The last one Standing

Vina P. Cup 1903-1906

Few of us remember when Carbide lights and wind powered battery charges were commonplace, used for daily lighting requirements.

Carbide lamps came about when it was discovered that mixing calcium carbide and water produced acetylene, a gas which that would burn when lite. Used by miners, outdoors men and homesteaders in the 1890's through the 1920's, carbide lights were used for lighting in automobiles, motorcycles and homes, where-ever a person or family needed lighting that was not fortunate enough to live in an area that had electricity.

Carbide lighting was simple, drip water into the Calcium Carbide powder and burn the gas that was produced, providing light, the faster the water dripped the, the brighter lighting was, the bad thing was that there was an accumulation of carbolic acid water that had to be disposed of.

In 1906, these were considered a luxury by homesteaders, in place of oil lamps and by the Culp family who lived in a dugout ½ mile west of Humble City, Texas.

Vina Culp, a curious little three year old, being thirsty or just wanting to see what the carbolic water tasted like, drank some of the Carbide water and became ill and died.

Vina was not buried in the Knowles cemetery for some reason, but was “Laid to rest”, in the little cemetery that was on the south side of US 62-180, between Hobbs, New Mexico and Seminole, Texas.

A Culp, family member, remembers driving his mother from the Hobbs area to Lubbock, as they passed the little little cemetery, she would look over at the cemetery and comment; “There are not as many as there used to be”.

Vina’s grave, the only one with a marble headstone, still stands, where about twenty graves marked with only wooden crosses, which over time have withered away, leaving only that of Little Vina P Culp, remaining. It is not uncommon to find small toys and offering at the grave, left by unknown visitors.

In memory of: Vina P Culp, 1903-1906

Information provided by Culp family, 2007.