Postcard of the Bavarian Manor from the personal collection of
Sylvia Hasenkopf
Originally published in Daily Mail July 20, 2003
Ever since the days of the Roman Empire, people have sought the
supposed healing benefits of waters flowing from the earth. Initially one could
take a “sulphur bath” reaping the full benefits derived from immersion.
Perhaps the natural warmth and distinctive odor of the water contributed to the
public’s perception of its healing power. Eventually, drinking the water from
underground springs was deemed equally beneficial. Native Americans in Saratoga
had discovered early on what they termed as their “Mineral Spring of the Great
Spirit.“
By the American Revolution, numerous springs were being
discovered and the product marketed as having great benefits. It would seem
there were many entrepreneurs skilled at preying on the fears of the public
toward disease outbreak, which were numerous before modern medicine developed
vaccines. Supplementing the claims of the spring’s owner were the published
“testimonials” of people supposedly cured of their ills from the healing
waters. The Red Spring in Saratoga, named for its distinctive color, was the Spa
City’s first “Bath House” and claimed to cure eruptive skin diseases.
From an 1880’s pamphlet it is stated that the Lake Auburn Mineral Spring in
North Auburn, Maine was responsible for reversing the effects of a typhoid fever
outbreak by its use. The town had an impure water supply and after using the
Lake Auburn Mineral Water “were speedily restored to health.” Also,
“people afflicted with other diseases, both of an acute and chronic character,
such as dyspepsia, diseases of the kidneys, stone in the bladder, liver
complaint, piles, dropsy and other equally obstinate diseases began its use and
immediately found relief.” While probably any water purer than what the town
was already using would have been beneficial, I’m sure the owner wasted no
time in publishing the “results” from his product’s use and began bottling
it for sale to the general public.
The consumption of mineral waters of various types continued as
a fashionable Victorian trend through the rest of the 19th and early 20th
centuries. It even found its way to the small but thriving hamlet of Purling, in
the resort area of Greene County in the Northern Catskills.
Around 1900, Anson Wright had already established a successful wood turning mill
in the glen below the Shingle Kill Falls. Now he was searching for a unique
addition to his product line of rustic items which included everything from
walking staffs to smoking stands. He must have thought about his main
attraction, which was the beautiful cascading waters of the falls. Most people
swam in the deep pool at the base of the falls to cool off. After surveying the
area below the falls, Wright opted to have a small catch basin carved out of a
shear cliff in what was called “Clock Factory Hole,” to collect
naturally-occurring Sulfur Water. This prompted him to consider this area a
“park” and he began charging guests ten cents to enter and enjoy the
beneficial waters and stunning scenery. He bottled the product and soon had a
mail order sideline.
Wright’s venture was not the first of its kind in the town of Cairo. About
thirty-five years prior, Walker Lennon had established the beautiful White
Sulfur Spring House just up the road. Starting as just a small farm house for a
handful of boarders, the house grew to accommodate over 175 by the turn of the
20th century. It was later known as the Columbian and presently Bavarian Manor.
While its tenure as a “Spring House” was brief, the resort continued to lure
many guests to its doors, for the healthful mountain air, ample farm fresh food
and fine hospitality.
Other natural springs continue to provide a clean and steady source of water in
the town to this day. But it was the great claims of past years, those glowing
testimonials, that so intrigued the average citizen that lured them to believe
that something as pure and simple as water, taken from the earth would cure
their ills. They wanted to believe in those healing powers and so for them it
was so. While drinking water in general is good for the human system by aiding
in replacing lost fluids and keeping things "flushed", even too much
water can be harmful. But modern medicine would burst the bubble created by the
“Snake Oil Liniment” salesmen and many scientific analyses would determine
that many of the medicinal claims were just that.
It is interesting, however, to look back and take pride in the fleeting dreams
of our forefathers of what might have become a spa city such as Saratoga or
Ballston. Oh to dream.
the road. Starting as just a small farm house for a
handful of boarders, the house grew to accommodate over 175 by the turn of the
20th century. It was later known as the Columbian and presently Bavarian Manor.
While its tenure as a “Spring House” was brief, the resort continued to lure
many guests to its doors, for the healthful mountain air, ample farm fresh food
and fine hospitality.