75th Anniversary of the discovery of oil

Megan Suitor
 
 
Through the months of July and August back in 1948, crews were hard at work on Hilton Cook’s
farm drilling for oil. The laborious task began on July 2, 1948, after the seismograph work had
been completed. A wildcat crew that was led by Fin Lineham began assembling the Imperial
Esso #1 drilling rig on the Cook farm, working through most of July until it was operational on
July 23, 1948. 
 
The impact on the small farming community of Redwater was substantial. Many of the men
working on building the massive drilling rig were from outside the area, and a campsite of small
shacks was erected on the edge of town to accommodate the increased population.  
 
At the time of the discovery, Redwater consisted of only ten retail establishments and the
population was mostly Ukrainian wheat farmers. With subsurface mineral rights having been
reserved to the Crown after 1887, many of the landowners were not eligible for royalties for any
oil discovered.  
 
So important to the province, and even the country, was this oil discovery that both MLA Peter
Chaba and Alberta Premier Earnest Manning were on hand for the opening of the Discovery
Well. 
 
From the end of July, and through the month of August, crews worked the Imperial Esso #1,
conducting drill stem tests at increasing depths. Twenty-three tests were completed. On the
evening of August 30 on test number twenty-four, at an interval depth of 3110-3130 feet, oil
flowed to the surface and the official discovery of oil in Redwater was made. 
 
This first drilling rig led to more and more rigs dotting the area around Redwater, and as the
town grew, many rigs were even within the town limits. There was even a rig in the schoolyard.
The tiny rural hamlet grew to 3000 inhabitants in less than a year, with accommodation being
obtained wherever it was available. The Imperial Oil office was even housed in a chicken coop
because there were not enough establishments to accommodate the growing community. 
 
As the population exceeded the capacity that could be housed in the camptown, Imperial Oil
bought land and constructed “Redi-cut” houses on the northwest side of town. Retail, dining,
entertainment and service businesses all sprouted up in the town, adding to the boom. 
 
The upcoming Discovery Days on August 19 will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the
discovery of oil in Redwater.