer and
Beaumont
as one of the wilder oil towns.
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Old
gas station in Wink circa 1910
Photo courtesy Marianne Clancy |
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The city government
was under the control of organized crime in 1928. This was unheard
of in Texas! Texans were used to
crime in local government - they just hadn't heard of any being
organized. A Judge declared the city's incorporation void in 1928
and they went about building a jail. We're told the jail was
the first municipal building.
When the Texas-New
Mexico Railroad came through in 1929, the population was already
declining. Even connecting the town to Monahans
didn't stop the former Winkites from moving away.
The 30s saw another
attempt at incorporation, and this time it took. There was increased
medical care, even as the population continued to decline.
A cycle of small
gains and losses in both people and businesses kept Wink busy through
the 40s and 50s. The town made National headlines in 1960 when
it received a million dollars in Federal funds which it spent on
curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Midland
Hotels > Odessa
Hotels >
Texas
Hotels >
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The
Roy Orbison Museum
If you are old enough, you've heard Wink mentioned for being Roy Orbison's
boyhood home. If you're like most people, while you were on the way
to get an atlas you probably got distracted, so you're still unaware
of exactly where Wink is. If you're young enough, you'll probably
ask Roy who? |
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The
Old Wink Cemetery
Old Wink
Cemetery is the burial site of 26 persons who died during the early
days of the oil boom, 1926-1929. ... The cemetery marker is inside
the Wink Museum. more |
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The
Rig Theatre
A handsome
survivor of Wink's heyday and one of the rare Texas theaters from
the 20s has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
more |
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Sidewalks
of Wink - Like-New Sidewalks and a Paper Historical
Marker
"Wink
qualified as a perfect example - the "poster child" for Urban Renewal
in Texas. $1,000,000 was awarded to raze dilapidated and/or dangerous
structures plus install new infrastructure for future growth."
more |
Wink Texas
Forum
I am watching a
Roy Orbison concert special on National Public Television. I decided
to search for information about Roy. I found his home town of Wink,
Texas and was entertained by the historical notes about Wink. I also
noted the 'Roy Orbison Museum'
located there which I will remember to visit when I travel through
Texas. Thank You - V, Seattle, Washington, 11/Jun/2002
To share information, stories or photos of Wink, Texas, please contact
us.
More
photos by Charlene Beatty Beauchamp
Our thanks to C. Dowlen of Sweeny, Texas for suggesting the town page
for Wink and our thanks to Charlene Beatty Beauchamp for the use of
her photos. Charlene Beatty Beauchamp is the Webmaster and County
Coordinator for many West Texas Counties. Additional thanks to the
Winkler County Historical Society for their photos.
© John Troesser |
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