Historic Derrick Comes Down

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) -- A deteriorating replica of the derrick at Oklahoma's first commercial oil well has been pulled down to make way for a replacement. The Nellie Johnstone No. 1 oil well on

Thursday, August 16th 2007, 7:19 am

By: News On 6

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) -- A deteriorating replica of the derrick at Oklahoma's first commercial oil well has been pulled down to make way for a replacement. The Nellie Johnstone No. 1 oil well on the banks of the Caney River was completed 110 years ago and produced for more than half a century.

A replica wooden derrick was built in 1964 to mark the historic well site. It will be replaced by another replica derrick in a project to help celebrate this year's Oklahoma Centennial.

About 60 artifacts at the derrick site, including metal equipment and drilling tools were removed before the demolition project, in which cables were attached to the derrick and it was pulled down.