Rosailia Moore Well is one of those forgotten water wells in Austin, Texas. This news article will explore the history behind Rosailia Moore Well. This is the Rosailia Verna Moore Well and Moore Well. 
The Rosailia Moore Well is a 214 year old open water well built entirely out of concrete and is located southeast of Richard Moya Park. This water well is located within the boundaries of Richard Moya Park. This water well was operated as what was known as an “open well” with a concrete pad.
Joseph B. Moore came to Austin from Tennessee in the year of 1807 with his family and purchased a near a 2.359 acre tract of land out of the Johnathan Bittick Survey #50 on what is known today as Richard Moya Park. Near where Del Valle is today. A water well known as Moore Well was established on this land. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Volume 205, Page 1)
A water well known as the Moore Well would be constructed on this land circa 1807. Moore Well was operated as what was known as an “open well” that was covered by a concrete pad. This concrete pad would be used as a cover to prevent the drinking water from getting polluted. There was another concrete pad located less than 1 foot north of the well. This concrete pad is located adjacent to Moore Well. This water well went past 20 feet underground and was connected to Onion Creek. This well collected drinking water from nearby Onion Creek. Moore Well was connected to Onion Creek throughout much of the 19th century and 20th century. This well also provided drinking water for the Moore Family. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Instrument #2004145111)
Joseph B. Moore sold and conveyed the land to Jetton Nations in 1827. This included the Moore Well. However this land would be conveyed back to Joseph B. Moore in 1828. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Volume 205, Pages 1-3)
Joseph B. Moore conveyed the Moore Well, located on a 2.359 acre tract of land out of the Johnathan Bittick Survey #50, to a man named Jetton Nations in 1837. Jetton Nations owned the 2.359 acre tract of land this well was located on for many years. He was a rancher from Austin who used this well for drinking water. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Volume 2503, Page 1)
Jetton Nations conveyed his land to Robert B. Mosley on a deed sometime around 1877. Although the date of exactly when the land was conveyed is unknown. The well was transferred over to along with the water rights and mineral rights. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Volume 1143, Page 310)
Robert B. Mosley sold the land to a rancher named Fred C. Morse, Jr. somewhere around the early 20th century. The exact date of when is unknown though. Fred C. Morse, Jr. owned several acres of land in Travis County. Part of the land where Moore Well was conveyed to Travis County Trustee Terral R. Smith. Terral R. Smith would manage and oversee the land and water rights whenever the owner(s) had passed away. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Volume 6495, Page 1733)
Fred C. Morse, Jr. sold the land where Moore Well is located to Joseph Neil Moore on the date of October 20, 1967 for the original principal sum of $7,500.00. That is when the land where Moore Well is located was sold and conveyed to Joseph Neil Moore. Joseph Neil Moore would own this parcel of land for more than 10 years. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Volume 6518, Page 982)
Joseph Neil Moore conveyed the land to Rosailia Verna Moore by a special warranty deed in 1979 for the principal sum of $10,000.00 dollars payable to the order of The Mutual Savings Institution. That is exactly how Joseph Neil Moore conveyed the land to Rosailia Verna Moore. The name of this well was changed from Moore Well to Rosailia Moore Well. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Volume 6495, Page 1735)
As part of the 1987 agreement, Joseph Neil Moore relinquished the $10,000 lien on the property located on 10224 Moores Bridge Road, Del Valle, Texas Del Valle from his military retirement benefits. So he agreed to execute a release of lien. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Volume 10195, Page 247)
On the date of September 9, 1999, Austin City Council recommended a Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Noise Study where Rosailia Moore Well was located. Austin City Council approved consultant selection for the Airport Noise Mitigation Program on August 23, 2001 after determining and realizing her property was in the flight path of Austin Bergstrom International Airport. This parcel was acquired through the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Noise Mitigation Program utilizing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant funds. The Noise Mitigation Program identifies properties with land uses that are incompatible with the airport due to aircraft noise levels. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=125204)
Federal law also requires that conveyance of property acquired under a noise program be subject to measures to reduce or eliminate present and future non-compatible uses of the land. The sale of the land is therefore subject to a perpetual navigation easement and restrictive covenants which prohibit the creation or maintenance of any obstruction to air navigation or a wildlife hazard, and further prohibits the use of the property for residential or school uses. (Ref: http://austintexas.gov/content/january-15-2009-austin-city-council-regular-meeting)
In summer of 2004, the City of Austin approved a resolution to authorize the fee simple acquisition to purchase the of 2.359 acre tract of land owned by Rosailia Verna Moore for the Airport Noise Mitigation Program. Her property was located in the flight path of Austin Bergstrom International Airport. The City of Austin purchased her property in the amount of $93,200 for the land and improvements and $24,050.70 relocation benefits, plus closing costs and moving related expenses in the amount of $10,000. Austin City Council approved the land acquisition on June 17, 2004. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/content/june-17-2004-austin-city-council-regular-meeting)
Rosailia Verna Moore agreed to accept the City's offer for relocation expenses estimated to be $24,050.70. The acquisition of her land was done to ensure land use compatibility within the airport vicinity. (Ref: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=76470)
On January 15, 2009, the City of Austin authorized the conveyance to Travis County as part of the Airport Noise Mitigation Program, pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Section 272.001(b)(5) for the fair market appraised value of $123,000. (Ref: http://austintexas.gov/content/january-15-2009-austin-city-council-regular-meeting)
The City of Austin sold the property to Travis County on a deed without warranty in 2009. Both Travis County and City of Austin now own this property including water rights and mineral rights to Rosailia Moore Well. Travis County has advised that it plans to use this land parcel for parks and recreational purposes which is why the land remains vacant with the exception of Moore’s Crossing Bridge and Rosailia Moore Well. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, Instrument #2009051081)
As of 2021, Rosailia Moore Well now only goes 4 feet deep until hitting a patch of dirt which means this well has been plugged. Rosailia Moore Well is no longer an active well that connects to Onion Creek. Now the exact date or time period of when Rosailia Moore Well was plugged remains unknown. 
Rosailia Moore Well is located at 10224 Moores Bridge Road, Austin, Texas, US 78719. The other address is 10224 Moores Bridge Road, Del Valle, Texas, US 78617.
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