An oil well drilled at this site in 1912 yielded not oil but free-flowing artesian water. The following year, German native Nick Lambrecht (1855-1920) purchased the property. During Humble's oil boom days in the early 20th century, Lambrecht served as justice of the peace and mayor, and in 1904 he had installed a water system to meet the needs of the many oil field workers who came to town. Lambrecht's artesian well supplied water to bathhouses and was also piped to nearby homes. In earlier years, water had been hauled to town in barrels on horse-drawn wagons.