This Week in Odessa History

Odessa’s water supply was quite low and gasoline was hard to come by during the second week of May 1920.

The water was scarce because the town’s north side well was no longer putting out at full capacity.

Gasoline was in short supply because of an unprecedented demand by an ever-increasing number of motorists throughout the country.

The Odessa Record carried this front-page story on May 14, 1920, describing the shortages:

Odessa’s water supply promises to run hand in hand with gasoline for the next six weeks. Three exceptional dry seasons have lowered the water in the well north of town, and t...