Health resorts

Saratoga Springs

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This month we are visiting Saratoga County, New York – home of the Saratoga Springs!  Saratoga Springs has been a popular resort for health for over 200 years.

The land was originally home to the Mohawk and Iroquois tribes, who used its forests for hunting and the mineral springs for health. Sir William Johnson of the French and Indian War spent his time healing at the springs after befriending the Native Americans of the area.

A European settlement was started in 1819, and quickly gained tourism success in 1832, when the Saratoga and Scenectady Railroad Station was built. By 1870, there was an express train from New York City to the resort town, furthering the springs’ expansion.
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The Paxinosa Inn

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This month we are joining the library team on their travel up towards Bethlehem, PA, for Caitlin’s wedding!

The Paxinosa Inn was a short-lived, but popular, destination for locals in the Philadelphia and New York areas. The inn was named after the 18th century Shawnee Chief who lived in the area and negotiated trade routes with the French.

The inn opened on July 3, 1888, and sat along the Weygadt Mountain (meaning wind gate), overlooking the Delaware River. The home was built entirely of wood and held 82 guest rooms. A. Stanley Standford and his sister oversaw the building and its daily activities.
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Florida

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This month we are visiting Florida! Florida has had a large tourist industry and has been a popular place for resorts because of its year-long warmth and coastal views of the ocean since the early 20th century.  In both summer and winter Florida, became an escape for the sickness and bustle of the city for those afflicted with chronic conditions like rheumatism and nervousness or those with tuberculosis.     

Dr. E.M. Hale of Chicago promised Florida as a “Favored region for neurasthenics…broken down in mind and body from the intense strain of business and social demands of the Northern States.”  A favored spot was the southwest gulf coast, which tended to get more breezes, making for a more comfortable climate. The pleasant climate leads to a greater number of fruits and vegetables at lower costs than you may see in colder states.

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Avon-by-the-Sea

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Are you still unsure of where to go for summer vacation? The Medical Trade Ephemera Collection at The Historical Medical Library may have some suggestions for you! Enjoy our suggestions over the next few months!

This month we are going to look at the New Jersey shore destination, Avon-by-the-Sea, often called simply “Avon” by locals. The Jersey Shore became a popular Victorian vacation spot for visitors from both Philadelphia and New York City. By 1878, Long Branch, Asbury Park, and Ocean Grove drew people to the beach every summer.

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