During mid-1930s, this community enjoyed an oil boom. Any ideas?
Burrton, Ks
1873
The city of Burrton was laid off in the summer by Arkansas Valley Town Company along the mainline of the A.T. &S.F. Railroad. The first building was a blacksmith shop operated by A.W. Ballard. A Post Office was opened in July and by fall the new town had two general stores.
1877
Burrton Mills, a three story frame structure with three runs of buhrs and a forty horse power engine, was opened. The Mill burned in 1889.
1878
September 3—Burrton incorporated as a third class city. W.H. Kinney was elected mayor.
November 2-The Burrton Telephone was established.
1881
May 20-first issue of the Burrton Monitor, G. Vanderveer, editor.
Burrton Public Schools, 1915. The building with the tower was constructed in approximately 1885.
1895
The Harvey House in Burrton was destroyed by fire.
1914
November 11-Fire destroys the east side of Burrton’s Main Street.
Burrton Bank with the Opera House located on the second floor, 1910. Destroyed by fire in 1926.
1926
Burrton Opera House was destroyed by fire. The building also housed a furniture store, barber shop, telephone and real estate offices.
Burrton Bank & Opera House destroyed by fire, 1926.
1932
Olsen Oil Co. drilled first oil well, M.B.Blake No. 1, west of the Burrton Grocery store.
1932-1937
Oil boom in Burrton with the peak year in 1934. During this time over 1,000 people arrived in Burrton to take advantage of the work and money to be made.
Aerial view of the Empire Oil & Refining Co., Burrton field, June 24, 1936
Phillips Service Station, Hwy 50, 1947.
1990
March 13 – a F-5 tornado took the life of 6 year old Lucas Fisher before continuing through the center of Harvey County and on into Marion County.
