TREY, can you imagine all the work they had to go through to dig that well.  My husbands family has land in Kansas that has been in their family for over 100 years.  Looking at those old pictures there use to be a lot of work that went in to just living off the land. 

Trey, I didn't know Texas had these hand dug wells. I know in Florida they have a lot of wells. Do you know offhand how deep they go?

Gary

I have one at my home ( not the one in photo) It is silted in but measures 35 feet deep.

Marchel,

I am sure everyone slept well back then ...they were too tired after working 12 hour days in the heat.

Trey, how far would you have to dig, around 35 feet? I know here, we've gone down 300 feet on both wells we had drilled. I remember little Jessica who fell into a well in the late 80's; It would concern me to find unsecured old wells.

Hi Trey... They are not engineering marvels on the scale of the pyramids, but some of these old wells really do make you stop and wonder what went into creating them so many years ago.  Thanks for a nice thought to ponder!

Trey:  It is very important to secure the tops of these wells.  Like Debbie, the Baby Jessica was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read this.

Steve,

Imagine digging a 40 foot deep hole in Texas  in 95 degree weather  with 90% humidity in July with dirt falling on your head. :)

Chris Ann

I remember those stories in the news.

Debbie

The old hand dug wells were very shallow. The water was poor quality. The same area where this picture was taken you would go anywhere from 300 to 800 feet to get good water.

My uncle just helped his brother dig a new well on his farm a month ago and yes, by hand with post hole diggers. Not sure it was legal but I don't know the rules in Lufkin.

We have a couple of these on my families ranch in Apple Springs, TX. My grandmother was always telling us to stay away from them. As long as no one takes the lid off they are safe enough.

My cousin drowned in a septic tank as a small child. Those scare me. There are still a LOT of those in Houston and half of them have cracked concrete lids .

Trey I remember baby Jessica as someone stated above. These old wells certainly need to be capped off with cement. An accident looking to happen The older generation had something within to build and grow, in return we are on "easy street" in this day and age. That wasn't too long ago and look how far this country has come in 100 years.

Cheri

That is amazing about digging the well  in this day and age.

Hi Trey, we are so spoiled nowdays.  People complain about having to have a well drilled. They complain about clearing property, when we've got dozers now.  The list could go on and on.  I still think digging the well must have been most challenging. 

Good post. 

Here is a cute well photo I took a few years ago on a rural property in my area. I had never seen this type of a well head before and the angel was a nice touch. I guess it was helping by praying for a safe water test from this well??

Sondra

I think you are right. And just finding water was a challange.

Mary

That is very interesting!