Mineral Water and the "Old West"

[Tensleep]

Was supher one of the minerals in it?   I know there's some of them down there.

Jist ah touch....  lot of other stuff, salts and such

[Delmonico]

Seems they have more than one type down there and someone must like it:

http://www.famouswater.com/minerals.aspx

That stuff would sure plug up a coffee maker in a hurry.

[Texas Lawdog]

I can remember when I was a little kid that my paternal grandparents would go to Truth or Consequences NM and to Marlin, Texas for mineral baths. The rumor around here is that if Texas ever has gambling casinos other than on Indian land, that they will make a casino out of the old Crazy Water hotel in Mineral Wells.

[Ozark Tracker]

They got 2 places here in Arkansas that had the mineral baths,  Hot Springs has several bath houses and  up at Eureka Springs,  I don't think they have any now, but at one time ( 1880's)   it was boomin industry there.

[Tensleep]

OT, I know that there is at least one bath house still open in Eurika Springs and Miz Annie says she thinks she saw some others.

I know that several are open in Hot Springs.

[Delmonico]

Eureka Springs is where Bill Tilghman captured Bill Doolin in 1896, he was there to treat his rheumatism.  Course later he escaped and a bit later a shotgun blast cured it for good.

[Ozark Tracker]

Tensleep,  there may be some up there,  I'd be surprised if they had let all of em close.  they've been on a rebuilding binge down in Hot Springs. rebuilding a lot of the old Bath Houses.

my Grandmother spent the first 10 years of her life (1894-1904)  5 miles North of Eureka Springs, she said she could remember going to Eureka Springs on Saturdays to go shoppin,  she thought it was the biggest city in the world, she said,  people would be everywhere.

[Stillwater]

I use the "  " in Old West since it's not really in my opinion a term that can really be defined but everyone uses.  Good example of how it's not easy yo define is tell me when "The Old West " began and when it ended.

I read today, the "Old West" began in 1840, and ended in 1890...

Bill

[Delmonico]

And who was the source of that?  Opinions on the subject vary with different historians.  None who are totally wrong and none who are totaly right.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

 Hi,

I actually have a segue into the title. Hold on, I'm a gittin' there.

Ashland is home of a huge Shakespearean Festival. It was when I was there I was treated to 'real' mineral water.

There was way too much money in Ashland around the turn of the 20th century (mostly from lumber). Teh town hired the men who drew up Golden Gate State Park in San Francisco to make them a park out of an old creek bed.  The result is a series of descending pools with swans and geese.  (I know, I know, I'm a gittin toit).

At the bottom of the park is a turn around with a fountain with spouts around it to sample the 'mineral water', known for it's resorative powers (or so the tourist books say *S*). 

First, from two feet away, the smell of sulfur is overpowering.  But, being a tourist, I had to try it, so I held my breath and took a sip. The taste was like rotten eggs (don't ask how I know what rotten eggs taste like ... that is a whole 'nuther thread).

Jacksonville: a little town just outside of Ashland and a special jewel. One of its early pioneers was a photograveur, so the history of the town is in photos that date back to the 1880s (approximately). If you are interested in antique photos, writing to the Jacksonville Curator might be a lot of fun ... they have all his old photos.

Here is the website for the research section of the Southern Oregon Historical Society. If you are interested in the photos, I am sure they would have more information.

http://www.sohs.org/services.html

Best wishes