Spellman's first in a series combines actual historical events and characters with a fictional adventure story. Great to read to elementary children, good read for middle schoolers. This four-book series is a kind of "Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew" in early Texas. Something that gets us into a Texas before the Alamo and off the main highways.

This detailed history of the Spindletop discovery is an excellent study of the boomtown atmosphere and the men who made it happen. A must have from anyone interested in early Texas oil history.

A great storyteller, Paul N. Spellman, spins the tale of the 1901 Spindletop discovery in Jefferson County's Beaumont, Texas. Beginning with one man's idea, Patillo Higgins, that oil was there to be found in Jefferson County, the story details the struggle of making dream a reality.

Many colorful stories of events and the men who made it all happen are included from available pioneer's oral histories. From fighting natures elements, disease, insects, and oilwell fires the mental might of the 1901 oil explorer becomes apparent. Too, the detailed story of man's ingenuity while creating many first time solutions to oil well drilling is most interesting.

The book includes some of the history on nearby oilfields discovered after Spindletop, including Sour Lake, Big Thicket, Saratoga and Batson.

The book provides a very clear view of life in a 1901 boomtown after oil is discovered. Whether it's lawlessness, gambling, prostitution, whiskey, lack of fresh water, housing or food, the boomtown greed, or the Texas Rangers, its all covered.